2011: the year in review

a belated happy new year to all of you! i hope it treated you well and you're ready to face 2012 with a fresh start and a clear mind. i know i am. i'm ready to take on the next phase of my life. i just graduated from college and am ready to conquer the real world. whatever that means.

here's my abbreviated year in review:

i attended:
43 shows
in 5 different cities


and wrote:
119 articles for popwreckoning
with 18 of those being album reviews.


it was a good year. now let's make 2012 even better.

album review: jack's mannequin - people and things

I’ve always been a huge Jack’s Mannequin fan and if I had to pick one word to describe Andrew McMahon’s music throughout the years it would have to be this: consistent. McMahon is no stranger to the world of music, first making it big with Something Corporate, then Jack’s Mannequin. And every single record he’s released has been one hundred percent solid. Of course I’m probably biased because Jack’s is one of my favorite bands and I’ve seen them countless times, but People and Things is great. It’s poppy, catchy and each song is one earworm after another. I recognized a fair amount of them upon first listen; the band  has played a few songs live in recent months, including the previously released single “My Racing Thoughts,” “Amy, I,” “Hey Hey Hey (We’re All Gonna Die),” and “Hostage.” Read more...

album review: mutemath - odd soul

Mutemath has always struck me as overwhelmingly talented for how underwhelmingly popular they are.  They had that awesome backwards music video for “Typical” on MTV quite a few years ago; what happened after that? They seemed to fall off the map completely. Of course that’s according to the average music listener, and I would not consider myself to be the latter. The minute I saw that video I was hooked, and the minute I saw them perform at St. Louis’ Pointfest in September 2007 I was floored. I’ve kept tabs on them ever since and am always speechless after their shows. Read more...

album review: thrice - major/minor

Thrice has always been a band full of surprises, with each album sounding radically different from the one before it. Just when you think you have their sound pinned down and figured out, they find a way to go above and beyond your expectations. While their bold shifts in style may have alienated a handful of fans, if you’ve stuck around over the last decade it’s something to marvel at. Their early work is more punk while Vheissu takes an experimental turn. And then there’s The Alchemy Index, a rather lofty project that in my opinion is a true showcase of the band’s talent and one of my favorites.Beggars just didn’t do it for me and seemed rather forgettable, so I was really excited to see what the band would come up with next. Read more...

album review: blitzen trapper - american goldwing

Blitzen Trapper, with three previous Sub-Pop albums under their belt, have produced quite the wide array of sounds. 2007′s Wild Mountain Nationsounds as if it was thrown together with reckless abandon, a giant mish-mash of sounds and passions. There were indie-rock melodies and folky boot-stomping tunes with a healthy dose of country twang. 2008′sFurr leaned more to the pop-rock side of the spectrum with Americana intertwined through and through. And next was Destroyer of the Void which took on a new sound altogether with prog-rock guitar sounds and a mellower tone. So who could really predict what would be next? At first listen, American Goldwing is a nice homage to Furr with influences of traditional Southern rock. It’s blatantly alternative-country and maybe a little bit indie. If anything, it showcases the band’s versatility to record whatever they want and turn it into an album. And it sounds great. Read more...

album review: beirut - the rip tide

I've listened to Beirut’s  The Rip Tide several times through and I still feel as if I don’t have a strong opinion about it. I’ve enjoyed every listen, but it’s just not sticking with me and I can’t decide if it’s my own fault or the album’s. It’s good. I don’t have anything negative to say. But then again: it’s good – and that’s about all I can think to say. The Rip Tide is a solid, mediocre album that didn’t live up to  the fantasies I had constructed in my head after so many years of no new releases. Beirut evokes many happy memories and nostalgic feelings for me and the new album seems to have lost a little of the band’s old magic. With all of that said, it’s still an enjoyable album and you should definitely give it a listen. If anything, please prove me wrong and tell me it hits home with you. Because right now it’s just not quite sticking with me, and I really want it to. Read more...

st. louis: little scream and the antlers

originally posted on popwreckoning.com. read the original article here. 

A road trip with all the girls to see a show; what better way to spend a Friday night? That's precisely what I did last week and every painful cent of gas money was worth it.

We arrived at the Firebird with what couldn't have been more perfect timing. We walked in, paid our dues, settled into the crowd, and the show began. There was a large crowd which both bands deserved: The Antlers hadn't been through St. Louis in quite some time, and the opening band Little Scream was an enjoyable forty minutes of music, not just a time waster that a lot of openers can be. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, the trio was reminiscent of female-fronted Company of Thieves mixed with the distorted vocals of Karen O. from the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. I was digging it. They kept the crowd entertained, and with more than just music alone. The drummer recited celebrity birthdays and deaths in between songs. Definitely a first. Maybe a little strange, but hey, it made the band memorable.

