Even though I'm only a few posts in I can already see a habit forming - the second installment of Under Review is also a self titled album. Mice Parade is Mice Parade's 7th release and when you listen to it you ask yourself "how the hell have I not heard about this band until now?!". A Wolf Parade knock off, this band is not.
Mice Parade really stands out because of it's blend of styles. They mix acoustic guitar and Boards of Canada-ish IDM electro; layered one atop the other. Ironically the closest comparison I can come up with is Sunset Rubdown mixed with Sparklehorse. Needless to say, they rocked my socks.
Mice Parade - Tales Of Las Nigras (MP3) (Click On Listen button)
Mice Parade's self titled LP will be out April 12, 2007 on FatCat Records.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Under Review: Mice Parade
Monday, March 19, 2007
Under Review: Voxtrot
Voxtrot sure have had a weird history of releases, opting for several EPs instead of an LP. The traditional path, this is not. Regardless, these guys have gained a nice amount of blog buzz and earned a spot at last year's Pitchfork Music Festival. Impressive.
Last December, lead singer Ramesh Srivastava announced that Voxtrot would stop being so coy and release a proper album. Ok, so big deal, why is this news if it happened months ago? Good point imaginary reader!
While their new LP won't be in stores until May 22, it certainly has hit the interweb. And judging from the reaction of most people on certain unnamed music sites the reaction to this album is pretty hot and cold. Needless to say I needed to check it out for myself.
After giving the record a few spins I can tell you this: it's both more and less then you were expecting. The bad news is that it lacks the consistent "wow" factor of their EPs. Pretty much every song on a Voxtrot EP made its way onto a mix cd of mine at one point or another. The good news is that what it lacks in consistency it makes up in it's high points. Songs like "Kid Gloves", "Ghost", and "Blood Red Blood" totally make up for record's more *cough* forgettable *cough* moments.
Voxtrot - "Kid Gloves" (MP3)
Voxtrot - "Stephen" (MP3)
Voxtrot's self titled LP will be out on May 22, 2007 on Beggars Group
