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Galactic Cowboy Orchestra – “Lookin’ for a Little Strange”New Folk Records-out now2.5 / 5 Twin Cities based Galactic Cowboy Orchestra take bluegrass to different dimensions on their first full-length release, “Lookin’ for a Little Strange.” Yet, for a bunch of cowboys, this instrumental release seems to lack the energy needed to rustle up galactic cattle and really hoe-down. Part of it is in the track mixing; this album opens with what feels like a cool-down piece, and the next track, “Minor Scrape,” could fit well as a closing track. But the mixing is only a minor issue, as many of these tracks seem to workRead More →

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Deer Tick – The Black Dirt SessionsPartisan Records-out June 85 / 5 Neil Diamond. Mark Russel. John Joseph McCauley III. Three musicians you don’t want to meet solo in front of a piano. And yet, that’s the risk Providence, RI’s Deer Tick takes on their third studio album in as many years, “The Black Dirt Sessions.” It is, in short, a beautiful album; painstakingly crafted and executed gorgeously, these are among the finest performances the band has offered to date. McCauley here mellows out the tone of his voice, loosening some of the aggravation in his two earlier releases, and when paired with a mostlyRead More →

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What Laura Says – “Bloom Cheek”Terpsikore-out June 223.5 / 5 Phoenix, AZ must be humming constantly with harmonies and spacey keyboard according to the second and latest offering by What Laura Says. There are several upbeat influences here, and the latest of them seems to come from Grizzly Bear; Bloom Cheek shares some of their structure, their sense of harmony and quirky, lush instrumentation. Right from the opening, the single-note guitar-build and rhythmic vocals of “Training” shows that this is not a precise, calculated band, but one that is meant to be enjoyed. Many of these tracks are enjoyable, including the intimate keyboards and ConorRead More →

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Blackmarket – “St. Vincent Decor”Zoom-out now3 / 5 Power-pop group from AZ Blackmarket definitely sound like they’re enjoying a rush from beginning to end of their second full-length album. And it’s a good ride, too: there are good songs, good lyrics, good vocals throughout this album. But on a second and third spin, Blackmarket ends up lacking what’s so vital in the crowded music market, which is individuality. They sound like most any other power-chord rock group, and while they’re good at what they do, what they do is not particularly special, in terms of style or flavor. “Blue Lemon” is a perfect example; anRead More →