Latest Posts

The Empty Page – “Level Sedentary” (and B-Side Dry Ice)

March 6, 2023

Manchester-based band, The Empty Page, brings a punk-tinged ode to depression and executive disfunction on their single “Level Sedentary.” Taking cues from 90’s Sonic Youth, Pavement, and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the meandering guitars and singer Kel’s voice feature prominently. Citing such depressive luminaries: “I’m Vonnegut/ I’m Plath/ I’m Proust/ I’m Bonnie Grape/ I’m Charlie Brown/Sometimes I wanna sleep forever…” toward the end of “Sedentary” really cemented my opinion on the wit of Kel’s lyrical composition. While “Level Sedentary” gradually warms up your ear drums and drags you to the couch for a chill day, the B-Side “Dry Ice” comes out kicking with thumping bass and drums. While initially a shock heel turn, you’ll soon find yourself matching Empty Page’s energy and bopping along to this masterclass in indie pop punk. If indie bands were stocks and I were Jim Cramer I would be yelling “STRONG BUY” with spittle flying[...]

Beachdust – “An Android Contemplates Love” (and b-side “OFF (O N) RESET!”)

March 5, 2023

Singles from artists in today’s environment of mainly digital releases are easy. You don’t have have to go to the record store to pick up a 45 inch record (or cassette) and can just pull up your preferred music service instantly! [/end elder millennial rant] My editor called for me to review “An Android Contemplates Love.” Ignoring the second half [B-Side track “OFF (O N) RESET!)] seemed silly so here’s a review of both. Beachdust is a solo act courtesy of California based Anthony Geovanny (from the label Little Death Sounds) and he is clearly a student of the psychedelic and new wave sounds of the 80’s. Talking Heads aficionados would certainly enjoy the energy Anthony brings in this and his other tracks. Strong synth and a constant guitar are in the driver seat for this meandering track that ponders the question of “what makes love so different?” from an[...]

Cottage Jefferson – B-Side

September 1, 2014

So, all good things must come to an end. Damn you, Chaucer—right again. Cottage Jefferson, Rochester’s favorite fuzz band, played what they announced to have been their final show back in May. Thankfully, that hasn’t stopped the quartet from tying up loose ends and putting out one last hurrah of an album. Titled B-Side, the exceptionally nostalgic 10-track album is a warm embrace, a phantom limb, a fist in the air. The songs have a good range of feeling and style without sounding scattered, sitting contentedly between the twinkly mood-jams of Built to Spill and the lethargic thickness of Dinosaur Jr. The record opens with “One Verse, No Chorus,” a gleeful three-chord jam with noodle guitar breakdowns, crunchy chords, and (despite what the title describes) what I consider to be a very catchy chorus. The song has a very casual feel to it and no shortage of hooks. For most,[...]