by Paul Haley | Apr 17, 2014 | Album Review, Shoegazer
Killinghorse Records
My band, Dollar Store Riot, humbly shared the stage with Overlake back in January 2014 @ NYC’s Parkside Lounge. When the show promoter told me we will be playing with a “shoe-gaze band from Jersey City” I was immediately intrigued. A shoe-gaze band in 2014? And from Jersey no less? Fate took the wheel as I was one of many completely blown away by their set and eagerly looking forward to their soon to be released record to validate that what I heard live beautifully transposed to any type of recording.
And boy, were things quickly validated.
Sighs, Overlake’s first full length release on NJ’s own Killing Horse Records, was released yesterday (4/15) , but I have been devouring the pre-release sale free mp3 download of the album for weeks now. Sure band members Tom and Lysa were sweet to buy me a birthday shot at the above said post-show, but that doesn’t influence nor change the fact that Sighs is hands down a consistently solid fucking effort and one of the best releases of 2014. For certain you can hear pinches of I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, dashes of Loveless and touches of You In Reverse. Based on the recent press, a lot of the equally impressed critics do too, claims the band won’t deny, yet somehow pull off their own smorgasbord of familiar sounds with unique freshness.
Sighs is simply a beautiful, whispy, swirly reverby experience (just what you expect from a shoe gaze band in 2014…from Jersey no less) from start to finish with too many good songs to mention (read: ALL of them, my favs being ‘Disappearing” and “Our Sky”). It is a perfect soundtrack for a stroll through lonely, rainy NYC streets or Sunday drive through the sunny, Jersey burbs. If you need further proof, Sighs is probably one of the very, very few records I overheard my 9 year old son whistling along too in the back seat. Get. It. Now.
BUY OVERLAKE: BANDCAMP | KILLINGHORSE STORE LP/CD
OVERLAKE SHOWS:
Fri 4/18 Court Tavern, New Brunswick NJ – Overlake w/ Wreaths, Cicada Radio, TV Sound – 4 Year Anniversary Show for Killing Horse Records
Mon 5/19 Baby’s All Right, Brooklyns – Overlake w/ The Everymen, The Brooklyn What
RELATED:
Singles & Bands to Watch: Mutes, Stagnant Pools, Milan Jay, The Van Doos and Distortion Girls
Are you a GBV/Nada Surf fan? Doug Gillard’s New Album ‘Parade On’ is Guitardedly Good
STALK RS BACK: Soudcloud | Twitter | Facebook | Leave some comments and shit. Hit that little blue FB like link. Cool.
by admin | Apr 8, 2014 | Album Review, Alternative Rock
Parade On – Out 4/8 on Nine Mile Records
ALBUM REVIEW: Some of you know who Mr. Doug Gillard is even without actually having his phone number in your contacts or perhaps you got his digits from his previous release Call from Restricted. If we lead you to any record this year please let it be his latest and greatest Parade On as it’s guitardedly good.
We mean this with all affection and not a single bit of sarcasm; this is a bus you must get on. Doug’s passion for manipulating a 6 or 12 string guitar is on the same level as Johnny fucking Marr; strum for strum and we never met that Brit. He’s a band leader who will lead you down a path with several possible outcomes. One, inspire you to make your next record greater than good and NOT just ok, but great. Two, in the process make you pay attention to the details, or you will do us a favor and quit playing music so the good stuff can bubble-up. Three – you’ll take a deep dive into the depths on a download binge 30,000 feet of stacked records. Four, sell some off your guitars (Maybe you’ll donate one to a charity like The Project Matters @TPMNJ) while you mull over the second option. Actually you might NOT have to do any of this because this one stands all on it’s own. However, if some of you actually happen to step foot into a record store (even if just on record store day next week) and look up the likes of Nick Lowe, XTC, or Death of Samantha. Some of you may consider seeing him play with his band or taking the leads in Nada Surf. The two shows he’s playing with GBV are sold out so your out of luck there.
