Album Review: The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
Dredg explores some new ground with old formulas on their impressive new release, The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion. Their former record and my personal favorite, Catch Without Arms, disappointed some hardcore fans who were expecting another Leifmotif or El Cielo. The album took a complete 180 from previous work and explored more accessible and pop-driven areas of Dredg's creative palette. This time around, the format is similar to El Cielo, as the record includes an epic 18-tracks. Just as El Cielo segued with instrumental interludes labeled as "Movements," Dredg calls these interludes (there are vocals) "Stamps of Origin" this ...
All In The Family: An Interview With Zechs Marquise
Named after a popular Japanese anime character, Zechs Marquise are comprised of familiar names. Brothers of The Mars Volta mastermind Omar, Marfred and Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez have formed their own prog-rock groove outfit along with childhood friends Matthew Wilkson and Marcos Smith. Following a long and complicated road toward completing their debut album, Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare is finally getting a proper release via Rodriguez-Lopez Productions. The band has also scored an opening slot on a tour with RX Bandits and Dredg. Fishpork got a chance to talk with bassist Marfred about recording the album on their own equipment, the excitement ...
NIN/JA @ PNC Arts Center
For a tour that is supposed to present the last performances for Nine Inch Nails as we know them (him), it seemed awkward for Trent Reznor and company to play a set before Jane's Addiction (a band that hasn't been relevant in 15 years). As it turns out, the outdoor venue ended up sucking a lot of the life from their performance, and Jane's Addiction proved they deserved to headline. Gone were the breathtaking lighting rigs from last year's "Lights In The Sky" shows and the sporadic small venue shows. Instead, we get $80 seats that practically require binoculars. I ...
Grizzly Bear @ The Trocadero
An anxious crowd looked on as Grizzly Bear members Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear set up their own equipment. After an exhausting three-night stint in New York and another gig in D.C. the night before, I wondered if the Brooklyn-based band had enough left to give a performance that would live up to the impossible hype that has built preceding the release of the brilliant Veckatimest. I saw Grizzly Bear once before back in 2006 when they opened up for TV on the Radio (also in Philly at Starlight Ballroom) but did not pay them much attention. Last night at ...
Album Review: Veckatimest
Veckatimest solidifies Grizzly Bear as indie rock royalty and supports the argument that 2009 may already be the best year indie music has seen this decade. As one of the most anticipated releases this side of Merriweather Post Pavilion, Veckatimest exceeds all expectations and may just be the best album of the year. It's difficult to describe a record that nears perfection, and Veckatimest deserves all accolades that come its way. The album leaked almost three months early, and less than adequate copies of this opus have been circulating for some time. Fortunately, the album officially releases next Tuesday (vinyl ...
Live Shows
NIN/JA @ PNC Arts Center
For a tour that is supposed to present the last performances for Nine Inch Nails as we know them (him),...
Grizzly Bear @ The Trocadero
An anxious crowd looked on as Grizzly Bear members Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear set up their own...
Great Northern @ The Bowery Ballroom
The crowd that greeted Great Northern last night at The Bowery Ballroom was quiet and modest. Vocalist...
Enon @ Johnny Brenda’s
Last night, one of my favorite bands officially became irrelevant. What seemed like a setup for the perfect...
Read More Lives ShowsInterviews
All In The Family: An Interview With Zechs Marquise
Named after a popular Japanese anime character, Zechs Marquise are...
Chasing the Dreaming California: An Interview With Friday Nights
The Ken Andrews and Matt Mahaffey (Self) influences are obvious on...
White Lies: Everything’s Got To Be Love Or Death
White Lies may be one of the most hyped British bands in recent memory,...
Controlled Chaos: An Interview with Girl Talk
Greg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) has evolved from mash-up novelty to...
Read More InterviewsRecord Reviews
Album Review: The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
Dredg explores some new ground with old formulas on their impressive new release, The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion. Their former record and my personal favorite, Catch Without Arms, disappointed some hardcore fans who were expecting another Leifmotif... [Read more of this review]
EP Review: Rainwater Cassette Exchange
Deerhunter’s last EP, Flourescent Grey, instantly found its way on my short-list for greatest EP releases of this or any decade. The band followed that up with Microcastle/Weird Era Cont., an even more impressive album (and companion) that was Fishpork’s... [Read more of this review]
Album Review: Veckatimest
Veckatimest solidifies Grizzly Bear as indie rock royalty and supports the argument that 2009 may already be the best year indie music has seen this decade. As one of the most anticipated releases this side of Merriweather Post Pavilion, Veckatimest exceeds... [Read more of this review]
Album Review: Two Suns
Bat for Lashes’ Two Suns shows unprecedented maturity and growth that few artists achieve in their sophomore effort (especially considering the high praise her first record Horse and I received). Such did not go unnoticed among her peers, as Thom... [Read more of this review]
Album Review: Dark Was The Night
Compilation releases rarely get much consideration on end-of-year lists, but this year’s Dark Was The Night will defy that logic. Produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner from The National, the album’s proceeds go to the Red Hot Organization, a... [Read more of this review]
Album Review: Remind Me Where The Light Is
My bold prediction of 2009: Great Northern will not be on an independent label for much longer. The epic and stunning Remind Me Where The Light Is is one of the most complete and compelling records I’ve heard so far this year. While not my favorite... [Read more of this review]
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