by Admin | Dec 23, 2019 | Album of the Week
First, a science lesson: Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter. They’re made up of only three basic subatomic particles – electrons, protons and neutrons, as you probably remember from sixth grade. Their dance, multiplied across the 1080 or so...
by Admin | Nov 25, 2019 | Album of the Week
Forget the surreal cosmic expanse on the cover of Bold Folly’s I Think That It Is Wonderful- the key setting of the album is far more cramped: the dirty mouth. It’s an image that pops up at least twice, as far as I could decipher from guitarist and vocalist Timothy...
by Dan Bauer | Dec 10, 2018 | Album of the Week
SMUG’s new album, Gorgeous, knows exactly what it is: bratty pop-punk marked by massive, inescapable hooks. Through ten songs, “Gorgeous” never wavers from its goal to get you moshing with your friends now and humming to yourself later. Opener “Robbed Blind” sets the...
by Dan Bauer | Oct 11, 2018 | Rochester
Most rock songs are written with a particular, predictable pattern in mind – a rise and a fall, a bob and a weave. “In 3,” the new single from Rochester’s Anamon, is more like 5 quick punches to head – unorthodox, but effective. “It’s not real,” croons...
by Dan Bauer | Sep 26, 2018 | Preview
Neko Case made headlines earlier this month for a series of tweets lambasting Bradley Cooper as the “beige demon who makes sure very standard white dudes get to be in everything,” but if you were unfamiliar with her name up to that point, you’ve been missing out. Over...
by Dan Bauer | Sep 24, 2018 | Album of the Week
Seemingly, the biggest outlier on Red Heat’s new album, Dark Days, is the song “Yojimbo.” Most of the songs on the album are very literal and highly political, but “Yojimbo” is a relatively direct recounting of the movie of the same name. In their fierce, subtly...
by Dan Bauer | Sep 10, 2018 | Album of the Week
Cycle, the latest EP from synth-pop quartet Humble Braggers, is excellent, danceable and almost entirely bereft of hope. The cycle that the album title alludes to goes something like this: Feel lonely, feel desire; Take a risk, regret the consequences; Find...
by Dan Bauer | Aug 27, 2018 | Album of the Week
Leyda evokes the feeling of college. Not Asher Roth’s college, not “Animal House,” but the actual emotional space of the place. You’re constantly two different people. On one hand, you’re hopeful, idealistic, excited to see how life turnedyer hand, day-to-day life is...
by Dan Bauer | Aug 13, 2018 | Album of the Week
Muggerhugger, the latest release from Venus Vacation (formerly known as Major Arcana) is a hard album to place. That’s not only because the vocals, song structures and levels of intensity are so unpredictable (though they are, and compellingly so). It’s because of the...
by Dan Bauer | Jul 16, 2018 | Album of the Week
SLINKY X’s Darn is a feelgood summer record if, for you, feeling good in the summer means waking up late and groggy on a Sunday, throwing on yesterday’s clothes, jumping in the car and stopping at the gas station on the way to a party because, while you didn’t have...
by Dan Bauer | Jul 9, 2018 | Album of the Week
Don’t Like Most Things, the new release from Rochester’s Soft Opening, is not nearly as misanthropic as the title suggests. Far from it, in fact – the best moments of the album spring from longing for connection, not denying it. The first song, “Don’t Bury Me...
by Dan Bauer | Apr 19, 2015 | Preview
Tonight: Pale Angels come through the Glitterbox with local support from JOHNS, Kharlos and a “v. new” Alien Three. Pale Angels put a fuzzy sheen on what are, at their core, solid guitar-driven pop songs. Reminds me of the appeal of bands like Nirvana a...
by Dan Bauer | Apr 17, 2015 | Preview
Sugar City plays host to Manchester’s Desmadrados Soldados De Ventura tonight, joined by Flesh Trade, Cages and trio Baczkowksi/Abramson/Sack. Desmadrados Soldados De Ventura create huge walls of sound and fuzz that could properly be called...
by Dan Bauer | Apr 7, 2015 | Preview
Tonight, Mohawk Place will host singer-songwriter Jeffrey Lewis with local support from Jack Topht and Max Weiss. Even if you don’t know Jeffrey Lewis, he is still probably like a guy that you know. With some hope, I might say their ranks are growing: the witty,...
by Dan Bauer | Apr 5, 2015 | Preview
Last time Richard Album came through town, a bunch of people crowded into the living room of the Jungle Gym. I think he was wearing black lipstick, and maybe a tie. There were candles and the lights were low, but Richard was up and down the aisle of people acting...