The pointed point is this is his third solo full-length coming out on Nine Mile Records strewn out over a few years of being a professional musician. I can’t even count all his other releases he’s played for you but it does not matter that is what wiki is fucking for. If I were record clerk (I vowed never to do so this) — this is the album I would literally point you towards besides the song “I AM a Tree” he recorded once with Guided By Voices. There I said it and it only. Took me two, three whole paragraphs. After that you are on your own.
We interviewed Doug Gillard last year, even played a show with him at the Asbury Lanes and enjoyed him nerding out talking about his guitar set-up. There is enough exploratory timeless guitaring on this album set forth as a reminder the guitar neck is an expansive and mysterious place. Dudes can play guitar and makes all the tones sound effortless while allowing you to hum along with vocal melodies. Our faves on this album are all of them. “Your Eyes” is the most Smiths like one, the opener is another classic similar to XTA or Nick Lowe with something off of Labour of Lust (1979) but don’t let us bore you with our shallow knowledge record store clerkdome. This one is going directly to our top 10 of 2014.
RELATED:
MP3s: New Guided By Voices 7″ on Fire Records
For nerds: Doug Gillard’s Guitar set-up
Donate a Guitar to The Project Matters to help teens stay out of trouble and learn a trade. Like professional rock musician. Contact TPMNJ on facebook to learn more.
by David | Mar 31, 2014 | Album Review, Cassettes, Free Mp3s
This object will be encased in a silver and nickel box crafted by British-Moroccan artist Yahya
SIGN WITH BEYONCE’S BLOOD HERE __________________________:
Technically speaking WU-TANG CLAN’s Once Upon A Time In Shaolin is not an Album. This is 100% a transparent marketing stunt they are claiming will be art with a ridiculous million dollar price tag on “it” that nobody has even heard yet. Sure music, which is written and recorded, is a form of Art but this might as well be a hologram at this point. No fucking argument, but is something this exclusive need to be treated like Noah’s Ark? Shouldn’t music be intended for the masses to make it accepted? We’re clapping with one hand at the extremeness but it does distort the concept of making affordable art in the adopted album formats. In particular music like Hip-Hop was created for the voice of the people in streets. These folks actually might want to hear these hardcore rappers do their 90′s thing again. I know I do. Music is best when it’s a communal experience where everybody can take part. Makes it functional. This stunt is what is for sale. Maybe the music was blessed by Chinese monks and recorded in a high-priest monastery in order to keep a lid on its existence. Even if these collected pieces of recorded music travels around the world will it not be a silent auction? People will be padded down and checked for recording devices before they can swap on some swank headphones for an exclusive listen. We can’t even tell you any thing about what the recording sounds like or if it has any value as a collection of songs but allegedly it’s supposed to revert to their original beats. People will hopefully be able to take their picture with said shiny object and then swarm the Internet with more hype. We’ll make a prediction that this recording will eventually be leaked, as its existence is no longer a “secret”. A real stunt would be cementing a Boombox in Times Square playing the double album or in a loop under the Brooklyn Bridge as an installment for the people.
BEST OF WU-TANG CLAN by DJKLIN
One of the reasons vinyl is making a comeback for a growing chunk of music fans is they want something tangible and exclusively theirs. Something they can hold, cherish and listen to with their friends. Even cassettes are making a comeback and those things sounded awful. Even if music these days is so devalued according to their leader RZA. The reality is most Millennials have never walked into a record store; so how do they even know what an album is? So we ask you can Once Upon a Time in Shoalin even claim itself to be an “album”? Lets also keep in mind RZA’s net worth is reportedly over $18 Million and we’re sure this ploy will add-up with ticket and merchandise sales for the group. That is where the cash money really is. Additional “sales” or streams are just a fraction of the culture they are selling back. It’s not really about the music anymore for groups that are as successful as WU-TANG. Sure enough this is just another karate chop right to the wallets of music fans.
DOWNLOAD:
Wu-Tang Clan –side b MP3 Original Freestyle Tape
Wu-Tang Clan –Mystagogue Vol. II MP3 (prod. by RZA) (1996)
Wu-Tang Clan –Deadly Darts MP3 Artist: Ghostface Killah feat. Streetlife & Method Man Album: Deadly Darts/Sunshower (Vinyl 12″ single)
Produced by: RZA Year: 1996/1997 – This last track is the original version off the song “Box In Hand” from Ghostface Killah’s debut album Ironman.
