Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Your Daily Lick: The Kid Rated R
Remember the Name (self-released)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 2:19 PM
In "Music 2 My…," Rated R calls out the music that made him who is: "Everything from Jimi Hendrix to Madonna … Doggystyle: that's the kind of rap that makes me want to rap right now." Why else does he do it? "Just to make ya jump up and down like gas prices." His debut is nothing new, but consistently good, marked by expressive raps and solid beats.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Amoeba Music to Appear in Next Guitar Hero
Kathleen Richards — Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Teens and tweens nationwide are about to gain some street cred. In what appears to be an effort to reach out to the downloading and streaming generation, famed indie record store Amoeba Music will be featured in the newest installment of the Guitar Hero videogame series, Guitar Hero World Tour, reports Wii Fan Boy. The scene will feature a stage set in an Amoeba store, complete with CD racks (in case those youngsters aren't sure what they are) and posters on the wall. The game will be released October 26, and those who pre-order the game at Amoeba will receive a free T-shirt.
Your Daily Lick: Olehole
Holemole (Underground Communique Records)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 2:18 PM
This Oakland band's debut full-length makes a big, loud statement: grunge can still be relevant and even vital as an art form. Diffusing the frustration of hardcore through an accessible hard-rock filter, Olehole (pronounced o-lay ho-lay) expertly employs songcraft, lyricism, raw energy, and loads of distortion.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Mickey Hart & Zakir Hussain
Global Drum Project (Shout Factory)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 2:18 PM
Grateful Dead drummer Hart, longtime collaborator Hussain, and bandmates Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo aren't into drums so much as rhythms. All manner of percussion colors their first effort together, including a broad range of Eastern, Latin, African, and vocal styles.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Radio Express #3
For the week of September 25 through October 1, 2008.
Bay Area Bands / MP3s and Song Samples / Podcasts / Radio Express Nate Seltenrich — Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 6:11 PM
Discover folk-rock, punk-rock, experimental hip-hop, and more in this week's episode of Radio Express -- where you can HEAR the music we WRITE about in the East Bay Express.
Your Daily Lick: Shootin Lucy
Shootin Lucy EP (self-released)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Six songs isn't a ton of time to get to know a band, especially when only one hits the three three-minute mark. But Oakland's Shootin Lucy makes enough of an impression to warrant this teaser for its upcoming full-length. The three-year-old quintet's first- and second-wave punk revival feels heavy and raw, with melodies for shouting along to.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Astralingua
Contact EP (self-released)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 2:42 PM
The ears are satisfied, but the mind is left wanting. Berkeley composer and producer Joe Thompson — plus a few decorated guest musicians who've worked with Cake and Tom Waits, among others — strive for a balance between world music and prog-rock, but Astralingua is ultimately too hybridized for its own good.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Houston Jones
Calico Heart (Summerhill Records)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Houston Jones' fourth record is an uplifting collection of no-frills Americana. The quintet has considerable experience under its belts, and it shows: the band comfortably dishes out bright, warm American roots music with a bit of swing, a touch of soul, and lots of heart.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month
Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month (Soft Abuse)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Not everyone can be Bob Dylan, but that doesn't stop people from trying. Quinn's homage to proto-psychedelic '60s folk maintains a safe distance from derivative, yet the influences and inspiration are inescapable on this solo debut. A little less grey and more black and white will help Quinn establish his own niche.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Radio Express #2
For the week of September 18-24, 2008.
Bay Area Bands / MP3s and Song Samples / Podcasts / Radio Express Nate Seltenrich — Wed, Sep 17, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Here's your chance to hear for yourself the music we've written about this week in the East Bay Express.
