I was a huge fan of Ozric Tentacles in my younger years. Their sound was true, escapist wonderment. No message or moral or artistic stance other than epic and tripped out music for its own sake. Progressive rock aspects of the band harmonized with my musical interests at the time in bands like Yes and… Continue reading Baldwin’s Choice: Ozric Tentacles
Category: Music
Album Review: Broken Bottles, Broken Bones by The Ratz
By Jeff McCarthy The album Broken Bottles, Broken Bones is completely raw jams, with definitive tones of the presumed-dead punk rock of the early 80s. In these uninhibited short anthems, I can taste a little Bad Brains, a touch of Ramones and a slathering Sex Pistols. Fuck you Johnny London, Donald Trump sucks!! The Ratz… Continue reading Album Review: Broken Bottles, Broken Bones by The Ratz
Band Interview: Mineva
In our effort to provide our readers coverage of the best new local music, we present to you Mineva, a fiery and passionate post-hardcore band. On their debut EP, Precious, Endless, Kevin Covill (vocals), Jason Moriarty (guitar, vocals), Sean Prior (guitar), Peter Stroczkowski (bass, vocals) and Anthony Buck (drums) deliver four songs of jagged, sincere… Continue reading Band Interview: Mineva
EP Review: The Long Dark Road (Self-Titled)
Ontario band The Long Dark Road takes a unique approach to to the adjective “blackened” on their self-titled EP, which is scheduled for release on April 8th. Teaser track “Tragedy of the Commons” starts off sounding like blackened Gaslight Anthem, then veers into heavier, angular riffs about halfway through the song — which then lead… Continue reading EP Review: The Long Dark Road (Self-Titled)
Album Review: Electric Ray and The Shockers’ California Torpedo
Proving the universality of music, Austrian band Electric Ray and The Shockers has released a slice of punky surf rock that sounds like it was hewn from San Diego’s Sunset Cliffs. California Torpedo is funky and irreverent enough to stand out in a familiar genre. Check out their video for “T.R.O.U.B.L.E.”: If the balloon-bathroom-acid-trip doesn’t sell… Continue reading Album Review: Electric Ray and The Shockers’ California Torpedo
EP Review: Downward Spiral
My buddy Marco G has been sending Alternative Control albums to review for a couple years, and Downward Spiral’s self-titled debut EP is my favorite so far. It builds on the musical ideas from his previous group Stikpin and the production is radio-ready. Marco plays guitar in the current incarnation, joined by Stikpin vocalist Chris… Continue reading EP Review: Downward Spiral
Album Review: Phat Astronaut Live
In a world that’s recorded to a click track and run through autotune… Where the sound of instruments is replaced with electronic imitations of the sound of instruments… One local band had the courage…. To release… A LIVE ALBUM… Recorded… At their FIRST SHOW. Okay, end movie trailer voice. Seriously though, who does that? Great… Continue reading Album Review: Phat Astronaut Live