Not to get all hyperbolic or anything, but Courtney Barnett’s “Pedestrian at Best” makes us believe in rock ’n’ roll. First, there’s the no-frills crunch ’n’ swagger, the work of the Australian singer-guitarist with bandmates Dan Luscombe (guitar), Bones Sloane (bass) and Dave Mudie (drums). Timeless. Then there are the 27-year-old’s shout-sung lyrics, funny and […]
On their debut album last year, L.A. duo Howls proved moody and brooding. On the follow-up single “White Noise” (out next week via Buddyhead), co-conspirators Annalee Fery and Christian Stone move from the dreamy and dark to the brighter lights of the disco. The pulsating single was produced by Jon Siebels, the Eve 6 guitarist […]
On her first two albums, including last spring’s stellar “All My Love in Half Light,” Melissa Ann Sweat — dba Lady Lazarus — wrestled with her demons in wobbly, piano-based songs notable for their stark honesty and fragility. The title track from her new album, “Miracles” (due March 3), suggests that her clouds have lifted. “I believe […]
Following the release of his wonderfully sharp and thought-provoking album “Dark Comedy” last year, Los Angeles rapper Open Mike Eagle is back with the six-track “A Special Episode Of” EP, due out next week via Mello Music Group, and featuring production from Exile and Gold Panda. The first track to surface is “Raps For When […]
The L.A.-based duo Bouquet features the electronic explorations of Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs and Max Foreman; the former once fronted the Bay Area folk-noir outfit the Finches, the latter made experimental instrumental music as part of the trio Tenebre. “Stacks On Stacks” is the first song to emerge from Bouquet’s aptly titled third EP, “In a […]
Mini Mansions’ latest single “Any Emotions” articulates a typical guy lament—”I can’t understand / any emotions”—but actor Colin Hanks displays the full range in director Mike Harris’ one-take video for the song. The single features background vocals from the legendary Brian Wilson, for whom Mini Mansions’ bassist Zach Dawes did session work and possesses a […]
Last week, Lord Huron — the L.A.-based band helmed by native Michigander Ben Schneider — released a short teaser video (but precious little other info) for their new album “Strange Trails.” Schneider and company won hearts and minds with the cinematic folk music on their Western-flavored debut “Lonesome Dreams” in 2012, but beyond the teaser […]
Ryan Pollie is a very tall man with a very low self-opinion — at least, if you take his wry, shambolic garage-pop literally. Pollie is the winking mastermind behind the quartet Los Angeles Police Department, whose noisy 2014 debut album crackled with lovingly misshapen pop songs, ragged and hooky and most of which ended too soon. […]
Tall Tales and the Silver Lining, the brainchild of singer-songwriter Trever Beld Jimenez, returns Feb. 24 with the album “Tightrope” via Other Music Recording Co. Expanding on the band’s retro sun-kissed guitar-pop strengths from 2014’s self-titled EP, Jimenez inserts bursts of joviality into certain chords and lyrics to convey his optimism on the single “This […]
Sharon Van Etten has made a career out of wearing her heart on her sleeves. From 2009’s “Because I Was In Love” to last year’s beautiful “Are We There” (an album that made one of many year-end lists), Van Etten has sung from both sides of the relationship. But whether she was a victim or […]
