http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Sat, 3 Apr 2004 17:38:52 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/03/173852.php Eric Hallstrom(I don't normally use this space to hype bands whose members I consider friends. I usually find that type of puffery to be transparent and it often comes across as insincere. So, given that caveat, I am going to puff up a Nebraska-based act who deserve your attention.)You've probably already heard about these guys. Straight out of the heartland, following on the heels of Cursive and others (read all about the incestuous scene here if you want, I get tired of explaining it), the album "en Garde" is just plain good. Authoritative. Tight and catchy. No fucking around, however you decide to describe it. Like so many similarly situated indie rock records, en Garde occasionally lapses into a generic, guitar-driven indie rock sound. Maybe Stephen Pedersen can be forgiven for this, since the record was written and recorded without a formal "band." Now, with an official line up including my good friend Aaron Druery, as well as AJ Mogus and Mike Sweeney, there is sure to be the growth, nuance, and depth that can only come from a "real" band. The production is excellent (of course it is, everything done by the Mogus brothers seems to be) and the instrumentation is intelligent, if often straight forward. You definitely won't be unaware that Pedersen used to be in Cursive, but you also won't want to be without this record. Music14365@blogcritics.org Sat, 3 Apr 2004 17:38:52 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/03/173147.php Eric HallstromRaised on Zenith is a Chicago-based quartet that defies easy categorization. I will admit that I don't yet own any of ROZ's records (that is, I have not yet spent my money to purchase a tangible product) but I have listened to several songs, which are easily accessible at the band's website (and kudos to ROZ for realizing the significance of the distinction between streaming and downloading and offering most of their music in both formats).ROZ's earlier tracks Should I be Clueless and Stand by the Door feel like good, but not distinguished, work in the straightforward "singer/songwriter" genre. The melodies are catchy, the vocals are pleasant, the harmonies are smart (if predictable) and the production is grade A. Overall, these songs show a strong grasp of the art of composition and have certain qualities that impress, but ultimately fail to really engage me. That's okay. The best thing about ROZ's earlier work is that they are the weak compared to newer material, which demonstrate growth in composition and production and bode well for ROZ's future.As I mentioned above, ROZ defy characterization. Songs like Insane and Should I be Clueless use layers of vocals to crate robust and powerful choruses reminiscent of bands like Superchunk, Cursive, and Guided by Voices. I am continuously impressed by the high-quality production, particularly the guitar mix that seamlessly brings together a janglely, tiny, acoustic sound with the precision of transistor amplification. And as usual, the melodies are great.If songs like Monoway and Insane bring to mind early 90s influences (Nirvana, Superchunk, and bands from the Simple Machines 7" series like Rodan), songs like Remember demonstrate ROZ's depth and interest in diverse songwriting. Remember is slower (but not a ballad -- think Black Heart Procession) and more melancholy. One simple riff, sad and pensive, repeated under a light melody and soft female (?) backing vocals. Not all bands can transition between styles in such an earnest and legitimate fashion.This ability to freely move between sub-genres is one of ROZ's strengths, borne out by their newest song. Blackhole is aggressive yet smart. Precise yet noisy. Echoes of Led Zeppelin and Radiohead. Recorded at Gravity Studios (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt) and set for an official release date of April 9, you can stream it at the website. And you should. Their future looks bright.If you are intrigued, check out their website. If you live in the Chicago metro area, get on their mailing list. Looks like you can see them toward the end of the month. Music14364@blogcritics.org Sat, 3 Apr 2004 17:31:47 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/02/07/214004.php Eric HallstromAlthough the domain name is intuitive, I only today stumbled upon the placeholder for Music.com. I don't know a thing about this site, but I am trying to discern whether or not it will be designed to compete with Allmusic.com. Anyone know the skinny? Industry shills or independent enthusiasts? Trustworthy reviews or ad hoc community? Something to look forward to or something to ignore? Anyone? Sci/Tech12505@blogcritics.org Sat, 7 Feb 2004 21:40:04 EST