Reviews |

Reviews

« Previous Entries

Nurses-Dracula (Review)

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Dracula, the second full length from Portland psychedelic pop trio Nurses is in every way an extension of its predecessor, 2009’s debut Apple’s Acre. The album is completely intoxicating in its smoky haze of atmospheric electronics and falsettos. Swelling in melodies and echoing in synths, it’s a blend of catchy pop rhythms, new wave retro instrumentation, and pitch […]

MusicfestNW 2011 Wrap Up

Monday, September 12th, 2011

This last week/weekend found most of downtown Portland and beyond dominated by the massive musical festival that is the annual MFNW. Set over 5 hot and muggy summer days and dozens of venues around the city, it featured an outdoor stage in Pioneer Court House Square and acts ranging from the local to international. Here’s […]

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks-Mirror Traffic (Review)

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

For a supposed poster boy of slackers everywhere, Stephen Malkmus is as prolific a songwriter as they come. He’s been fronting the Jicks, his rotating cast of supporting players who currently include Jake Morris, Mike Clark, and Joanna Bolme, for over 10 years, almost as long as he fronted some band in the 90’s called Pavement. His latest album, […]

Bon Iver shits gold - or shits ON gold

Friday, June 10th, 2011

Bon Iver’s new album, “Bon Iver,” is streaming on NPR right now before its June 21 release date. The follow-up to 2008’s debut, “For Emma, Forever Ago” is very solid, with wide instrumentation and a beautiful sonic space. Nine songs roll by seamlessly until that last number, which almost ruins the whole thing. It might […]

HUGE show: Velvet Teen, Goodriddler, Odd Bird + 11 others

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Low Five, featuring Nick, AKA Goodriddler on drums.

The Velvet Teen’s Matthew Izen plays the brick wall, an ancient English instrument.

Odd Bird, featuring Ashley Allred and Judah Nagler. That’s an autoharp, in case my photographic genius didn’t already show that.

Golden Roil, featuring members of Not to Reason Why, blend beautiful harmonies with sparse instrumentation.
golden roil vid

Let It Go with Orca Team

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

It may not seem like it right now with the ever persistent clouds hovering overhead in Portland, but summer is just around the corner. And of all the tasks that come with the season, Orca Team has just crossed one off your list; finding the perfect summer soundtrack. Their surf rock debut, Let It Go, […]

Typhoon’s ‘Hunger and Thirst’

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Catching Typhoon live a few months ago, I was first struck by the sheer size of the group. I counted two drummers, guitars, horns, and a veritable chorus of backup players. And yet, it played out so seamlessly, I barely noticed when the harmonies rolled in and out of the thunderously […]

Chrome Lotus has many nicknames… none of them good

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Santa Rosa’s newest hip nightclub is also the city’s newest rock music venue. Let that marinate for a second.
That’s right. The same douchebags and bagettes you see on “Jersey Shore” and “Downtown Santa Rosa” are the first thing you see in Chrome Chodus. Pool tables, a big bar, GIANT televisions everywhere, very, very loud top […]

A Place to Bury Strangers Play Former Funeral Home

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

The term “waking the dead” came to mind many times last night. On one hand you have The Woods, a building that began life as a funeral parlor. Now, the venue in southeast Portland is home to more inviting ambiance. A small bar along the side, antique chairs lining the walls, and an upright piano […]

The Dodos were simply Magik*

Friday, February 26th, 2010

The Dodos played with the Magik Magik Orchestra at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF Feb. 24. Photo by Anne Ostrowski
The orchestra and band thing doesn’t always pan out to be the best idea in the world. Death Cab touring with orchestra - yes. Radiohead and strings - sure. Metallica and a symphony? Not […]

Smooth sailing on a rickshaw: Foreign Born and Fresh and Onlys

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Foreign Born 2/24/10 Rickshaw Stop, Sf. Photo by nick g.
Last night brought a twinge of nostalgia. Foreign Born played with The Fresh and Onlys at Rickshaw Stop in SF last night as part of the Noisepop festival. I swear there was a touch of Dick Dale and Nelson Mandela in the air.
Fresh and Onlys was […]

L.A.T.F.H.

Friday, February 19th, 2010

The sight is called ” Look At This Fucking Hipster “. Looks like most all of the people I see everywhere around the S.E. Portland, eh? If you want to laugh and be grossed out by the audacity of it all , feel free to take a gander at : http://www.latfh.com/ . I also came across some other hipster […]

Fecal Face highlights local artist Meredith Dittmarr

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

The Local artist by the name of Meredith Dittmarr was recently interviewed in FECAL FACE. Meredith Dittmar creates clay type sculptures in very interesting displays, using premo polymer-clay and wire. She has a current show on N. Mississippi street here in Portland at a children’s store called Black Wagon, note that particular exhibit was meant for children and […]

Grass Hut store - Local artists APAK

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

Apak are the husband and wife creative wonder duo of Aaron Piland and Ayumi Kajikawa Piland. They and some other great local artists have created a small store collaboratively “for fun.” The store is the Grass Hut on Burnside in that small row of boutiques and fancy stuff. Grass Hut shows art every first Friday of each month. […]

Top Albums of 2009

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

I have been listening to a boat load of albums lately, trying to catch up enough on 2009 to collect a best of list. I don’t think I quite got it all, but here are some of my favorites of the year.And for the record, no, Animal Collective will NOT be on this list. They […]

vision of the future, my ass.

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Visioneers is a not a movie you should see if you hate your life. In the end, everything works out fine, which as we all know is never the case in real life.
But if you’re in a relatively sane state of mind, it’s a great flick.
George Washington Winsterhammerman (he says his name several times in […]

I’d hug that fire, for sure.

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Not To Reason Why’s new album melts my heart
Rating: Vinyl: 9/10. CD: 8.5/10

The gentlemen, and lady, of Not To Reason Why.
Photo by www.sarasanger.com.
Not To Reason Why is melting the hearts (and faces) of audiences in Sonoma County, throwing new logs on the waning fire that is the North Bay music scene. Their latest release and […]

zombiezies

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

Above pic is not from Santa Rosa. It is from The Internet. I cheat.
Downtown Santa Rosa was crawling with zombies this afternoon. Zombies promoting universal health care in the United States.
WTF?
Seemingly strange connection to make, but Michael Houghton of Section M fame felt it was a good way to get the point across that we […]

Experimental Dental School Rocks Rontoms

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Last night we ventured out for a free show at Rontoms. Part of the club’s Sunday series, the show was a kick ass collection of Portland’s finest. First up was the post punk/shoegaze outfit, Fuck You Safari. Things didn’t get any more PC with Fist Fite, and finally Experimental Dental School headlining the shindig. More […]

Audium 9

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

I held my head with my hands between my knees and felt like I was dying. I was seeing my life flash before my eyes, or rather hearing it flash before my ears. All the sounds I had just experienced, which felt like a life well-lived, were coming back. Just as I became comfortable, just […]