While I fancy myself a person quick with a good word, I have two compliments that are reserved for the highest order of appreciation. The first is that of “intensely reasonable.” This combination of mercy, fairness and kindness shows itself when someone has the ability to royally screw someone over (legally, justifiably, and/or otherwise)...
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There’s a whole world of people out there; no one can meet everyone. And it’s impossible to form deep connections with every one of the relatively few people we meet. To make matters worse, there’s no way to guess when and where the next deep connection will be found. But when that deep connection is...
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I used to hate covers, because I thought they showed a lack of originality on the part of a band. Now I see that in addition to paying homage to a respected band, a good cover can be just as creative (and just as satisfying, if not more so) than a good original. That’s...
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The Wind Up Radio Sessions is a band, and their album is titled Red Brick House. This took me a while to wrap my head around. If you like the easygoing beach vibe of old Jack Johnson tunes, but wish that there had been more substance to the arrangements, The Wind Up Radio Sessions...
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One of the great things about The Honest Mistakes Break Up is that it’s a breakup album with little to no wallowing in depressing sounds. The members of The Honest Mistakes made an upbeat pop album with jangly guitars, cheery organs, snappy drums and tambourines to chronicle their breakup (or breakups). While this is a...
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As a newcomer to the Seattle music scene, I was eagerly anticipating my inevitable introduction to the many talented local artists that the Pacific Northwest is producing. I got just such an opportunity when Stephen asked me to review the album and CD release of Grant Valdes and his newest album of indie-folk, At...
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It’s a good time for women in rock. Paramore is having enormous success, Flyleaf is rockin’ it, and many more women in rock are coming out of the woodwork. Corrin Campbell is one of those. The best moments of Campbell’s Game Night come when her vocals and songwriting style fall firmly in the arena with...
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There’s not a lot of protest going on in music today. Atrocity Solution is, well, part of the solution. They’re a ferocious punk band that’s heavy on protest. From the title of their album Tomorrow’s Too Late to song titles like “The Protest Song” and “The Scales of Injustice,” they’re out to stick it...
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Loomis and the Lust‘s Nagasha is five songs of pure summer pop. Guitar hooks, hand claps, tambourines, melodies that will implant in your brain, upbeat mood, the whole nine yards. “Break on Love” is the funkiest pop song I’ve heard in a long time that didn’t sound cheesy, “Cure for Sale” channels the emotive...
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I like to give everything a fair shot. I’ve heard some pretty terrible things in my day because of this policy, but I have also found some treasures in things that other reviewers may have instantly passed for one reason or another. The Bramble Jam‘s Move Your Boots is a kid’s album. Don’t be...
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