Album Review

By Rob Rodriguez  Blitzen Trapper simply rocks. I don’t know of another band that can consistently pump out great albums without a disappointing change in style. American Goldwing picks up right where Destroyer of the Void and Furr leave off. As always, the album offers a bit of everything. There is a cornucopia of sound; banjos, 70’s style synthesizers, and blaring harmonicas. You will nod your head to the guitar licks and then close your eyes in appreciation of all the beautiful southern melody. The album doesn’t skip a beat, opening loudly with the riff-heavy “Mind Find It Cheap.” But if you’re like me, you stay … Continued

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By Alina Perez Gomez Dare to Care presents the fourth album by Canada’s indie rock heroes, Malajube.  Hailing from Montreal, Malajube is a quartet led by Julien Mineau on vocals and guitar.  Their first album, Le Compte Complet, in 2004 gained them instant fame in Quebec.  By their second album release in 2006, Malajube began to tour the US and gain international recognition.  While many bands that gain international fame turn to English to propel them to a wider stage, Malajube faithfully continues singing French lyrics.  Don’t speak French?  Not to worry.  Dubbed the language of romance, French is beautiful to … Continued

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By Riley Ubben With the recent split of Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore, things are looking bleak for boy-girl bands all over. I mean, let’s be honest here–the lifestyle of a musician has to be tough on even the most rock-solid relationships. They spend their days crammed in a tour bus or in a recording studio with their significant others, and unlike the majority of their indie rock peers, they can’t even vent about their romantic woes via song. While it’s been over a decade since My Solo Project first introduced the infectious, lovey-dovey pop of the Mates of State, … Continued

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By Vaibhav Sutrave D’I ever tell you about the time I met Richard Lloyd? You know he’s in Rocket from the Tombs now. The one with Laughner in it – that became Dead Boys and Pere Ubu. No joke! They just released an album, too! It’s not that great. But the guys haven’t played together in 30 years – you could call it a demo. *(Actually I just realized they had this lineup back in 2003. So they’ve been playing-probably not constantly–for 8 years now. Anyway, at least this one’s better than “Rocket Redux.”) Anyway, I went over to his … Continued

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Disclaimer: This album review contains content unsuitable for minors, work situations, and the faint of heart. The opinions and views within this review belong solely to the author, and not KRUI or the University of Iowa. Read at your own discretion. By Vaibhav Sutrave I don’t buy escapism in music. I don’t buy escapism in anything. Ultimately, books, or philosophy, or physics, or comics, or food, or MUSIC MUST relate to and enrich REAL LIFE. To “make us drink more avidly of life,” like m’boy Hank Miller said. It needs some immediacy. But how to tell? Fortunately, I have devised … Continued

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By Alexa Squire In early fall 2009, Lady Gaga hadn’t released The Fame Monster yet, Katy Perry was only known for kissing a girl, and “chillwave” was a completely new word for a new genre of music. Washed Out and Toro y Moi, two of the most well-known chillwave artists, had just released Life of Leisure and Causers of This, and bloggers were using the term to describe their lo-fi, blippy, danceable beats that relied heavily on reverb and looping. When Alan Palomo (the man behind Neon Indian) released Psychic Chasms that winter, his songs fit the definition and it … Continued

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By L.C. Graf-Juarez If Zebrahead and Dethklok were to have a baby, it would be the punk garage rock band, Cerebral Ballzy. Bringing back the true meaning of punk, Cerebral Ballzy’s self-tilted debut album is all about rebellion and having fun. At times, they can be completely repetitive, especially when the same riff is used in “You’re Idle” and “Don’t Look My Way.” But, Cerebral is clearly looking for a good time. It truly takes a certain type of person to be able to listen to them. And Cerebral Ballzy is partially called “Ballzy” because they couldn’t care less about … Continued

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By Eric Intlekofer There is a quality in Portugal. The Man that all music lovers can admire, or at least respect, and that is their ability to put out a consistent record every year. With “In the Mountain In the Cloud,” the Alaska and Portland based band moved to a major label, many a music fan’s nightmare. This time around, however, that chance is not to be feared. Their style has not been compromised, in fact it’s been honed. Their sixth LP seems to be a culmination of the forward progress the band has been working on for the past … Continued

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By L.C. Graf-Juarez 8 EP’s and still kicking, Mogwai’s “Earth Division” is striking and magical just like everything else they’ve ever created (any surprise there?). Although a question needs to brought up when “Get to France” opens with its haunting piano. Just how much time did Mogwai spend playing Kingdom Hearts before recording? Not that this is at all a bad thing, just that the song is very much like the melody that would play somewhere between the Boss and (if you know anything about Kingdom Hearts) losing Kairi. The composer of the Kingdom Hearts scores, Yoko Shimomura is a … Continued

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By L.C. Graf-Juarez Chill Sunday afternoons, incense burning, music slow, maybe a cigarette or two—it’s all part of the mood that the band She Keeps Bees creates with their 7th released album, “Dig On” the third release to be self-recorded. “All or None/Dark Horse” opens with strong vocals from Jessica Larrabee, and a great drum beat played out by Andy LaPlant. Larrabee gets low and passionate, giving the song a soothing rhythm; LaPlant only compliments her vocal style with a simple pattern. Perhaps what is most attractive about the song is the pure easiness it possesses. It doesn’t have distractions—ridiculous … Continued

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