Leave it to a guy from Interpol to operate under an alias. Julian Plenti is the solo project of singer Paul Banks, and his album “Julian Plenti Is … Skyscraper” is due Aug. 4 on Matador. Full of jagged guitars, rhythmic tension and otherwordly effects – and touches of strings and horns – the rather […]
Frankel, “Anonymity Is the New Fame” (Autumn Tone) – It must be the doubled vocals, but there seem to be two of Michael Orendy (aka Frankel) on his sophomore album – a guy who beams proudly at his latest orchestral constructs and a guy who cherishes the safety, and anonymity, of the bedroom where you […]
[Ears Wide Open highlights new and forthcoming music from SoCal artists:] Last American Buffalo made ripples on the L.A. scene with its 2007 debut “Marquis for the Debutante,” and now principal songwriter Kevin Tyler Compton, surrounded by a new lineup, is back with a new EP, “Bohemian Blues.” The vibe is Americana-tinged classic rock, a […]
Their 2007 effort, “Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever,” won my heart, and now the Cribs have added Johnny Marr to their guitar assault. Talk about giving me an anxiety attack. The Jarman brothers’ new album, “Ignore the Ignorant,” recording (in part in Laurel Canyon) with Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire), will […]
The Honorary Title has filled the last open slot in the “Kick Out the Clots: A Benefit for Jennifer Tefft” show at the Echo and Echoplex on Thursday night. I’ve updated the original post with the new set times. ‣ Done, gone: Now that his long-in-the-works deal with Atlantic Records is officially done, Robert Francis […]
[Good morning … See the promo box in the first sidebar at right to win Ed Harcourt tickets for tonight …] Ed Harcourt, the Londoner who just released the gorgeous EP “Russian Roulette” [see last week’s post], plays an intimate show at downtown’s Bordello. … John Vanderslice [pictured], getting some of the best reviews of […]
Deastro, the nom de tune of synth-wielding 22-year-old Randoph Chabot [pictured] of Detroit, released his debut album, “Moondagger,” this week, and fans of the likes of M83 and New Order will want to have a listen. [Download, via Pitchfork: “Vermillion Plaza.”] Deastro visits Spaceland tonight, supported by Telephone Jim Jesus. … Wilco ends its L.A. […]
The beats go on — and gets better — for L.A. dance-pop collective Fool’s Gold. The 12-member ensemble, who rendered audiences fairly giddy during their April residency at the Echo, has signed with L.A.-based indie IAMSOUND Records, home to such artists as Little Boots, Telepathe and Suckers. Fool’s Gold’s self-titled debut will be released Sept. […]
[A couple of noteworthy L.A. releases … with more on the way:] Foreign Born, “Person to Person” (Secretly Canadian) – About the 10th time through the L.A. quartet’s sophomore album – a grower if there ever was one – I had a vision that Foreign Born’s were the fingers plugging the dike that holds back […]
[Buzz Bands today welcomes new contributor Ashton Lunceford, who will be sending along track reviews and perhaps some other musical missives:] Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch keeps it sweet with his female-fronted solo outing “God Help the Little Girl” – a soundtrack, he says, to a film that has not yet been made. (Murdoch tells […]
