Noel Monk managed Van Halen from 1978 – 1985, the biggest rock band in the world during that run. And while he was ultimately fired from the band and cut out of millions of dollars, he certainly left the gig with a slew of stories, funny, sad and salacious. Thanks to a 30-plus year NDA agreement that has recently run out, he’s now able to channel the best of those…
With a title like that, you kind of know what you’re in for. Spread across two records, this 28-song, 75-minute opus is a pretty bold experiment for the Athens-based indie pop band just three albums into their career. Surprisingly, it pays off handsomely.
Londale is able to tell a complete and engaging story with their new album AM/FM. The album begins with Hey, a rock track that soars on chugging guitars, on point drums, and charismatic vocals. Fans of Cheap Trick, Live, and Alkaline Trio will be able to appreciate what Londale has put forward. Hold Me Down is another unique track that draws upon a varied musical tradition. This means that there are…
Australia’s Eztain has just released his Iconoclast EP, a release that touches upon a number of distinct electronic styles. The first track (and titular effort) on this EP is able to create a cogent narrative while being an instrumental composition. Strong syntheseizer and a shuffling beat build off of the style of artists like Daft Punk and Cassius. There is just enough spontaneity here to the momentum high until the…
The past two years spent on the road have done nothing to dull the sound and ambitions of Nashville, by way of Birmingham’s Banditos. Their 2015 debut was a magnificent mix of ZZ Top and the Georgia Satellites. The follow up, “Visionland,” doubles down on those same ingredients and the result is twice as rewarding.
It would be easy to simply dismiss Sammy Brue’s debut LP “I Am Nice” as little more than a novelty. It’s the work of a 15-year-old, so naturally a raised eyebrow or two can be expected. However, that kind of simplistic thinking is moot just one song into the record as you quickly learn, Brue is a fantastic singer/guitar player and an even better song writer.
Over the years, SideOneDummy has done a yeoman’s job of discovering an eclectic and brilliant collection of indie and punk musicians and bringing them to a larger audience. From Gogol Bordello and Flogging Molly to Gaslight Anthem and the Smith Street Band, the LA-based label has a helluva track record. Add West Virginia’s Rozwell Kid to the list.
My Subconscious starts off in an ominous fashion, providing a bit of world-building before Deaf/Blind/Dumb begin their self-titled EP. Guitar fuzz, a nasty guitar / drum dynamic, and a shuffling beat will get listeners into the release; crust, a bit of thrash, and 1980s hardcore punk can all be heard here. The track picks up speed, with a few seconds of guitar before intense vocals take over. Stud Count is a…
Can you give us a little background information about yourself? We are Trae Byrnes, an Alternative band from the north side of Chicago. We all have are own Influences that we incorporate into our music which makes a nice blend of ear soothing yet hectic music. (Danny Eddz)
Big Star were a tragically underrated band for their time and while they have finally clawed their way up to cult status, thanks in part to a deep love from a slew of influential musicians, sadly there is only one surviving original member of the band left. As this deep cuts-collection from a pre-Big Star Chris Bell shows, the talent was there long before the band was founded.
