By Leila Regan-Porter
I really should have written this weeks ago. But it's been a bit of a tough one to write. It's fair to say that I have been putting it off.
Let me begin by saying I don't like reading "personal" reviews with first person references. Unless it's on your own blog, or you have a column specific to you, then there should be no appearance of the dreaded "I." This is obviously an exception. Y-O-U was one of the first - if not the first - local band I ever became a true fan of. They were the first band I wanted to put on the cover of the magazine I used to edit, Southeast Performer. And now they are the first local band I admired to break up.
It's almost like a coming-of-age period in one's life. It happens to every music fan. Paste even dedicated their last 1690 AM radio show to Georgia bands who should have been huge, but broke up before they managed to make good on the possibilities; they started off the show with Y-O-U.
Continue reading "Live Review: Y-O-U's Last Show, October 10 @ Smith's Olde Bar" »
The Low Anthem
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
Nonesuch
By Al Kaufman
The Low Anthem recorded Oh My God, Charlie Darwin in a log cabin in the middle of a harsh Rhode Island winter. And while it is bleak at times, it is also riveting, loud, and, best of all, never boring. In fact, it is downright brilliant.
Ben Knox Miller's falsetto is featured in the opener, "Charlie Darwin," a gorgeous chamber-sounding song that chills through the skin. The following "To Ohio" is a lovely hushed ballad, while "Ticket Taker" recalls the folk poetry of an early Leonard Cohen. "I am a ticket taker/Many tickets have I torn/And I will be your ark/We will float above the storm." The main character in the song is even named Marianne.
Continue reading "CD Review: The Low Anthem -- Oh My God, Charlie Darwin; Playing with Blind Pilot at The EARL November 4" »
I recently asked a group of people who I knew to be true music fans what they thought the next wave of music will be. In other words, what style of music will unseat the current crop of pop music that is selling like gangbusters? Everyone answered exactly the same; they said it’s the one or two-man electronic artists that will continue to break through and catch on in the mainstream ala
Owl City and others like them. While that may be true (and wow I hope it isn’t), I couldn’t help but think that that style is what’s partially current right now, but it was
The Postal Service who started this sound back in 2003 when they released their groundbreaking record “Give Up," hence spawning many imitators, with only one or two really breaking out. Obviously, that sound isn’t all that’s popular now, but the point is that one band laid the groundwork for others to come and capitalize on, and I’m curious to know who the ground-laying band is right now that is going to pave the way for the next big sound, or maybe be the next big sound themselves.
Continue reading "Music Man--What's Next?" »
Elise Witt
Valise
EMWorld Records
By Al Kaufman
Elise Witt is one of those local treasures that nobody knows about. The multi-linguist from Switzerland, who has called Atlanta home since 1977, has been a cultural ambassador to South Africa, China, Italy, Nicaragua and Switzerland, represented Georgia for the Kennedy Center's 25th Anniversary Celebration, has studied under Bobby McFerrin, sung under the direction of Robert Shaw for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus for 20 years, created singing workshops for adults and children all over the globe, and hosted musicians from outside countries to play locally.
Continue reading "CD Review: Elise Witt -- Valise" »
The King Khan and BBQ
Show
Invisible Girl
In the Red Records
By Bryan Aiken
Once and current bandmates Arish Khan and Mark Sultan
have made a rich and respected history of historically-accurate rock ‘n’ roll
thuggery. Since their graduation from the '90s punk outfit The Spaceshits, the
Canadian duo have reformed and refashioned into pompous frontman and “Supreme
Genius” King Khan, and be-turbaned drummer-guitarist-vocalist BBQ,
respectively. The names may have changed, but little else has budged; the
Show’s third album, Invisible Girl,
is the classic, unshaven garage-gospel you could have seen staggering up a mile
away.
Continue reading "CD Review: The King Khan and BBQ Show -- Invisible Girl; Playing Star Bar November 4" »
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