Los Angeles South Bay Music Scene is Alive and Well
Through two South Bay filmmakers, local South Bay bands are now reaching a more widespread audience.
Author: James
UK Pop Anomalies The Chap Sign To Ghostly International
UK’s bizzaro-electro-rock sensation The Chap has signed to beloved electronic superlabel Ghostly International. The Chap is a three/four/five piece modern pop group based in North London. After receiving critical acclaim from more than a few worthy individuals for their first two albums, The Chap serve up their third release, the ambitious Mega Breakfast, which will be released in the US on July 1st.
Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs #31
Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs #31 / $2? / 28M / 445 ½ Randolph St, Meadville, PA 16335 / http://www.freewebs.com/50eggs / Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs has came with an issue in a very short period of time. It was only a few days ago that I last had the chance to review the zine, and this go around seems much more strong than #30. #30 was a solid read,…
Lulu’s Puppet in Chains
Lulu’s Puppet in Chains / Half / 16 Pages / Brenden McDonald /Â While this artist is not afraid to place his name, one wonders if ey might not have waited before publishing this very short zine. Very sketchily done, Lulu’s Puppet in Chains details probably about a minute of action, and ends without any serious resolution. The cover of the zine, sadly, might be the most interesting part of…
CENTURY launches e-card featuring three songs, tour dates, video trailer
Pennsylvania’s CENTURY has posted an online e-Card here (http://www.blackoceanalbum.com/), featuring three tracks from the band’s forthcoming effort, ‘Black Ocean,’ alongside biographical information, tour dates, and a trailer for the “Black Ocean†music video, which will see a debut on MTV2’s Headbangers Ball later this month. Fans can also spread the word about the e-Card at the above link. In the meantime, ‘Black Ocean’ will see an April 29 release on…
Dierks Bentley Treks Over Three Continents To Play Festivals
In just five short years, country music star Dierks Bentley skyrocketed from playing dive bars on Nashville’s Second Ave. for tips to headlining some of the biggest summer stages across the country; and this year, Bentley plans to take his live show around the world in an effort to connect with as many new fans as possible. Along with headlining some of the biggest music festivals in the United States,…
Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs #30
Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs #30 / $2? / 28M / 445 ½ Randolph St, Meadville, PA 16335 / http://www.freewebs.com/50eggs / Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs is a zine that I always look forward to. The writing and art style of Steve Steiner (the focus behind the magazine) is fun and very distinctive. As I have said in previous reviews of this zine, Steve is VERY influenced by the sixties…
The Woods Release S/T Album 5/13
To the untrained ear, The Woods is a lost Jeff Mangum field recording of a peyote-influenced Florida cult sing-along. But the trained ear would clearly hear that The Woods is a lost Jeff Mangum field recording of an acid-induced Florida cult sing-along. If you’re asking “what’s the difference†then you’re paying attention and that’s a good start.
Tift Merritt – Another Country
Tift Merritt – Another Country / 2008 Fantasy / 11 Tracks / http://www.tiftmerritt.com / Tift Merritt is rapidly closing in on eir second decade in the country music business. 1999 saw the first EP release for Merritt, which featured two original songs and five re-tooled versions of eir favorite country tracks. After three releases beyond this first one, Merritt has settled in quite nicely to a mature style. “Another Country 
Psychostick Announces “Terrible Shirt” Tour
With their “Holy Crap We’re Touring” Tour only a few weeks behind them, PSYCHOSTICK has announced their next cross-country trek: THE TERRIBLE SHIRT TOUR. It’s as dumb as it sounds – and their legion of fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
Low Hug #10
Low Hug #10 / $3 / 1:15 / 48M / A.J. Michel, PO Box 877, Lansdowne, PA 19050 / http://www.lowhug.blogspot.com /Â I had heard of Low Hug for a while before actually picking this issue up, but I never in my wildest dreams thought that it would be such a philosophical and well thoughtout type of zine. There are segments and selections from different works that include anarchist writers such…
The Kooks Release Limited Edition Album “RAK” As A Companion To Sophomore Album “KONK
Featuring 9 new songs, and named in the tradition of KONK (after the studio in which it was recorded), RAK will be available in physical format only, so head to your local record store to pick up your copy.
There Will Be Blood (2-Disc Collector’s Set)
There Will Be Blood / 2008 Paramount / 158 Minutes / http://www.paramountvantage.com / The one fact about There Will Be Blood that I had no clue about before watching the DVD is that it is loosely based on the Upton Sinclair classic, Oil!. While I am not familiar with the original book, Sinclair’s “The Jungle†is a work that everyone should familiarize themselves with. If individuals have not familiarized themselves…
Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs #26
Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs #26 / $? / 20M / http://www.myspace.com/eat50eggs / 445 ½ Randolph Street, Meadville PA 16335 / Nobody Can Eat 50 Eggs is always an interesting zine. This issue begins with a color cover of seagulls, and moves from that into one of the “True Adventures of Steve Steinerâ€. This issue of NCE50E has a varied approach, which means that much like an issue of MAD…
Sam Champion To Release Sophomore LP “Heavenly Bender” Out July 15th North Street Records
SM CHMPN EP Out Now On RCRD LBL : http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Sam_Champion/music Stereogum : “an absolute force of nature” Gorillavsbear : “these guys are the truth and i hear they are better live”
JUNIPER LANE Releases Their Self-Promoted Album “Wake From Yourself”
“Juniper Lane’s sound equally appeals to those who listen to Top 40 radio, and those who read Filter Magazine.†– All Music Guide
In The Name of the King – A Dungeon Siege Tale
In The Name of the King – A Dungeon Siege Tale / 2008 Fox / 127 Minutes / http://www.fox.com / The secondary title for this film may be a little confusing for those individuals that have not played Dungeon Siege. For individuals that have not, it is a 2003 game (with a number of sequels) that is in the action RPG genre; individuals build their character up from their beginnings…
Water Fai – Girls In The White Dream
Water Fai – Girls In The White Dream / 2007 White Shoe / 8 Tracks / http://www.waterfai.fem.jp / http://www.whiteshoerecords.com / I always wondered why it was so hard to get CDs from Japan. It seemed that the prices were exorbitant or the quantity not to be had. The reason why I am musing about this is because Water Fai is from Japan (specifically, from Osaka) and they start out their…
Kingen – Ride With Me
Kingen – Ride With Me / 2007 Black Cat / 11 Tracks / http://www.fargfabiken.se / http://www.blackcatsongs.com / Kingen plays a very classy style of rock that will undoubtedly remind individuals of the early days of rock and roll. “Mary-Ann” could easily have been a hit in 1958 as it will undoubtedly be in 2008. The best thing about Kingen’s style on “Ride With Me” has to be the fact that…
Command and Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath (PC)
“Kane’s Wrath” is an expansion, as individuals can likely guess, to Command and Conquer 3. This review covers the PC version only, as the Xbox 360 version is set to be released on June 10th. The most interesting thing that individuals will immediately notice as a difference from Command and Conquer 3 to Kane’s Wrath is the Global Conquest mode, which changes up the real-time strategy (RTS) elements of the…