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The Blank Tapes – Look Into the Light : Album Review
The Blank Tapes released their second album of the year, available today on Bandcamp. A seasonal companion to the Superbloom EP, Look Into the Light is a heady, heavy autumnal record. The title track has a funky, tropical sound, a slight departure from their more summery, laid-back stoner jams. The Tapes’ characteristic lushness and fascinating, complex guitar work is present as always; but rather than their usual kaleidoscopic rainbow sound, Look Into the Light is more shadows and flashes of light, particularly songs like “Death” and “Pure Evil.” Sonically, these songs are light-hearted and winking, even with Matt Adams’ crazy…
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GospelbeacH – Let It Burn
“So the music helps, it’s everything. That’s why the album is called Let it Burn because you let those feelings burn. You don’t let the good stuff burn, you let the bad stuff burn.” When I interviewed GospelbeacH’s Brent Rademaker in July, he described Let it Burn as less PCH and more Sunset Boulevard. Let it Burn is the darker side of Hollywood – a drive after leaving a show late at night, past shady figures walking down the boulevard, but then up to Mulholland to watch the light break over the Santa Monica mountains – a beacon shining in…
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Vetiver – To Who Knows Where : Listen
Late last year, Andy Cabic and friends holed up in Yucca Valley, California to make a record that I’ve been eagerly anticipating the announcement for. Vetiver’s signature acoustic, soothing but surprising freak folk tones married with Thom Monahan’s shimmering production always equal perfection. Stoked to hear the full thing, and hopefully catch a show down the road from where the recording took place. I really need this album right now. Pre-order the album Up On High from Mama Bird Recording Co. here. Out November 1.
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Eric D. Johnson with JRAD : Show Review
If you read my review of Gold Past Life, the shimmering, gorgeous early summer album from Fruit Bats, you know that it’s probably going to end up at the top of my albums of the year list. I missed him in Brooklyn last month and I’m going to miss him again in New York in a recently announced November date. Oh, the pains of being bi-coastal. When I’m here, he’s there, etc. I have honestly been wondering if I should use my credit card points to book a one night trip to Milwaukee or Omaha or some such place to…
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The Obvious LA Songbook: playlist
This blog post almost seems redundant because all the music I listen to with a few exceptions could probably go onto this playlist. That’s what this whole dumb website is about, right? Anyway, I’m going to LA tomorrow and wanted to add one more playlist to my collection of 900million. I actually made the ultimate on-the-nose LA mixtape on a cassette when I was about 13 years old – Beverly Hills by Weezer, Free Fallin, Beck, all that stuff. My best friend loves to make fun of the time we drove to LA and all the way from West Covina…
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GospelbeacH – Dark Angel : Listen
GospelbeacH dropped their first single today, “Dark Angel” from Let it Burn, out October 4th on Alive Natural Sound Records. Can’t wait for the full album and to see these guys live in the desert. “It’s pretty plain that it’s about loss and breakups and heartbreak. But there’s a lot of redemption there. I had to really dig deep to handle all this shit.“ Make sure to read my interview with Brent Rademaker, the man behind Gospelbeach, Beachwood Sparks, Further, and all my other favorites, to find out how this song and album came to light.
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Brent Rademaker
GospelbeacH has released two records and one collection of unreleased songs, covers, and live tunes since their start in 2016, and their new record Let it Burn will be released on October 4th. The first single will be out next week. Brent opened up about GospelbeacH’s upcoming record, his inspiration, and also delivered some exciting breaking news.
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Circles Around the Sun Meets Joe Russo – Peace Reprise : Listen
This song is a transporting exploration of space and time. It begins with a haywire but rhythmic cacophony of percussion and almost spooky keyboards that soon gives way to a steadily grooving guitar riff that feels like home. The song’s six and a half minutes ends all too quickly – can’t wait to see these CATS live and hear the rest of the EP. Listen and pre-order the upcoming EP here.
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CRB’s New York run – the last American shows
I’ve written about the Chris Robinson Brotherhood many times before. I feel they’re one of the most unique bands I’ve ever heard, playing music like no one has ever made before, drawing inspiration from the Dead, Rolling Stones, the Byrds, and a whole lot of Bluesy stuff I’m only now becoming familiar with. I can’t believe this is it. About a month prior, the CRB announced that their spring/summer tour would be pretty much final, before a “hiatus” that would last throughout the rest of this year. We’ll see. Fans “know” it’s over, but you shouldn’t believe everything you read.…
