San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | Music | AAN.org

Jack Carneal's Yaala Yaala Records Pipelines the Sounds of Malinew

Labels like Yaala Yaala, which is distributed by Drag City, don't play by the outmoded rules of so-called world music production, eschewing both academic empiricism and the major labels' reductive tendency to isolate bankable masters. Meanwhile, kids in Mali listen to dubbed tapes of Led Zeppelin and Jay-Z.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | 06-11-2008 | Music

Tags: Africa, Mali, Drag City Records, Jack Carneal, Yaala Yaala Records

The Dirty Projectors Blaze a Path Less Travelednew

First conceived in New Haven, Conn., Dave Longstreth's namesake went through many permutations before settling in Brooklyn as an elemental two guitars-bass-drums quartet.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | 04-09-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Rise Above, The Dirty Projectors

Beach House: Reveille in Reverbnew

The Baltimore duo shows Devotion can be a dream.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | 03-12-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Beach House, Devotion

Bradford Cox Takes a Solo Flight as Atlas Soundnew

The erstwhile Deerhunter vocalist is one of the few shoegaze suitors who seems clued in to the searing -- and often distressing -- tensions that distinguish My Bloody Valentine from followers like Slowdive and Ride.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | 03-05-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Atlas Sound, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel

Cryptacize Dials Up Cosmic Sing-alongsnew

As with Chris Cohen's earlier band Deerhoof, Cryptacize strives for the development of a private musical language rather than the typical filtering of influences.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | 02-28-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Cryptacize, Dig that Treasure

Vampire Weekend Dials Up '80s Nostalgianew

It's too early to tell whether the band will survive adolescence, though it's certainly bought some time with its ascending bass lines, squirmy guitar refrains, staccato string arrangements, and endearingly monotone vocals.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | 01-23-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Vampire Weekend

Do You Believe in White Magic?new

The witchy duo shine on with Dark Stars.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | 11-21-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: White Magic, Dark Stars

Another Dream Date with Damon and Naominew

Within These Walls is one of the coziest albums of the year, not just for its rainy-day production but also for the impression that the pair is totally comfortable in their bittersweet pop.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Max Goldberg | 10-10-2007 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Damon and Naomi, Within These Walls