AltWeeklies Wire
The Thermals Write An Olympic Anthemnew
Well, isn’t this good timing. Just three days before the Winter Olympics start in Vancouver, BC, everyone’s favorite punk band the Thermals have penned an ode to the land of hockey, poutine, and mounties.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
02-10-2010 |
Reviews
Clapalong with Starfuckernew
All Starfucker's synth-based shine can make it easy to forget that the album is essentially the product of a singer-songwriter, but it takes a skilled songsmith to make jams that sound carefree and somber at the same time.
Willamette Week |
Nilina Mason-Campbell |
09-17-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Starfucker
Summer's Over: The New Horse Feathers Album has Droppednew
Listen closely underneath the handpicked guitar and buttery voice of frontman Justin Ringle and you might detect the spatter of raindrops or the crackle of a fire.
Willamette Week |
Robert Ham |
09-03-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Horse Feathers, House With No Home
Doubledutch Aims for Psychedelic Soulnew
While things never get too creepy, the mostly slow- to mid-tempo pace of the songs and warmth of the recordings definitely take Alicia Keys' catalog to heart.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
08-20-2008 |
Reviews
The Valiant Arms Sound Like Old-school Portlandnew
One can find traces of legendary Portland outfits like Hazel and the Crabs in the Arms' (whose first release was, unsurprisingly, a Crabs tribute) new disc, Blue Skies and a Clean Getaway--from the punk-paced snare hits to the rumbling, pumped-up low end and cleanly enunciated vocals.
Willamette Week |
Casey Jarman |
08-20-2008 |
Reviews
Bark Hide and Horn Debuts With Sprawling Sing-along Diary 'National Road'new
Inspired by singer Andy Fergeson's large collection of vintage National Geographic magazines, the record narrates the supposed adventures of Melville Bell Grosvenor, editor of the mag from 1957 to 1967 and grandson of Alexander Graham Bell.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
08-13-2008 |
Reviews
'Verbs' Shows Off Au's Compositionsnew
Beautiful and restrained instrumental passages lead into maniacal, choral group chants; vaudevillian theatrics nestle against almost-classical backdrops; accordions operate in waltz time.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
06-18-2008 |
Reviews
Colin Meloy Tries His Hand, Er, Voice at Sam Cookenew
The EP is very Colin Meloy, which is exactly why it doesn't really work.
Willamette Week |
Amy McCullogh |
05-01-2008 |
Reviews
Pacific UV Flexes Its Growth on Sophomore Effortnew
The band isn't bashful of its myriad influences (Radiohead, Lamb, the Smiths, Spiritualized) when touted in interviews, but Longplay 2 not only mines rock touchstones, it does so damn well.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
04-23-2008 |
Reviews
Dusty York Creates Another Praiseworthy Albumnew
In addition to his own music, York's an advocate for pushing Portland jazz in new, inventive directions -- primarily through his label, Diatic Records
Willamette Week |
Lance Kramer |
04-16-2008 |
Reviews
England Gets The Gossipnew
Beth Ditto's queer/weight activism should be applauded, but one worries that the singer's sudden celebrity rather ignores her day job.
Willamette Week |
Jay Horton |
04-09-2008 |
Reviews
Shelley Short Quietly Saves Country Musicnew
Rather than waxing naively cute, a la Jenny Lewis, or idiotic, Short encapsulates much of what makes old-school Nashville country great: a showman's charisma, credible melancholy and close geographical ties.
Willamette Week |
Amy McCullough |
04-09-2008 |
Reviews
Nostaligic Goodness with a Touch of Playfulnew
A female vocalist starting an album with the words, "Cried all night till there was nothin' more" probably sounds a bit offputting. Unless that girl is Zooey Deschanel accompanied by M. Ward.
Willamette Week |
Amy McCullough |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: She & Him, Volume One
Valet Ushers in Pre-Springnew
Valet, a.k.a. Honey Owens -- most notably of Jackie-O Motherfucker's interchangeable cast -- crafts tunes that are much like fierce saplings struggling to break through layers of brittle frost.
Willamette Week |
Erik Bader |
03-05-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Naked Acid, Valet
Little Beirut's Not Quite Popnew
It goes down easy enough -- infectious melodies, casually perfected structures, instantly memorable turns of phrase -- but pop demands singles.
Willamette Week |
Jay Horton |
03-05-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: High Dive, Little Beirut