RELATED:
Eclectic Method brings you – A Brief History of Sampling
MORE DOWNLOADS: Your Techo Funk Soul Playlist Revisited
Goodbye Kiss.FM –DJ Red Alert Goes Bazerk
Gil Scott-Heron televised the revolution
by Jackie | Mar 28, 2014 | Album Review, reissue
ALBUM REVIEW: Back in the days before iPods roamed the Earth, American Football released their self-titled album in 1999. Now, 15 years after its original release, the album will be reissued on May 20th, 2014. The new, deluxe edition will feature 10 unreleased tracks of demos and live recordings. You can stream one of the unreleased tracks below:
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/140557459″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
This track in particular is instrumental, though most of the tracks on the album do contain vocals. It is a track filled with quiet beauty, much like the rest of the album. The guitar melodies ebb and flow like tranquil ocean waves, inviting you to get lost in your own thoughts. This is the sort of album to put on when you’re feeling introspective, or when you just want to slow down and relax for a while. The songs have a calming effect, mixed with a bit of melancholiness. It’s an album that evokes feelings of reflection and nostalgia. These songs could be the soundtrack from a rainy summer day of the past, back when the days seemed longer and life seemed less complicated.
The reissue will be available through Polyvinyl, in various formats on May 20th, 2014. You can also pre-order at the link below:
https://www.polyvinylrecords.com/#product/american_football_deluxe
RIYL: Karate, Cap’n Jazz , Jade Tree Bands
DOWNLOADS:
Karate – Bodies
Cap’n Jazz – Yes, I am talking to you
by David | Mar 12, 2014 | Album Review, Free Mp3s, Indie Rock
We’re not going to call a EP sized music offering a EP anymore. We’re just going to thank the artists for omitting the 2nd half of the album or maybe the bad bits when we can. Pet Names lead off track “Empty Fortune Cookie” from their release Missed Connections and following “Something I said” are a good intro to this band. Has the formula and “unpunk” hooks we liked so many moons ago about Green Day. A working mans band that leaves off the fluff but keep the nuts and bolts of the tune in tac. If we hate it we’ll just talk about the “single” and then ask for the check. Pet Names is straight up good indie rock. Rock from Wilmington North Carolina to be precise. Little did they know (maybe they did) that their beach town has a special place in our heart. We learned what Indie rock was all about from our friend Kenyata Sullivan. What good friends you could make 100’s of miles away from your home eventhough they live 10 blocks away.
Anyway, Missed Connections is totally about unpunk connections we make -either by chance or dumb fucking luck. Basically indie rock well disguised as song craft in wolfs cloths. This record makes it count but that is the stuff you cant describe until you get into it a few laps. Vaguely familiar story lines that don’t throw a jab and don’t undermine your choice of brew at the bar. Throw in a acoustic song and before you know it your not cool like us. It’s better -They will be huge so don’t forget to breath in the proces because it will be over before you know it and you’ll hit play again or flip the tape– Whatever happens in the future. You ‘ve just been consumed by a good band laying it down. No gimmicks. Just rock-n-roll. What music discovery is supposed to be like here at the review stalker music blog. We look forward to more. You can totally name your price on their bandcamp page so throw them a couple bux in their guitar case. They deserve it. Alright Fifi?
RIYL: Green Day, Garden Variety, knapsack, GBV
DOWNLOAD:
Pet Names –Empty Fortune Cookie MP3
Here’s some tunes to mix in with Pet Names and your next mixed tape to listen to on whatever device you prefer.
