Elizabeth And The Catapult – The Other Side Of Zero (Verve Forecast)
Female singer-songwriter stuff that walks the line between alternative and soft rock. When Elizabeth and co. drift in the direction of Feist, Fiona Apple, or Tori Amos, I’m happy. But there are more than a few Sheryl Crow moments here, which don’t make me so happy. Decent, but not great.
Dark Dark Dark – Wild Go (Supply And Demand)
A popular approach recently: indie bands featuring unconventional instruments that take songwriting tropes from Eastern European folk music. Gogol Bordello is upbeat about it, but Dark Dark Dark are, um, darker. Instead of partying, they stare out the window into the night. An enjoyable but inessential addition to this microgenre.
Warpaint – The Fool (Rough Trade)
Mixing the melodic sense and haunting, ambient guitar sound of the Cocteau Twins with Mazzy Star’s hazy, psychedelic folk jangle and the foreboding chill of early-80s Cure, Warpaint create something that hasn’t quite existed before, but will nonetheless greatly appeal to all fans of extraordinary guitar-based songcraft. Gorgeous.
Elizabeth And The Catapult – The Other Side Of Zero (Verve Forecast)
Female singer-songwriter stuff that walks the line between alternative and soft rock. When Elizabeth and co. drift in the direction of Feist, Fiona Apple, or Tori Amos, I’m happy. But there are more than a few Sheryl Crow moments here, which don’t make me so happy. Decent, but not great.
Dark Dark Dark – Wild Go (Supply And Demand)
A popular approach recently: indie bands featuring unconventional instruments that take songwriting tropes from Eastern European folk music. Gogol Bordello is upbeat about it, but Dark Dark Dark are, um, darker. Instead of partying, they stare out the window into the night. An enjoyable but inessential addition to this microgenre.
Warpaint – The Fool (Rough Trade)
Mixing the melodic sense and haunting, ambient guitar sound of the Cocteau Twins with Mazzy Star’s hazy, psychedelic folk jangle and the foreboding chill of early-80s Cure, Warpaint create something that hasn’t quite existed before, but will nonetheless greatly appeal to all fans of extraordinary guitar-based songcraft. Gorgeous.