The crowd packed in tighter and I somehow found myself right up front by the time The Antlers started their set. Sweet! The heavenly choir of angels - I mean The Antlers - opened with "Parentheses" from their new album Burst Apart and it was absolutely gorgeous. There was no introduction, no "how ya doin' St. Louis," just music. And I couldn't have asked for anything better. They transitioned right into Kettering from 2009 release Hospice before taking a little break for banter about mustaches. Next was a string of five new songs which all ran together into one long symphony. The entire crowd seemed to be in a trance. I had seen The Antlers once before (the previous summer at Lollapalooza) but nothing even comes close to the experience of a small, intimate setting like the one I was experiencing. It was all I could do to not close my eyes and get lost in the depths of my thoughts for the rest of the set. And they played a lengthy one too; ten songs, with an encore of three for a total of an hour and twenty minutes of ethereal melodies.

With Hospice being such a heavy and dense album, one would think that The Antlers' live shows would be a drag. It's really quite the opposite though, and Burst Apart, while still somewhat mellow and somber, is on the lighter side and has its jammable moments. In the words of a Metro Chicago tweet, "FYI, I'm probably gonna cry-dance at The Antlers' show."

Set list:

Parentheses
Kettering
No Widows
I Don't Want Love
French Exit
Rolled Together
Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out
Bear
Hounds
Putting The Dog To Sleep

Two
Corsicana
Wake

www.littlescream.com
www.antlersmusic.com

album review: matt pond PA - spring fools

This five song EP by matt pond PA is, to put it simply, really catchy. I can’t stop tapping my foot and bobbing my head, and after just one spin the songs are becoming familiar, a sure sign of their ability to stick with you. It’s the perfect summer soundtrack with poppy, infectious hooks and light, upbeat melodies. Spring Fools is somewhat of a break between the band’s last album, 2010’s The Dark Leaves, and what will most likely become Pond’s ninth record sometime in the future whether it be this year or next. By whittling things down to just five songs, singer-songwriter and namesake Matt Pond has created a really strong EP with what are some of his best songs. Read more...

album review: balance and composure - separation

Anthemic. Epic. So incredibly reminiscent of the pop-punk days of the 90′s. I almost called this a guilty pleasure album, but there’s no reason to feel guilty. Balance and Composure’s Separation is just really good and should have come out twelve years ago. It has Kurt Cobain’s dark feelings to it, but pops and rocks like early Jimmy Eat World. Its twelve tracks clock in at around 48 minutes which means it’s initially a big undertaking. But once you give this album the time of day it deserves it becomes very cohesive and works well as a whole. Read more...

songs for joplin

This was a news post I wrote for PopWreckoning, but felt it was important enough to post here as well.

Songs For Jopin started as an idea to help a tragedy-stricken town. By pursuing his interest in both music and social media, Zach Becker began to accumulate interest in a music sampler to benefit relief efforts. The idea gained momentum with the help of Twitter as a friend of his, singer-songwriter Derek Webb retweeted Becker’s original request asking musicians to donate songs. The response was overwhelming and in a matter of days, Becker and friends had a name for their project as well as an album of songs to back it. The album includes many local St. Louis artists (Union Tree Review, Sleepy Kitty, Beth Bombara) as well as others from Nashville and Los Angeles. It was released on Noisetrade on June 3 and has already achieved over 400 downloads and $1300 in donations, placing it in the top ten most popular downloads.

The day before the album released, Zach was interviewed by local news blog the Riverfront Times, garnering even more interest in an already rapidly growing idea. Album artwork was made, as were promotional designs and a website thanks to St. Louis design studio Rampant Creative Group. Fliers were printed and would be passed out at the coming Riverfront Times Music Showcase.

“Social media has played a huge role in the success of this little idea, and we ask that you help us maintain that momentum by tweeting and sharing this with your friends. With the album now available for download, we are all excited to see how successful it is as a means of getting money into the hands of those who can help the people of Joplin. All profits from the album downloads will be given to the Heart of Missouri United Way, in order to help relief efforts through their “United for Joplin” campaign. With your help, Songs for #Joplin can be a success. Please donate and download the album, and help to rebuild a community.”

Visit www.songsforjoplin.com for more information.

Download the album directly from Noisetrade here: www.noisetrade.com/songsforjoplin

album review: dylan champagne - love songs of the apocalypse, vol. 1

Dylan Champagne claims to wear many musical hats and he’s not kidding. He released an acoustic album in 2008, charting on the CMJ top 200; he sings and plays guitar for a new-wave punk band called The Dysfunctions; he’s a a part of a secret society of composers who meet monthly; and he fronted the now defunct math-core band One Step Shift. And his newest endeavor Love Songs of the Apocalypse, Volume 1explores punk, prog, and 70′s pop roots with acoustic leanings. Champagne describes it as “Springsteenesque acoustic prog-punk” or perhaps “acoustic lyric-driven rock with strange time signatures, a strong pop sensibility and nostalgic themes. Read more...

album review: the airborne toxic event - all at once

Los Angeles, California indie rock band The Airborne Toxic Event traded lesser known label for a major for their sophomore release. They hired Dave Sardy (Band of Horses, Oasis) to handle production and it turned out to be a solid decision. The album All At Once has an epic, orchestral feel and doesn’t disappoint. This album is ambitious and it’s a wonder the band isn’t more well known. Read more...

