Bleached
Welcome the Worms
Dead Oceans (2016)
Fuelled by intense introspection and the adopting of a more polished sound, Welcome the Worms marries punk rock sensibilities with the radiant bubblegum pop of Southern California. Produced by Joe Chiccarelli (Morrissey, The Strokes, Minus The Bear), Bleached's second album is radio friendly rock with a serrated edge, channelling the likes of Black Flag alongside The Go-Gos. The album's title … Read more
Japanese Breakfast
Soft Sounds From Another Planet
Dead Oceans (2017)
All the best albums are made for mood. Some for when you’re feeling happy and carefree, and some for when you’re driving around the city in the pouring rain, with the neon lights of seafood restaurants and used car dealerships shimmering through your windshield and your tears. Japanese Breakfast is the latter, and Soft Sounds From Another Planet excels in that … Read more
Mitski
Be the Cowboy
Dead Oceans (2018)
Pop comes in many forms. Sometimes you find it on the radio as the nation’s favorite dance hit. Occasionally you’ll hear it pulsating from the walls of your favorite nightclubs. Then, sometimes, it pours out of the anxious head of an artist just looking to create something. Mitski’s fifth studio album, Be the Cowboy, explores different avenues of the genre. One … Read more
Shame
Songs of Praise
Dead Oceans (2018)
Shame seems to have captured some buzz. They’ve had several clips in big UK publications and their debut was issued on Dead Oceans here in the States. The band plays forceful and somewhat haunting punk that’s brutal and harsh, but with heart and authentic emotion that seeps throughout the tough-on-the-surface songs. Sure the band screams out descriptive lyrics like “bathe … Read more
Slowdive
Slowdive
Dead Oceans (2017)
Why do bands or musical partners decide to reconvene to see if the magic can still be conjured? There a slew of bands that have reunited for various reasons (cash grabs, nostalgia trips, etc) over the last five to ten years that range from exciting to shaking one’s head as to why reunions take place, and then, every once in … Read more
The Dirty Projectors
Rise Above
Dead Oceans (2007)
Last February, I went to the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, MI to catch a set by Grizzly Bear, Brooklyn neo-folk indie band. The opener, The Dirty Projectors, I had never heard of and they opened up with a swirling guitar driven jam. Two minutes into the song, the singer/guitarist started belting out the beginning lyrics to Black Flag's "Six … Read more
The Tallest Man on Earth
The Wild Hunt
Dead Oceans (2010)
Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man on Earth, wants to sound like Bob Dylan. Who doesn't? Well, I can name a few bands, but I won't go there. Besides, any comparisons to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer are a waste of time. The Tallest Man on Earth is his own musician with his own goals, even if it … Read more
The Tallest Man on Earth
There's No Leaving Now
Dead Oceans (2012)
Sweden’s Kristian Matsson (more popularly known as the Tallest Man On Earth) first found himself atop a mountain of praise in 2010 following the release of The Wild Hunt, wheedling his way into the hearts of many with soothing melodies and uplifting energy. Relying almost entirely on just his guitar and commanding voice, Matsson’s brand of folk garnered more than a … Read more
