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Craft Spells – Idle LaborCaptured Tracks-out now3.5 / 5 The dream-scapes crafted by the Stockton, CA dream pop outfit well suit their name: they are well crafted, and sneak upon the listener like a spell. Evoking a demure Ariel Pink vocally, Craft Spells balances their tracks similarly, scooping in a big heft of guitar and synth that almost overpowers the shy, almost monotone vocals. While not exactly what we had in mind, there’s no denying that “Party Talk” comes off sparkling and shimmering, “After the Moment” just as laid-back, with the overall effect suiting well your 80s high-school-crush flashbacks. We think fellow dream-poppers will adoreRead More →

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Freddie Hubbard – “Pinnacle: from Keystone Korner”Resonance Records-out now4.5 / 5 Wow. Let’s just say that first. One of the most blazing jazz trumpeters in the history of the music comes back from the vaults with this posthumous live release from San Fran. Next, let’s get this out of the way: the sound quality is maybe 3.5/5. It’s recorded live, some 30 years old. Get over it. Now, onto the juice of the matter: Pinnacle is pure gold. We don’t feature jazz often enough, and Hubbard blasts through with “The Intrepid Fox,” tearing a veritable hole in our eardrums – in a good, earth-shattering wayRead More →

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Slow Club – “Paradise”Moshi Moshi-out now3.5 / 5 We admit, we’re a little slow to get onto this train, but we’ll admit our shortcomings: Slow Club has a good thing going. Yes, we’re still a fan of those slower ditties, “You, Earth or Ash” and “Gold Mountain,” but on this release (the UK duo’s sophomore) we think they hit upon a winning combination of rock, Rebecca Taylor’s strong vocals, and Charles Watson’s bangin’ guitar (he also vocalizes a bit, too). The songs on Paradise run a strong gamut of rockers and ballads, just steaming on the kinda sexist “Where I’m Waking,” (“I can see youRead More →

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Deer Tick – “Divine Providence”Partisan Records-out yesterday3.5 / 5 Deer Tick, one of our favorite bands from the Ocean State, has been cranking these albums out like it’s a bad case of fleas. But there is good news here: if you have an itch for J. J. McCauley and Co., then you should scratch. Divine Providence, while not truly divine (see War Elephant, Black Dirt Sessions, or one of his many excellent collaborations) is still the same old grizzled, beer-guzzling, ditch-your-blow-up-doll-on-route-195-and-don’t-look-back kinda band that rocks out your socks out. But this album isn’t somber and gorgeous as BDS, nor is it as brilliant and barebonesRead More →