Alt Reviews

The glorious thing about music that doesn’t waste its time on words, is that I can make up any meaning that I desire. This is especially true for the spy-movie sounds of Nu Jazz/Jazztronica. Ok, I closed my eyes and the movie playing in my head was that of a secret…

EMU provide a working class battle-cry on “Average Lad” that is missing in the landscape of 2020 popular music where the musicians tend to emphasize the kind of fantasy dream-life unobtainable for the majority of their listeners. Strictly musically I enjoyed…

Degree of Being got the hip shakes like Jagger. In fact “Night Sweats“, that sounds like some blues-rock blasphemies thrown at a hated enemy, reminded me of a lost Stones classic, “Down in the hole“. It takes a really good rhythm section to make…

Power-pop groups like Weezer, OK GO, or Cheap Trick inspire great devotion in their legions of fans, who usually bond over the well-crafted songs, and the geekdom allegiance of their authors. If you’ve worn out your Posies and Big Star records, I’d suggest it…

This is Slug is an interesting project that proves the importance of really paying close attention to your music. On the surface, this reminded me of Swedish-pop what with its nice melodies, and rigid vocal tone. However, This is Slug presents itself as a math-rock unit.

1.0.8. – Sawdust and Hay 1.0.8. is and Indie Folk, Alternative Rock band from England. Andrew Stewart is the leader of the band. Here’s a single dealing with “the optimism and innocence of the 1950’s”. Ok, now. 1.0.8. play music inspired…

The future is unwritten and uncertain. One thing looks clear. If a new era is going to have us in it, in a similar fashion to the way that we are living now, digitalization will take over our lives, rather than simply enhance them. Carbon Fiber House talks about the…

The hardest thing to fake about alternative rock of the 90s variety is the sense of despair, like laughing at an incoming mushroom cloud. Gawn are able to do that. I suspect they’re playing, but they do it very well. The intro sounds like the Pixies, and they quote…

It’s hard to find musicians unobsessed with being cool these days. Harbor Day is such an act. If this were a pop song, I’m not sure I’d enjoy it. But, this is a novelty-pop song, to my ears, and reminds me of the brilliant Beetlejuice scene where they…