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Matthew Logan Vasquez – Solicitor ReturnsNo label-out now4 / 5 Let’s cut to the chase for y’all: it’s a good album. Now Austin-based rocker/writer Matthew Logan Vasquez, from Delta Spirit / Middle Brother fame has his solo album. And it’s good. It took us a few listens to get into his slower pace on here, but it’s grimy, it’s deliberate swagger, it’s confident and assertive. Some time back, Vasquez mentioned that he envisioned his Delta Spirit not as “Americana,” but as a rock outfit. We think this is the album he envisioned when he said that (not their decent, but lyrically flawed 2012 Delta Spirit).Read More →

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Beware of Darkness – Are You Real?Bright Antenna– out Sept. 162.5 / 5 The LA emo rock trio Beware of Darkness has come out with a sophomore album we’ve been anticipating since 2013’s debut LP, Orthodox. A few words about that one: it’s a fantastic rocker. And now, onto Are You Real?: it’s not. The dozen songs here do rock, yes. Stylistically, musically, the guitars growl, the hooks groove, the beats pound and sway. But what holds us back from declaring their sophomore a satisfying rocker is the, erm, sophomoric lyrics and content. Are You Real? feels conceited, a bit self-indulgent, and more than a bit misogynistic. ItRead More →

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We’d been keeping on top of Unknown Mortal Orchestra since their sophomore full-length, cleverly titled “II.” We were initially on the fence as to whether we wanted to catch the Portland, Oregonian foursome – mostly because we’d just come off the Newport Folk Festival the previous weekend. But we admit: we had a good time of it at Fete in Providence. Yes indeedy. So, obviously the UMO played some cuts off their latest jam, Multi-Love. No surprise there. But what we enjoyed about this performance were two things: how adaptable their songs were. Yes, as enjoyable as listening to Multi-Love is (and it’s certainly enjoyable), weRead More →

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra – photo (c) Neil Krug Fete Music Hall, Providence, RI. Thurs. 7-28-16, 7pm. $17, $20 door.(Also at Sinclair in Boston , 7-27-16 – SOLD OUT) This month as been CRAZY with music, just absolutely rotten with it, and we’d been wondering how we’re going to catch up on Unknown Mortal Orchestra now that they’ve made their presences known in lil’ Rhody (and now that they’re officially on our radar, finally). But wonder no more: we’re going. This quartet of electronic musicians balance the eclectic with the outright poppy, driving their choruses straight into your ear, all while taking the most circuitous routesRead More →