John Vanderslice
Pixel Revolt
Barsuk (2005)
I get the distinct impression that John Vanderslice might be a bit of a flake. But after spending some time with Pixel Revolt, I'm also starting to think that he's hit the nail of urban hipster-dom right on it's untidily coiffed head, and on the whole, it's made a pretty satisfying sound. The songs are a bit cynical, and a bit melancholic, but they don't reach too hard to find their lyrical and musical references to past decades and to cultural landmarks big and small. It's all very effortless and interesting, and periodically, the combined elements appear in proportions so perfect I can't even describe them. Then, there's that weird, vibraphone-thing in many of the songs on Pixel Revolt, that, at times, makes me feel like I'm on some kind of a soothing trip back that mellow, sad part of the 80's that I totally loved with all my heart. Pixel Revolt has plenty of songs that are undeniably catchy, quirky and relevant. This last thing is particularly important to note in the context of the album, because there are those cases when John Vanderslice overshoots that mark by quite a distance, and all one can do is just throw … Read more
Arctic Monkeys
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Domino (2006)
In years to come, when the inevitable "I <3 2004" rockumenterary hits television with its small army of washed up … Read more
Struckdown
Revolution
Indianola (2006)
I hate one-sheets. In case you are not as media savvy as everyone else, a one-sheet is a sheet of … Read more
Fight Like Hell
Demo
Independent (2005)
Let me just give all of you a big fat heads up: Blood Money Records sold out of this demo, … Read more