REVIEW STALKER COMPILATION:
00. The Anderson Council –Gardening Man MP3 from Looking at the Stars
01. Knapsack –Less Than MP3
02. Silver Scooter –Pumpkin Eyes MP3
03. Hurl –This Numbness MP3
04/ Burning Airlines –The Escape Engine MP3
05. The Queers – Punk Rock Girls MP3
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by Scott | Feb 11, 2014 | 7 Inch, Album Review, Free Mp3s, grunge
MUSIC REVIEW: Every once in awhile we ask our twitter followers if they want to review something because we can’t keep up because before you know it something good gets buried deep in the glut of email pretty quickly. Seriously it’s a big problem that you hear other blogs complain about I am sure. We’re a show of one(mostly). Anyway, we’ve had long in depth discourses about Buttnado, Fartnado and more recently barfnado in the twitterverse. Real mature shit whilst drinking beer. So when the Jersey City fuzzz trio (in NJ in case you need a map) VOMITFACE sent us their latest we aimed our buckshot into the wild interwebs. Scott raised his hand. Not knowing anything or even if it was in his wheel house. Either way this is an experiment. If you too want to try your hand please give us a shout [reviewstalker at gmail]. Either way. El Editor-in-Chief dig this. We do. Totally RIYL Mudhoney/Melvins/sloppy rock vibe and not afraid of the distortion pedal. (detail of their pedalage below) Judge for yourself. The influences feel right. Give them a tickle on the BOOKFACE.
Bandcamps/t EP by vomitface
From Scott: Not my sweet spot for music but I did listen to each song at least twice to try and be fair….
“Bill Me Later” The first 25 seconds is very Soundgarden-like and captures the listener right away. The verse then starts to sound like an amalgamation of everything 90s with a sound that made me think of an early Nirvana garage outtake. The singing was in my opinion the weakest link but I could see younger people enjoying this played live.
“Sloppy Joes” This sounded to me like a super heavy Marcy Playground type song.. good intro again and the chorus also made me think rejected Nirvana demo tapes… It has good energy and I think there’s an audience for it, that’s just what it sounded like to me.
“P.S. I Hate You” The least listenable of the three songs ventures into some sort of punk death metal territory. Not my thing but certainly a small club song for the right audience.
Pedals: ZVEX Box of Rock–> Daredevil Real Cool Fuzz –> Seymour Duncan Tweakfuzz –> TC Electronic Hall of Fame
Their Bass is run through a Fender Sub-lime and Russian Big Muff.
Sounds like:
The Wipers – Window Shop For Love MP3 from is this real?
Melvins – Oven | Vile MP3 from Ozma /Gluey Porch Treatments
Nirvana – Floyd The Barber MP3 Live Amsterdam 1991
by David | Feb 7, 2014 | Album Review, Free Mp3s
Under a freeway, under the dank bar-matt, under some rock-n-z-roll plaque, is a band with their name etched on the bathroom wall who are willing to put in the man hours it takes to keep a bar open for you; in the good faith they will blast out a good cover or two, while mixing their set with this new material of theirs. Here’s three new ones from the Criminal Hygine dudes from Los Angeles. Still a little Westerbergy on it’s edges. Ruffing out a finer version of their rocknroll with some of the schlitz beer instincts of Sorry Ma’ along with a sabbath-esque guitar riff on the cut “Sold in the City”. The lead track “Withdrawn” is a drinker bar ballad with discernible chorus part amongst the story telling verses. “Bye Bye” is probably the most straight forward song they’ve released to date. The bass leads in this dancy dance number. I don’t know maybe working to appeal to the yipsters? They do a lot of residency gigs, drop kicking one fan out of the bar or in and it seems to be working for them. This is a much “tighter” band. The material runs the risk of being too clean, dare i say more mature, maybe, but I’d still have to card them. Respect to the live at the barn release they put up. Check them out live. These crackers fight for playing gigs between delivering pizza and their non-olympian skating. Order it on 7″ vinyl via Cultist Records here.
