(Red Ink/Columbia, 2005) The Lashes’ full length debut on Coumbia imprint Red Ink is strong one, and hopefully portends a long career for the Seattle rockers. Seattle may have permanently put itself on the musical map in the early 1990s with the grunge movement and the Big Four (Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and […]

Descended Like Vultures is Rogue Wave’s second full-length, both of which have come on Sub Pop Records, generally a good sign. DLV is no exception to that, as it’s nothing less than enjoyable on every track, and more than that on others. The sound is similar to that of other pop-oriented indie rock bands, […]

A minor but interesting late-’60s British rock singer, Terry Reid could have been a lot more famous if he hadn’t turned down the slot of lead singer for the New Yardbirds in 1968. That slot, of course, went to Robert Plant, and the New Yardbirds became Led Zeppelin. Reid didn’t turn down the spot because […]

The Coral have always sounded like they’d be quite at home in England in the 1960s, and The Invisible Invasion is no exception. The album is, as expected, full of Kinks-influenced psych-pop-rock. There is noticeably less experimentation than in the past, and the arrangements are more straightforward. That would have been a […]

OK Go released their major label debut a few years ago with a self-titled album full of edgy, nervous pop-rock with a shiny radio-ready sheen. Since then, the face of modern rock radio has changed a bit but OK Go have stayed the same, writing songs with hooks sharper than the Miracle Blade III […]

On her second release for Nonesuch Records, Laura Veirs again offers up a batch of literate, smart singer/songwriter oriented pop music backed by her band the Tortured Souls. One of the many strengths of Year of Metoers is the production, which avoids a cluttered sound in favor of subtlty, highlighting Veirs’ sweet voice and […]