What is it that makes pop music such a fitting background for philosophical and hyper-literary lyrics This question comes up regularly for listeners of The Decemberists, Modest Mouse, Andrew Bird, Sufjan Stevens and the like. And the question has come up again while listening to Library Voices, whose sharp lyrics and catchy melodies do...
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A review of the latest album from Gregory Pepper and His Problems, an Ontario-based pop-rock musician by the name of Gregory Pepper.
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Review "New England" EP from Portland-based folk-pop group The Dimes
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I often wonder at the sheer number and variety of genres and sub-genres. In my more cynical moments I am convinced that obscure genres are the products of a conspiracy between musicians and writers attempting to make unoriginal or unbearable music appealing to college students or habitual myspacers. Admittedly, I fall into both of...
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What happens when pop-rock in the heritage of Sunny Day Real Estate collides with an oft-haunting viola? Portland-based This Fair City is one place to begin looking for an answer. The edge of their sound falters between hard and soft, as a large part of their sound plays off contrasting elements: clean guitar obligattos...
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