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Music
Released on 4AD, 10/7/08
A lot of things can happen in an NYU dorm room. Grab yourself a couple of fresh-faced teenagers, a vast and ever-expanding metropolis, and a lack of overall guidance coupled with the egotistical invincibility of a young, eager mind. Though, if you happen to be Fred Nicolaus and Daniel Rossen, in lieu of the typical academic and social roommate rivalry and middle of the night oh so alone panic attacks, you begin a musical romance that not only outlasts your college days but also, for your second performance, lands you on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Not too shabby. More
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Music
Released on Deaf Dumb and Blind, 9/9/08
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Contrary to what the name invokes, this group is not from Japan and they’re not a duo. The group is comprised of Brighton, UK’s David Best (vocals, guitar), Steve Lewis (synths), Matt Hainsby (bass) and Lee Adams (drums). The group are self-proclaimed fans of 70s Krautrock groups and 80s synth-based bands. More
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Music
Released on Matador Records, 10/28/08
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
When Lou Reed first released his Berlin album in 1973, Rolling Stone referred to it as a “distorted and degenerate demimonde of paranoia, schizophrenia, degradation, pill-induced violence and suicide”. Some 30 years later, the magazine named it one of the 500 greatest albums of all time. More
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Music
Simplicity Equals Complexity
Four years after their last LP, Stereolab is back with Chemical Chords, a nod to 60s pop arrangements with layered horns, strings and vibrato guitar providing the backdrop for Laetitia Sadier's delicate French and English vocals. Tim Gane (guitars/keyboards) spoke with SF Station during a phone interview from the band's New York tour stop. Stereolab will perform at the Fillmore on October 21st and 22nd. More
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Music
Listen to the Gospel
After rising from relative obscurity in Jacksonville, FL, to become the international buzz band of the moment, Black Kids return to San Francisco for a headlining gig at Great American Music Hall on October 13th. Fronted by lead vocalist Reggie Youngblood (his sister Ali is also in the group), Black Kids released their debut LP Partie Traumatic on Columbia Records in July. Dawn Watley (keyboards/backup vocals) spoke with SF Station during a phone interview from a tour stop in Atlanta. More
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Music
Released on Matador Records, 9/23/08
Rachel “Rabob” Hughes and Nathan “Nabob” Shineywater are back and making soothing ambient sounds for your everyday life. The duo broke through with 2006’s Brightblack Morning Light, making many year-end lists. What Brightblack Morning Light does so well is to stay quiet and in the background, yet not far enough that you don't notice them. Simply, they're not necessarily the band you want playing during a raucous road trip, but they'll be perfect for unwinding at the end of the day. More
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Music
Released on Bar-None Records, 8/19/08
When I hear Hotel Lights, I imagine the silhouette of a large, lonely building indistinguishable from its background, except for the dim, yellow light barely escaping its sockets. It’s depressing to think of all the isolated people trapped inside, but the seeping lights somehow give you hope that someone’s surviving. Firecracker People, Hotel Lights’ sophomore effort, is the manifestation of this light, offering that glimmer of hope yet only if you’re willing to pay attention. And the music is just as serene as that picture in your mind. It’s soft and consoling, conjuring up starkly beautiful images but with conviction and soul. More
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Music
Released on Kill Rock Stars, 10/7/08
Deerhoof has been cranking out albums for the past fourteen years which, in and of itself, is quite a feat for any band, not to mention one that always seemed to be slightly outside of the norm, if not above it. Deerhoof has risen from what could have easily turned into the next noise-rock party band to one of the most innovative art rock bands of this time. More
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Music
Man on a Mission
Mission of Burma helped shape post-punk for four blistering years until the band dissolved in 1983 after guitarist Roger Miller suffered from tinnitus. With only two studio recordings under its belt from that era, the band’s influence can be seen across the spectrum of more recent acts, from Nirvana to Moby (he covered “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver”) to upstarts No Age. The band, which reformed in 2002, returns to San Francisco to perform its debut EP Signals, Calls and Marches on September 26th and its first LP Vs. on September 27th at The Independent. More
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Music
SF Station Blows It Up
On Monday night I had the opportunity to photograph and watch Brooklyn-based Ratatat with the rest of the sold out crowd at The Fillmore. A very strange pre-opening band called E*Rock was entertaining for a few seconds then Panther, who I thought was great, brought their own brand of electro rock. But the light definitely shined on Ratatat who started out pretty mellow and built up to some intense visuals and killer beats. They played songs from their new XL recordings release LP3. More
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