http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:11:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/493 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/493#comments Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:31:40 +0000 Bill Boguski http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=493 Wind’s Poem echos a loud sonic force that Phil Elverum has never before been attempted on this scale. Phil’s introspective endeavors from the Microphones into Mount Eerie have always captured an ethereal essence this one brutally grabs hold of it]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/493/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/480 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/480#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:48:09 +0000 Mike Romankiewicz http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=480 Everyone needs a few albums in their collection that they can throw on- usually on a whim or during a fleeting moment of giddiness- to capitalize on or add a little musical light-heartedness to the day. For me, Manners, the first full-length release by Passion Pit is that ticket]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/480/feed 1 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/464 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/464#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 15:10:40 +0000 Bill Boguski http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=464 Conor Oberst has always rode a fine line as far as acclaim came. Some flip flopped, some stuck it through and others never got it. ]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/464/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/441 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/441#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:30:22 +0000 Sara Greene http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=441 Their dreamy yet reserved approach is appealing and a nice change of pace, in comparison to a lot of modern acts whom seem to force experimentation. ]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/441/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/449 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/449#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:09:10 +0000 Jonathan Martin http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=449 Jof Owen and Pete Hobbs are armed with the same weapons they used to create 2005's The Best Party Ever. Pete's distinctly adolescent music (in spirit, not ability) continues to be the perfect compliment to Jof's primarily morose lyrics. The glockenspiel's still there and so is the banjo, but the production is much better this time around. ]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/449/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/421 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/421#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:27:56 +0000 Mike Romankiewicz http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=421 When was the last time you came across a recording that caused you to examine what you thought you knew about music? Mystery, the first EP from the Johannesburg, South Africa-based quartet BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks), packs a potent potential for this type of musical introspection. I don’t know how else to describe it but as an experience. Seat belts recommended.]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/421/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/409 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/409#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:23:36 +0000 Matthew Ismael Ruiz http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=409 ...a perfect example of Bat For Lashes’ sound; she uses natural, organic-sounding instruments to create a beautiful but decidedly unearthly sound. Khan describes her “musical landscape” as one that melds “ancient and modern, dark and night.” She tries to create layers of noise and lush sounds, but admits to the emotional intensity of her music. “The type of music we giving out is quite spiritual,” Khan told HIP Video. “It doesn’t come across well if you’re feeling bad about yourself.”]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/409/feed 1 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/401 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/401#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:22:19 +0000 Bill Boguski http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=401 Looking at past material like Hutch and Kathy and Urban Legends I can’t help but feel that this current Thermals sound is the purest they’ve been. The Thermals may have started out as a fun project to make music, but the current direction seems to hold what I’ve loved while moving in what direction Hutch and Kathy seem most comfortable with. ]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/401/feed 1 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/319 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/319#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:08:54 +0000 Matthew Ismael Ruiz http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=319 So goes the conventional wisdom in indie rock circles. Band forms, Band makes record, Band gains loyal following of hardcore fans. Band gets bored, Band begins to evolve their sound, hardcore fans scream bloody murder, sellout, etc. It’s a tiresome cliché, and not just because it’s asinine to expect hyper-creative people like musicians to keep churning out the same thing year after year. Some of the greatest pop music has been born out of such experimentation. ]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/319/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/315 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/315#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:06:24 +0000 Matthew Ismael Ruiz http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=315 Foot-tapping percussion and equally catchy (yet simple) melodies have always driven their infectious brand of pop. It’s what makes this kind of music enjoyable; the saddest lyrics in the world can put a smile on your face if you’re dancing along.]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/315/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/263 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/263#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:57:07 +0000 Sara Greene http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=263 The dichotomy of sounds makes Bromst a bit more inviting for listeners without it being entirely accessible. And with the introduction to more organic instruments, this does not necessarily make this record more mature or sophisticated. If anything, it seems a tad easier to be more appreciative of what Dan Deacon is truly capable of.]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/263/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/327 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/327#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:25:41 +0000 Mike Romankiewicz http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=327 While The Wrens have been active in the recording industry for some years now, The Meadowlands offered my first taste of the Secaucus, NJ-based band. Purchased used on a whim, I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings contained within.]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/327/feed 1 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/243 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/243#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:23:39 +0000 Matthew Ismael Ruiz http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=243 Fame and success affect everyone differently. For many an MC, a smash debut album is celebrated by cruising through their hood in a brand new Lamborghini, à la Young Jeezy. Others might buy mama her dream[...]]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/243/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/218 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/218#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:17:43 +0000 Matthew Ismael Ruiz http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=218 All things considered, there really is nothing surprising about The Hazards of Love, the newest release from Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists. Colin Meloy has been singing about rakes and rastabouts, corn crakes, villains[...]]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/218/feed 0 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/224 http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/224#comments Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:17:26 +0000 Stephen http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/?p=224 The first 37 seconds of the title track on Limbs third album, Seeds on a Stone, evokes a feeling of good things to come. The choppy and abstract drums, along with the heavy bass line [...]]]> http://www.betterthandisco.com/articles/music_reviews/224/feed 0