album review: the wealthy west - EP 1

"Austin, Texas based singer-songwriter Brandon Kinder has made quite a name for himself. Not only is he the front man for the indie folk rock band The Rocketboys, but he’s ventured out into the solo world as well, under the moniker The Wealthy West. He used SXSW to his advantage to debut some new tunes of his own and though I wasn’t even in attendance, I can tell you they were well-received. Read more...

album review: the antlers - burst apart

The Antlers are a dreamy and mellow indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York fronted by Peter Silberman. Originally, the band was only a solo project of Silberman's, but after releasing an album under his own name he recruited two other members to constitute the group that they are today. The band recorded two EPs, Cold War and New York Hospitals, and eventually took Silberman's collection of songs and turned into the narrative that is Hospice, which they released independently. Sales soared though, the band joined French Kiss Records, and remastered and re-released the album to make up for selling out of their personal stock. For a band that probably had no intentions of "making it big," they definitely hit the jackpot, scoring a spot on Lollapalooza's 2010 lineup as well as numerous "Best of 2010" album lists. Read more...

album review: fleet foxes - helplessness blues

"Indie folk band Fleet Foxes originated in Seattle, Washington in 2006 and I'm disappointed I jumped on the bandwagon so late. My love began once upon a time when it was still cool to buy Target's "Artists On The Verge" CDs. I'll be honest. I judge albums by their covers and thank goodness Fleet Foxes' self-titled had a cool one. (Didn't hurt that it was on sale either.) I picked that sucker up without even knowing who or what I was getting myself into. Upon hearing everyone's favorite song of 2008, "White Winter Hymnal," I was entranced. With goosebump-inducing harmonies and covers all over YouTube, it's a hard one to miss. Read more... 

album review: pet lions - houses

"I'm feelin' some 80's vibes and I'm likin' it. Unpopular opinion? Maybe. But Chicago's indie pop-rock band Pet Lions work it to their advantage. This quartet already has the  Soft Right EP backing them up and debut full-length album Houses is a solid follow-up. Production by Neil Strauch (Iron and Wine, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Margot & the Nuclear So and So's) really showcases the band's talent and adds a warm, fuzzy atmosphere to the album. It's not clean pop music and that's precisely why I like it. It's noisy, yet soft and laid back, perfect for a day at the beach or a late night summer barbecue. Read more...

album review: company of thieves - running from a gamble

"Company of Thieves are one of the best acts to come out of Chicago in the past couple of years and after their initial release of Ordinary Riches, I was hooked. "Indie rock band" is a popular tag these days, but add "female vocalist" and you've got something new and exciting. And Genevieve Schatz certainly does not disappoint. She may look like a fragile, pretty thing with her bouncy curls and always creative outfits, but once she belts out a couple notes I guarantee your jaw will be on the floor. She means business. Read more...

album review: manchester orchestra - simple math

manchester orchestra holds a spot in the top three list of my favorite bands. so when i was asked to review the album, i almost peed myself. the album has been on non-stop rotation and i just can't. get. enough. check it:

"Andy Hull and the company he keeps are gods. Five stars. Album of the year. The end. (Just kidding, sort of.)Words can't explain how long I'd waited for this album. Manchester Orchestra is one of those bands I can't get enough of. Like a Virgin Losing a Child, their first album, debuted in 2006 and the three year wait for sophomore release Mean Everything to Nothing was brutal. I was more than ready for Simple Math and it's finally here. Read more...

album review: ha ha tonka - death of a decade

popwreckoning knows the way to my heart. review ha ha tonka's new album? sure, yeah, okay!

These four gentlemen from the Missouri Ozarks are no strangers to the indie music world.  Ha Ha Tonka, who take their name from a state park located in Camdenton, Missouri, have been playing music together for ten years and have released three full-length albums on Bloodshot Records (home to brilliant acts including Ryan Adams, Neko Case and Old 97′s). Ha Ha Tonka personifies the essence of their mid-Missouri name: traces of southern rock,  bluegrass, classic country, a dash of honky tonk, and enough three-part vocal harmonies to make your Southern Baptist grandmother jealous. Their new album Death of a Decade packs a solid punch that’s sure to leave a mark. Read more...

album review: mansions - dig up the dead

article number two for popwreckoning! i'm loving every single thing about writing for them. i'm also madly in love with mansions, so you should definitely check them out. they're be in st. louis tuesday 5/31 at off broadway with ace enders' i can make a mess like nonbody's business. 

Christopher Browder has stolen my heart. I'll be honest: I'm pretty new to the Mansions bandwagon, but I'm glad I hopped on when I did. I bought New Best Friends from iTunes a few short months ago and have kept it in heavy rotation since. ("Talk Talk Talk" is just so catchy, am I right?!) So when I started doing some research and realized there was a new album coming soon, I couldn't have been more excited. Read more...