Pop music has its mood swings, but the melodrama can be addictive as sugar when tales of romance and life lessons are dipped in a coat of jangly guitars, heavy percussion and catchy choruses. Fortunately, Merge labelmates Telekinesis and the Love Language manage to sustain attention even after the inevitable crash that typically follows a […]
It’s an embarrassment of riches on the show scene tonight: ‣ Oh, the memories: Lou Barlow has assembled a version of Sebadoh (with Jason Lowenstein and Fiery Furnances Bob D’Amico) for the “Bakesale/Harmacy Remembering Time Tour,” marking the re-releases of the 1994 and 1996 albums, respectively. They hit the Troubadour tonight, with Quasi opening. ‣ […]
[Things we like, from artists on their way to L.A.:] Telekinesis, “Car Crash.” Maybe we raised an eyebrow when Michael Benjamin Lerner and crew covered Justin Bieber live back in December, but their new album “12 Desperate Straight Lines” (out Tuesday on Merge) puts to rest any notion of a sophomore slump from the Seattle […]
The following thought occurred to a certain music writer Tuesday night during Superchunk’s thwackingly good set at the Music Box: I should have name-checked Superchunk a lot more over the past few years of scribbling about buzz bands who aspire to high-energy guitar rock. The Chapel Hill, N.C. quartet – visiting to promote “Majesty Shredding,” […]
Of all the comebacks and reunions and renaissances in the past two years, none found my sweet spot quicker than Superchunk’s “Majesty Shredding.” Majestic to its exuberant, celebratory core, the quartet’s first album in nine years doesn’t feel a bit like an attempt to cash in on the nostalgia of the band’s heyday. The video […]
Michael Benjamin Lerner’s unfettered take power-pop shone brightly on the first Telekinesis album – one of my favorite energy drinks of 2009 – and now, surrounded by a new cast of cohorts including Jason Narducy (Robert Pollard band, Verbow) and Cody Votolato (Jaguar Love, the Blood Brothers), he’s taken the first step toward a sophomore […]
[Happy birthday, Paul Weller. What I wouldn’t give for a little Jam this morning:] Top 5 ways to make merry musically in Los Angeles tonight: ‣ Watch enchanting Australian brother-and-sister folkies Angus & Julia Stone – their new album “Down the Way” is awfully sweet – on the first of their two sold-out nights at […]
I have only to glance at Stereogum’s post on the most anticipated albums of 2010 to be assured that next year will be better than 2009, when my most-visited album was the Stone Roses’ reissue. [Heartfelt thanks again to the person who gifted me that; you know who you are.] That said, ’09 had some […]
[Anybody else have a Michael Jackson hangover? Here’s an excellent obituary.] Today: The Vans Warped Tour [2008’s crowd, above] kicks off in Pomona. The past two years I live-blogged it and succeeded each time in finding something I liked. I’m passing on it this year, but it’s a pretty good bargain at under $35 a […]
Monday, and it’s already a ridiculous night for shows: That familiar face you can spot playing the early set tonight at Gangi’s residency at Spaceland is actor/director Adam Goldberg, who will be fronting his musical project LANDy. Goldberg has written songs for years and has been an occasional collaborator in the L.A. band the Black […]
