More than any one song on the album, Superhumanoids’ smoldering “So Strange” illustrates the the subtleties and sophistication of the L.A. band’s debut “Exhibitionists.” Stylistically their music might have its roots in the escapist 1980s, but “Exhibitionists” has a conscience; there’s tacit acknowledgement of the scars left by our breathless chase of the moment. And […]
It’s been a little over a year since we’ve heard from Faris McReynolds, but the last time he was dishing out tunes it was under the moniker ExDetectives. The painter and musician returns with new material for his project One Finger Riot this time, and although we’ve briefly mentioned this band before, the new EPÂ Â “Boredinaire […]
It seems a lot of singer-songwriters have been drinking the Kool-Aid lately when it comes to electro-pop. Similarly to Madi Diaz‘s sonic shift from a folk foundation to a more dance-friendly sound palette, highly regarded songbird Priscilla Ahn is experimenting with some dream-pop elements. After briefly teaming up with Charlie Wadhams last year for Sweet […]
No idea where Jake Troth might end up ranking in the vast spectrum of JTs, but judging from the music on his debut album it could be anyplace. The North Carolina-bred, L.A.-based art-schooler seems equally comfortable in classic pop, electro and hip-hop worlds, having cut his teeth writing, producing and remixing for film and TV […]
Up-and-coming Los Angeles singer-songwriter Jarell Perry has already worked with the diverse likes of Childish Gambino, Diplo, Fat Joe, Rusko and Usher, and is set to break out with the release of his forthcoming “White EP” on Dec. 10. The former UCLA student released his debut album “Simple Things” earlier this year. Its “future R&B” […]
In early 2012, we noted the arrival of Tyler Lyle, the Atlanta-bred singer-songwriter who moved to L.A. on the heels of a breakup, and, notably, the making of his gorgeous album “The Golden Age & the Silver Girl.” This spring he released the equally moving “Expatriates,” a concept EP that, often bluntly, wrestles with the […]
Don’t be deceived by the winking name: Kera & the Lesbians play their salamagundi blues like they’re gonna put a whuppin’ on ya. Their music – they call it “bipolar folk,” which is at least half right – has been a work in progress ever since San Diego-bred Kera Armendariz released the “Green Apples” 7-inch […]
Gavin Turek‘s energy and moves on stage frequently transform the singer/dancer/actress into one big blur, but the melodies and beats are always in focus. As shown in her latest video for “Suffah,” Turek’s got the fancy feet, the hair, the face and the voice, all qualities that make her a disco contender. She has dedicated […]
It’s easy to imagine the brilliant new Gap Dream album as a Jackson Pollock – an obsessive Gabriel Fulvimar splashing brightly colored synths here and chug-a-lug beats there, until, voilà , it all makes sense, or you can read sense into it. Students of history (or those old enough to remember the Carter Administration) might hear […]
There’s an awful lot of the familiar in scruffy pop-punk of L.A.-based trio Upset, from the scratchy guitar chords to the rough-edged production to the teenaged angst. “She’s Gone” (just out on Don Giovanni Records) didn’t come from DIY corner of the 1990s, though; the band features three veterans with mileage on their indie-rock odometers […]
