Archived entries for Rock

Menomena – TAOS

Portland, Oregon’s Menomena use a wide array instruments in their songs. This one in particular has saxophone, piano, cello and the regular stuff. I don’t know why, but the saxophone really caught me off guard —that, and the sick drum breaks.

You can preorder the Menomena’s Mines here.

Menomena – TAOS

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Nine Inch Nails – All The Love In The World

Nine Inch Nails and Trent Reznor are endlessly interesting in his exploration of industrial / rock / and some may even include pop music (like this track). The soundscaping and textural integrity of “With Teeth” is enough for you to stand on the top of with your dark side.

Nine Inch Nails – All The Love In The World

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Young Mammals – 8 4 8

I heard very early mixes of this band sometime during CMJ a couple years ago. Despite the raw recordings, i could hear the cluster of small tinkerings and sounds that Young Mammals avalanche into epic, bigger creatures. While this tune is buried under reverbed harmonies and fuzzy walls of guitar, the song stands out clear and above it all. 848 is great pop in a pool of noise.

Watch here for something to pick up soon.

Young Mammals – 8 4 8

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In Tall Buildings – The Way to a Monster’s Lair

It’s always like finding treasure when you hear a singer/songwriter like Erik Hall writing singer/songwriter stuff that won’t sell in a coffee shop. The Way to a Monster’s Lair has that great yearn you hear in Mark Linkous, or Carter Tanton, or Neil Young, or any other man you imagine leaning over his guitar and bleeding songs out onto his scuffy basement carpet.

Buy the debut.

In Tall Buldings – Monsters Lair

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Grandchildren – Saturn Returns

This song is like an epic little journey. The type with dragon blood and velvet satchels of emeralds, but way cooler because it’s made entirely of heart racing melodies, and doesn’t have anything to do with wizardry.

Grandchildren have plenty of gems.

Grandchildren – Saturn Returns

Celebration – Our Hearts Don’t Change

With the dreams-you-have-in-a-coma vocals drifting above the army of drum rolls on this song, Celebration wrote a winner. They have more than a few which you should grab.

Celebration – Our Hearts Don’t Change

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Morning Teleportations – Expanding Anyway

This Morning Teleportations song reminds me of great turn of the century music, back when you didn’t feel like you were doing pop culture a disservice by calling it ‘indie rock’. With cluttered vocal hooks stitched to fit the chugging momentum of the track, the stop and go energy, and the warm chanting choruses, this song comes off so very anthemic.

I don’t think they have anything to pick up yet, but watch them on Glacial Pace.

Morning Teleportations – Expanding Anyway

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Miniboone – Cool Kids Cut Out of the Heart Itself

MiniBoone: Cool Kids Cut Out of the Heart Itself Music Video from MiniBoone on Vimeo.

This song has a ton of hype behind it. Not hype in that cool-sneakers-on-douchey-29-year-old’s kinda way, but in an entirely earnest, melodic, and belting unapologetically kind of way. Catchy as it is, this song will run you fucking over.

Miniboone has an EP to check out at their site, and a video that’s as fun as this song.

Dinosaur Feathers – Early Morning Risers

In the wake of springs and summers and sands and sandwiches and good things to come, enjoy Dinosaur Feathers. Not afraid to record with half decent fidelity, they seem like ambassadors to the sounds you hear when you think of all those things. Also, I’m pretty sure they own Pet Sounds.

Dinosaur Feathers – Early Morning Risers

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Josh Mease – Neon Ghost

This is one of those bright and haunting songs that remind you a little of Arcade Fire or Elliot Smith, but more so an eerie carousel or a park riddled with cicada chirps.

Get Wilderness here, it’s worth it.

Josh Mease – Neon Ghost

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Sparklehorse – Sunshine

Of all the headline losses in our recent year, Mark Linkous’s suicide will resonate the most with me. Sparklehorse songs have a great way of resting on melodies that both break your heart and mend it back. Nothing quipy here, I’m just sad to know he won’t be writing any new songs.

Sparklehorse – Sunshine

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The Tony Castles – Pirates

This Tony Castles song is the perfect track three on that mixtape you’re making for that long summer trip on a Twainian raft, going down a river with a bag of apples and nothing to think about.

Tony Castles – Pirates

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I’m Turning Into – I’m Going


When I turn 22 again, I’m going to wake up on Sunday afternoons, pour myself some Rice Krispies, watch DVRed episodes of Jeopardy, and listen to the muffled sounds of I’m Turning Into practice this song in the basement next door. When they walk past my porch later that evening, I’ll nod and say, “Sounded good today.”

I’m Turning Into – I’m Going

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