AltWeeklies Wire
Roach Gigz: Bitch I'm a Playernew
Roach Gigz is a curious anomaly. The San Francisco native is a true rapper's rapper, spraying polysyllabic verses in a manner strongly reminiscent of Eminem circa "Low, Down, Dirty." Like MC Eiht or Celly Cell, he has a flair for snappy cadences. And his ability to transcend turgid subject matter with warmth and smarts recalls 2006-era Lil Wayne.
East Bay Express |
M.T. Richards |
08-24-2011 |
Reviews
The Cool Kids: When Fish Ride Bicyclesnew
Cool Kids fans have been waiting three years — through two EPs and several mix tapes — for the band's debut LP, When Fish Ride Bicycles. As it turns out, it was well worth the wait.
East Bay Express |
Aaron Carnes |
07-29-2011 |
Reviews
Myrmyr: Fire Starnew
If you've ever listened to Godspeed You! Black Emperor, you realize there's a strong link between classical music and instrumental rock.
East Bay Express |
Nate Seltenrich |
07-15-2011 |
Reviews
Gillian Welch: The Harrow & The Harvestnew
Gillian Welch has often said that she does her best work when she's miserable, so one can assume that the eight years since she released her last album, Soul Journey, have not been pleasant ones. Happily for her fans, her melancholy has contributed to what may be the best album she's ever made.
East Bay Express |
j. poet |
07-08-2011 |
Reviews
Nikka Costa: Pro*Whoa!new
With the recent death of Teena Marie, Nikka Costa is poised to inherit the mantle of funkiest white girl around.
East Bay Express |
Dave Gil de Rubio |
06-23-2011 |
Reviews
Sarah Jarosz: Follow Me Downnew
Barely twenty years old, Texas-born Sarah Jarosz has such a good handle on this Americana thing, she sounds better than some folks twice her age.
East Bay Express |
Mark Keresman |
06-08-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Sarah Jarosz
Lykke Li: Wounded Rhymesnew
In reuniting with producer Bjorn Ytlling (of Peter, Bjorn and John), Lykke Li has taken a page from The Raveonettes by embracing the moxie, attitude, and survival instinct defined by the girl-group sound of the Sixties.
East Bay Express |
Dave Gil de Rubio |
05-31-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Bjorn Ytlling, Lykke Li
Les Nubians: Nu Revolutionnew
Les Nubians' third album (and first in eight years) opens with a Cameroonian drum circle weaving an accelerating rhythmic web.
East Bay Express |
Lee Hildebrand |
05-23-2011 |
Reviews
Ambrose Akinmusirenew
When the Heart Emerges Glistening.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
05-19-2011 |
Reviews
Thao & Mirahnew
Thao Nguyen of the Get Down Stay Down and mononymic Mirah make their debut as a duet with this self-titled record.
East Bay Express |
Catherine Plato |
05-09-2011 |
Reviews
Off Moments are Rare in The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's Latestnew
John Hughes died a couple of years ago, but if the auteur behind Ferris Bueller, Sixteen Candles, and other definitive '80s teen flicks could have taken on the same niche in this decade, he should have commissioned The Pains of Being Pure at Heart to write his soundtracks.
East Bay Express |
Reyan Ali |
04-20-2011 |
Reviews
The Heavenly States is Ready for its Close-Upnew
Oui Camera Oui is the first in a concept collection of six intertwined EPs that the band plans to release over the next three years.
East Bay Express |
Chris Middleton |
04-18-2011 |
Reviews
Anamanaguchi Plays Original Tunes in the Key of NESnew
At the four-piece band's service is a hacked 1985 Nintendo console, which allows it to summon those buttery-smooth synth notes and modulated keyboards that sound like guitars. This mimicry is augmented by live drums, bass, and rhythm guitar, achieving a pleasing sonic balance.
East Bay Express |
Nate Seltenrich |
04-11-2011 |
Reviews
Mutual Adoration Glues The Submarines' Latest Album Togethernew
Most songs on Love Notes/Letter Bombs occur as call-and-response conversations, which render the listener into an eavesdropper — The Submarines might be singing about sunshine, but their lyrics still sound intimate.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
04-07-2011 |
Reviews
Hunx & His Punks: Too Young to Be in Lovenew
Oakland bad boy Hunx, former sex god of the dance happy band Gravy Train!!!!, is currently resurrecting sounds of the '50s and '60s with his new album, a record drenched in the girl-group sound of New York and Philadelphia.
East Bay Express |
j. poet |
04-05-2011 |
Reviews
