SHOW REVIEW: Mother Feather Album Release Party, May 13, 2016 // Brooklyn, NY

Photos by Jim Clegg. If there’s one pop rock band that belongs on Metal Blade, it’s Mother Feather.  They put out their first LP this Friday on the internationally known metal label, kicking things off with an exuberant release party at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. The stage show was dripping with sex, and this is… Continue reading SHOW REVIEW: Mother Feather Album Release Party, May 13, 2016 // Brooklyn, NY

Fairytale in the Fog: A Review of Iamthemorning’s Lighthouse

Iamthemorning is a duo from St. Petersburg, Russia, consisting of singer Marjana Semkina and pianist Gleb Kolyadin. A talented collective of guest musicians joins them on their third release, Lighthouse. And it’s an absolutely beautiful collection of progressive chamber rock. All I can say is, “wow.”  It’s been a while since I’ve heard a record… Continue reading Fairytale in the Fog: A Review of Iamthemorning’s Lighthouse

Guy Grogan’s Dynamite Bouquet: It’s Pretty Meta, Brah

With his ninth album Dynamite Bouquet, Guy Grogan serves up a slice of groovy pop rock that harkens back to the good ol’ 90s.   His PR company lists Nirvana as a comparison, but I heard a lot more Weezer in the riffs and vocal harmonies.  The Santa Fe singer/songwriter recorded all parts of the album himself and… Continue reading Guy Grogan’s Dynamite Bouquet: It’s Pretty Meta, Brah

Album Review: Gwen Stefani’s This is What the Truth Feels Like

What can Alternative Control say about Gwen Stefani’s new album?  This is What the Truth Feels Like is airy, poppy, and probably a little different than what most of our readers listen to.  For those of us who remember being in middle school and thinking No Doubt was the coolest thing since Tamigotchis, Stefani is a… Continue reading Album Review: Gwen Stefani’s This is What the Truth Feels Like

Album Review: Robert Nix’s Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon is Toronto alternative artist Robert Nix’s fifth full-length album.  He describes it as “appealing to the ‘intelligent alternative music fan,’” but in the end I was not intelligent enough for it.  The psychedelic feel changes proved too abrupt and I just couldn’t get into the groove.  That probably wouldn’t bother… Continue reading Album Review: Robert Nix’s Once in a Blue Moon

Who Is The Brain Room?

About six months ago, Jimmy Junk Bird and the Stiffs played an all-day fest at The Outer Space, where we met a groovy band called Quantum Funk.  We got to talking with QF’s drummer Todd Ellison, which eventually lead to booking a show with his other band, The Brain Room — and that show is… Continue reading Who Is The Brain Room?

Album Review: Andrea Bocelli’s Cinema

World-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli presents 16 epic film theme songs on his upcoming album Cinema, including  “No Llores Por Mi Argentina” from Evita and “Brucia La Terra” from The Godfather.  With three duets and songs in five languages, Cinema showcases what Bocelli does best: combining pop and classical elements to bring a high level of… Continue reading Album Review: Andrea Bocelli’s Cinema