AudioVole
Record Dialectic
SebastiAn – Total
After five years toying around on Ed Banger Records, releasing EPs and remixes, French electro-house DJ SebastiAn drops his insanely long, exhausting, and often exhilarating debut Total. Musician, video-maker, and artist Steven Golliday joins me to discuss this album and the state of the “album” as a concept in general. And yes, dude is totally … Continue reading
WASHED OUT – Within and Without
Washed Out’s first LP, Within and Without, is bigger, tighter, and catchier than his two previous EPs. It’s a major step for a young artist ready to come out from under the “chillwave” umbrella. While Megan takes issue with NPR’s claim that the album is made for dancing, I’m content to let the album wash … Continue reading
YACHT – Shangri-La
YACHT’s Shangri-La is the band’s best album to date, one that sees relative newcomer and science fiction guru, Claire L Evans take the fore with deft command of each danceable, addictive track. YACHT may also be a cult. Natalie assures me otherwise, but Claire did say she wants to be my God, so…
GREEN DAY – Dookie
Power chords! 2 minute songs! 1994! Punk RAWK! 15 million copies sold! Green Day’s Dookie will go down as one of the most important albums of the 90’s. But it’s been 17 years since its release. 17 years since every middle-schooler you knew was singing along to “Basket Case.” Rolling Stone put it in the … Continue reading
WOODS – Sun and Shade
Woods release their third album in as many years with Sun and Shade via Woodsist on June 14th. Woods have established themselves as a surprisingly consistent band, avoiding the pratfalls and missteps of many of their equally prolific contemporaries. But as the band continues to churn out good albums, when does “good” cease to be … Continue reading
GIL SCOTT-HERON and JAMIE XX – I’m New Here & We’re New Here
Last Friday, the “Godfather of Hip-Hop,” Gil Scott-Heron passed away at the age of 62. His music and poetry, often one in the same, touched more people and influenced more art and music than most realize. He was a trailblazer, an egotist, a crack addict, a visionary, a novelist, a poet, an activist, a lover, … Continue reading
KEY LOSERS – California Lite
Dear Nora’s Katy Davidson just released the first full length album from her newest project, Key Losers, featuring the Key Losers Black Crow Session band, which itself is chock full of Pacific Northwest superstars. The album’s being released on Phil Elverum’s P.W. Elverum and Sun imprint as an LP and digital download. It’s an exploration … Continue reading
YOUNG WIDOWS – In and Out of Youth and Lightness
Rchl: Young Widows recently released their third album, In and Out of Youth and Lightness, on Temporary Residence Limited. The Louisville, Kentucky noise rock trio continues to morph and astound. I mean, they were born from the ashes of Breather Resist, and although you can still hear Nick Thieneman’s heavy, punching bass lines, Evan Patterson’s … Continue reading
EMA – Past Life Martyred Saints
EMA’s debut solo album, Past Life Martyred Saints is a tragic, sincere, and all too often, tragically sincere record from this South Dakotan native that will sneak up on you and break your heart like the ass hole that it is. The beautiful, beautiful ass hole. Megan Bowers joins Brandon to hash it out.
tUnE-YarDs – w h o k i l l
It’s hard to listen to w h o k i l l, Merrill Garbus’s second album under the tUnE-YarDs monicker, and not hear in it a culmination of a long, rapid journey (she literally moved from Montreal to Oakland), and a realization of every ounce of potential displayed and, for too many people, hidden in … Continue reading
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