Take a look at an EP review of local Iowa City musician, Dana T.
Slide Away Festival in Chicago
Slide Away Festival at The Aragon Ballroom on May 22nd and 23rd with Hum, Nothing, Chapterhouse, and more
Eric Intlekofer reviews the Brooklyn-based duo Mountains’ latest, sprawling drone effort, titled “Centralia.”
What music did KRUIers dig the most in 2012? Music staffers report on their favorites from the past school year.
To call the End of Daze EP the “Only in Dreams Reject Club” would be unjust as some songs never make it on their intended album. But California’s Dum Dum Girls know how to make amazing EPs (He Gets Me High EP anyone?) and End of Daze is like He Gets Me High’s lo-fi art student little sister. Despite the beats in “Season in Hell” and “I Got Nothing” this is perhaps the most chill the Dum Dum Girls have ever been. Even its first single “Lord Knows” finds itself between stoner rock and ‘60s drum beats. But all indie … Continued
They. Are. Back. No three words remain truer for Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, the duo otherwise known as The Raveonettes who have melted our ears in the past with high frequency synthesizers and the icy coolness of Foo’s vocals. Whether they are a soundtrack to a chill autumn evening or a heavier rock sound assisting a spontaneous dance party with friends, The Raveonettes have never been disappointing in the 11 years of their career. But how does their latest release, Observator, rank against such legendary albums such as the ‘60s inspired “Back in Black” or the lyric-driven “In … Continued
Music director Max Johnson reviews the debut album “The Endless Prom” from Iowa band Trouble Lights.
Grizzly Bear is one of those bands that continue to stand out by creating an engaging auditory experience. Their breakout album Veckatimist was lauded by music fans and critics alike, and it is probably safe to say Shields will follow suit. Shields is unique in that it doesn’t have a standout track, the quality is inherent in every song; each has its own handsome virtues. The single “Yet Again” is arguably the most accessible song on the album, but it still maintains the haunting aura the album strives for. From the moment the album begins with “Sleeping Ute,” it is … Continued
By Max Johnson Chris Ford’s main musical project, Christopher the Conquered, is perhaps the most quintessential “Iowa” band right now. I don’t mean that as a description of a particular sound or style. Just look at the songs on their latest album “Christopher the Conquered and the Black Gold Brass Band Decide the Fate of a Good Man.” You’ll find the left and right politics of a swing state, the hardworking ethic that Iowa is known for, and most importantly, you’ll see something brilliant and beautiful that has been criminally overlooked. It’s important to know, before listening to the record, … Continued
By Christian Craig Hip hop has, in recent years, evolved into a beast of over-accessibility. The fabled street corner has been replaced by a SoundCloud account and it often seems that anyone with a Logic torrent is busy tweeting about their upcoming mixtape. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – Odd Future, Main Attrakionz and A$AP Rocky all owe their fame to the Internet and it’s becoming increasingly easier to suss out the next big thing. It’s also getting harder to keep up – trends in sub-genres have the shelf life of about an hour and whether you’re a fan … Continued
By Christian Craig Collaborative rap crew albums are a tricky thing to get right – We Are Young Money was laughable, Wu-Tang hasn’t done anything worth talking about since 8 Diagrams, and if you know of a Dipset tape that you’ve made it through without your finger on the skip button, I’d love to hear about it. Collab albums have listeners wading track after track, waiting for a heavy hitter and suffering through Lil Twist and Cappadonna in the meantime. So, coming into The OF Tape Volume 2, some skepticism is a warranted. It’s been almost impossible to avoid at … Continued
