As OK Go set the Internet alight with yet another YouTube sensation, Steve Lampiris takes a look at how computers stole the limelight from music television, and what modern day music videos are capable of achieving.
Author Steve Lampiris
Black Bananas – Rad Times Xpress IV
For all the cries of BB being the saviours of rock, everything about this record screams insipidity: a series of ideas of popular music that largely have nothing to do with each other, all thrown together in the hopes that something sticks.
Cage the Elephant – Thank You, Happy Birthday
The thing about Cage the Elephant is that they just don’t give a fuck. Like, seriously, they just don’t care. Look at their name, for shit’s sake. Not to mention the nonsensical album title, Thank You, Happy Birthday. Then there’s the fact that the opener to the new album, as well as ‘Indy Kidz,’ begins [...]
The Guilty Hands – Desire on a Short Leash
Imagine a kid with a coloring book who wants nothing more than to make the image perfect. The only way to do that, of course, is to only colour within the lines, never straying from the linear path. It seems The Guilty Hands are that kid; they’re good at what they do. If they were to stray from the well-worn path and colour outside the lines, they could be great.
Daft Punk – Tron: Legacy
Tron: Legacy is the sound of Daft Punk at play and sounding like they aren’t. In this way, the score, much like the idea of virtual reality, is paradoxical in nature, and it’s this paradox that makes it so exciting.
Tyvek – Nothing Fits
When Tyvek keep inside the modesty of three-chord punk, they’re ace. But when they try to resurrect the Stooges, it’s troublesome.
Huey Lewis and The News – Soulsville
‘Soulsville’ is a fantastic tribute album to a fantastic record label. Go get a copy now, and dust off those old vinyl singles while you’re at it.
Shield Your Eyes – Theme From Kindness
Shield Your Eyes’ ‘Theme From Kindness’ is damaging to the human psyche. Not to mention awful in every way. You’ve been warned.
Pariah – Safehouses EP
The many-faced dubstep of Pariah’s “Safehouses” EP requires almost as many hyphens to describe as there are reasons to love it.
Drums of Death – Generation Hexed
Generation Hexed is a stellar disc that is worth your time if you’re fan of left-brained rave music.
Adebisi Shank – This Is The Second Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
All Adebisi Shank ask is that you have a good time with them for forty minutes. Can you really refuse that?
Jaill – That’s How We Burn
Milwaukee-based Jaill channel everything from California surf-rock to modern Brit rock to Bill Maher cynicism on the band’s Sub Pop Debut. It’s fun, it’s gorgeous, it’s something you need.
Tom Jones – Praise & Blame
Tom Jones does southern-fried gospel? Yeah, and he does it well. You shouldn’t be surprised.
The Telepathic Butterflies – Wow & Flutter!
Steve Lampiris isn’t all that impressed with the offering from The Telepathic Butterflies…
Club Smith – The Process EP
In a few short months Club Smith have vaulted forward in their evolution, showing us that their influences include more than just post-punk.
The Quails – Master of Imperfection
Subtlety and post-punk? A ridiculous claim, but the Quails have managed to pull it off with this set.