GO SEE THEM PLAY WEST COAST:
2/6: Santa Cruz – MetaVinyl w/ Cigarette Bums
2/7: San Francisco – Milk Bar w/ Cigarette Bums
2/14: Los Angeles – Origami Vinyl
2/21: Los Angeles – Bootleg Theater w/ Tropical Popsicle
3/8- 3/17: Austin – SXSW
3/20: Santa Ana – The Observatory w/ The Orwells and Twin Peaks (all ages shows)
3/21: San Diego – Che Cafe w/ The Orwells and Twin Peaks (all ages shows)
3/22: Los Angeles – The Troubadour w/ The Orwells and Twin Peaks (all ages shows)
3/23: San Francisco – Slims w/ The Orwells and Twin Peaks (all ages shows)
3/25: Seattle – Neumos w/ The Orwells and Twin Peaks (all ages shows)
3/26: Portland – Star Theater w/ The Orwells and Twin Peaks (all ages shows)
3/28: Santa Cruz – TBA
3/29: Santa Barbara – TBA
Related shit:
Debut full length Review: Criminal hygiene rearrange your record collection
DOWNLOADS: ( if you dig these you’ll like them)
Fireside – Headacher MP3
Grander – 88 Cubic Meters MP3
by David | Jan 26, 2014 | Album Review, Alternative Rock, Cassettes, Goth
MUSIC REVIEW: El Terrible is band/project by Terry Ashkinos from Fake Your Own Death and Rob Easson ex-Rogue Wave. Goth 80’s inspired alternative with dark baritone vocals like the fall. The short of it is if you took some of the washed out sound away from interpol and swizzled in some cutting guitars it would sound like these guys. Seriously a lot of bands come to mind. It’s sparse enough and even throw in some female vocals sung by Sierra Frost to give it something whimsical. Four great tracks Brought to you by the fine folks at Breakup Records february 7th digitally and on cassette!
DOWNLOAD:
El Terrible – Cut MP3
BONUS RANDOM STUFF:
The Fall – Mr. Pharmacist MP3 from Bend Sinister
Sisters of Mercy – Heartland MP3 Temple of Love 12″
Les Negresses Vertes – Zobi La Mouche MP3 (sire/wb) from Mlah very weird accordion indie sounding folky stuff from France. For Neutral Milk Hotel fans.
by David | Dec 11, 2013 | Album Review, video
VIDEO OF THE DAY: We like the foo fighter style nerd character thing in the storyline in this rock video co-direct by Slim Wray and Tamara Lee. Pretty funny situation comedy thing not to be undermined by the thick sounding rock duo that they actually are. All bands should have a sense of humor and not take themselves so seriously.
If we had to compare the voices on their debut Sack Lunch we could easily say Jim Morrison and not just because they included a Doorish sounding cover of Van Morrison’s tune “Gloria”. Definitely a southern accent kind of thing reliving the rockus days when tube amp rocknroll was the wild wild west. Which is basically what they are going for. We want to believe they are having a good time doing it. Which is not the usual sloppy mess duo’s get away with. The Jack White formula is fairly easy to follow for a bit.
RIYL: Jim Jones Review, Chuck Berry, JSBX
by David | Nov 26, 2013 | Album Review, Alternative Rock
VIDEO OF THE DAY: Multi-instrumentalist dude Austin Hartley-Leonard may or may not be a serial killer hanging out on random street corners in LA. We don’t mean to make fun of dudes with three first names but just want to make sure we distinguish him from the pack of talented serial killers you may run into. Review Stalker presents Broken Anchor to you with this video of a very hot chick (Nicole Steinwedell) pretending to fight and do normal boyfriend/girlfriend stuff. He’s not exactly a country singer although he does have an ability to tell a good story lyrically with a soft serrated knife in his own hybrid alt-americana way. While we also don’t think he could pull off Gram Parsons Flying Burrito Brothers outfit (that would be too obvious if you ever saw the flick Mariachi) that we normally associate with serial singer songwriter types. He does sound similar to Gram. Austin’s music and voice is as smooth as a cello in heat and you should check it out on his full length called Fresh Lemonade to cool yourself off. Which is probably why the girl fell for him in the first place although we don’t know because it’s not a talkie. Go for a deep cut like “Head Is A Hole” and “My Marie”. The “Always” video is a good intro track to a nice solid and well produced release.
RIYL: Gram Parsons, Beach Boys
BUY Broken Anchors: iTunes | Bandcamp
Yea this is what I am talking about…
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