Fang Island – Fang Island

February 23rd, 2010  |  by b aiken  |  published in math-rock, post-rock  |  4 comments

The recently released (and available for streaming in full at their website) self titled LP from Brooklyn post rocker’s, Fang Island, is a hard driving, feel good, rock album, complete with screaming guitars and soaring vocals which will undoubtably have you giving your speakers a real workout. The listening isn’t labored though, and doesn’t leave ears exhausted by providing some some restful interludes. This is the kind of album you’ll definitely be coming back to time and time again.

The Besnard Lakes – Are The Roaring Night

February 10th, 2010  |  by jason grishkoff  |  published in post-rock, shoegaze  |  5 comments

The whole album kind of plods along. About my fourth time through “Chicago Train,” it occurred to me that playing the song live probably isn’t any fun: there’s nothing in here to hook an audience. And “Glass Printer” is a shockingly forgettable song. Literally. I’ve listened to the album quite a few times now, and I can’t seem to remember that this one exists. Even “Albatross,” the good first single, loses a little bit of its luster when its couched by glassy-eyed dead-enders.

The Album Leaf – A Chorus of Storytellers

February 2nd, 2010  |  by taylor fife  |  published in instrumental, house, post-rock  |  2 comments

The album is incredibly beautiful, and there is obviously a lot of potential, but for now the post-rock diluted with indie-rock is best
suited for background music. And judging by their television, movie, and commercial credits, many people agree.

Efterklang – Magic Chairs

January 28th, 2010  |  by jason grishkoff  |  published in indie pop, post-rock  |  2 comments

My roommate made an excellent observation: “Europeans keep pumping out new releases sung in English. Americans could never pump out records in other languages. Americans suck. Europeans rule.” Whether you take that as truth or not, the fact stands: European bands tend toward singing in English (save for the Krauts). Efterklang is no exception to that rule. Natives of Copenhagen, Denmark, the four core members of this group perform beautiful post-rock pieces reminiscent of Sigur Ros’s most recent track opener, Gobbeldigook. The final product? Drum-thumping bliss.

Apse – Climb Up

December 10th, 2009  |  by jason grishkoff  |  published in alternative, post-rock, progressive rock, psychedelic  |  1 comment

If Mr. Gnome had a male singer, they’d sound like Apse. And if you like Mr. Gnome, then the psychedelic, post-rock, experimental grooviness of Apse is sure to garner your attention. This music isn’t pop. It isn’t meant to sit in the background while you work hard on homework. Rather, it commands your full focus.

Three Trapped Tigers – EP2

November 18th, 2009  |  by jason grishkoff  |  published in electronic, instrumental, house, math-rock, post-rock  |  2 comments

I often refrain from calling bands truly ecletic, since no artist can take influence from everything, but TTT do a good job of taking influence from more places than most. In their mix they use elements of post-rock, IDM, math rock and british indie rock. They sound somewhat like a full band version of Four Tet doing his own post-rock version of a Foals song using the equipment Battles use in their live show.

Mr. Gnome – Heave Yer Skeleton

November 5th, 2009  |  by jason grishkoff  |  published in female vocalists, post-rock, progressive rock, rock  |  1 comment

The amount of sound produced by just two band members can be mind-blowing. When Mr. Gnome released their debut album Deliver This Creature in early 2008, I found myself oddly enraptured by their dark sound. I didn’t realize at the time that there were only two members, guitarist Nicole Barille and drummer Sam Meister. All I could think about was how much their album cover made me associate the album with the rabbit in Donnie Darko (scary shit, I’m telling you!).

do make say think – the other truths

September 16th, 2009  |  by jason grishkoff  |  published in instrumental, house, post-rock  |  1 comment

do make say think isn’t loud or flashy. you won’t find catchy hooks or soaring choruses. what you will find is the perfect music to knuckle down and work to. this is subtle instrumental music at it’s best, featuring all the right tempos, crescendos, and bridges. oh, and did i mention there are plenty of horns?