Archive for the ‘Media’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Matt Pond PA “Starting” 7-inch available now; new album drops in April

Scott Mathews

Matt Pond PA, credit: Jeremy Balderson

April 6, 2010, Matt Pond PA, indie-pop all-star band from New York, NY, will be releasing their latest album The Dark Leaves on Altitude Records. Currently, their single “Starting” is available for download on Paste. In November, Matt Pond PA released a limited edition EP showcasing the single. The EP, THREEEP, includes 3 A-side tracks, instrumentals, and 3 additional B-side tracks. Currently, their “Starting” 7″ is available for purchase on Altitude Records. The three song EP includes “Starting” as well as “The Colour Out of Space” and “Stopping.”

In addition to the upcoming release of The Dark Leaves, Matt Pond PA lead man, Matt, and Chris Hansen, guitarist and keyboardist – have composed a motion picture soundtrack for the feature film, Lebanon, premiering Spring 2010 at SXSW Film Festival. See more information about Lebanon here: lebanonpamovie.com.

Matt Pond PA will be performing at SXSW this year, and will be touring with The Wooden Birds through February and March; The Wooden Birds are also appearing at SXSW.

Matt Pond PA — “Starting,” from Starting 7″ (2010) | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Matt-Pond-PA-Starting.mp3]

See below for a video and tour dates from Matt Pond PA.

(more…)

February 24, 2010 Posted in Downloads, News, Video 1 Comment »

Incendiary new Alkaline Trio album smashes into stores

Jared Montgomery

Alkaline Trio

Alkaline Trio

On February 23rd, 2010, Alkaline Trio released their 7th studio album, This Addiction. The album opens with the explosive title track, “This Addiction.” Fast paced and full of catchy guitar riffs, if the opening track is any sign of what’s to come with this album, it’s sure to be an instant hit. The album continues with “Dine, Dine My Darling,” which is full of big guitars and anthemic vocals. From the first two tracks alone, it’s obvious that the band is trying to get back to their punk rock roots, and it seems to be working.

Alkaline Trio started in 1996, releasing their first full length EP in 1998, Goddamnit. In the last 14 years since Alkaline Trio’s inception, they have seen great success with their often dark and macabre lyrics mixed with catchy punk rock guitar. The band saw their first big success with the release of From Here to Infirmary in 2001. Nine years later, the band has left their major label and self-released the new album on guitarist and vocalist Matt Skiba’s own Heart and Skull label, in conjunction with Epitaph. Skiba has attributed Alkaline Trio’s move from major label Epic to their own label to releases such as Nine Inch Nails’ Ghosts I-IV (2007) and Radiohead’s In Rainbows (2007).


(more…)

February 23, 2010 Tags: , ,
Posted in Album Reviews, Released this Week, Video No Comments »

Exciting new Puget Sound psych-folk quintet The Cat From Hue embodies Seattle environment

Scott Mathews

The Cat From Hue, indie/psych-folk quintet from Camano Island, Washington, are an interesting listen. Clearly influenced by other indie bands from the northwest, Modest Mouse and Portugal. The Man, this young group uniquely portrays the Puget Sound in their lyrics alongside upbeat, folksy instrumentals. In “Welcome Back The Rain,” through well constructed folk guitar, slow drum beats, tambourine, and high keys, their music emulates the sound and feeling of a typical rainy day in the Puget Sound. Their lyrics in this song are delivered strong and sleepy, with the verse declaring “We watch the days run down to the hour change/We watch the green leaves turn around, and walk through the sleet and the rain…” and more cleverly sour lyrics regarding the Seattle music scene: “I hear the Puget Sound is Land of the Green/I reciprocate the meaning with the speech about the scene […] just a crow in my crow’s nest/tippin’ back my Seattle’s Best Coffee.”

The Cat From Hue — “Welcome Back The Rain,” from Shoreline
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/04-Welcome-Back-The-Rain.mp3]

The Cat From Hue — “Stumble On,” from Shoreline
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/03-Stumble-On.mp3]

The Can From Hue are currently unsigned and have many shows lined up. To see more information about the band visit their myspace, myspace.com/catfromhue, or visit them on Facebook. See below for a video of them live, acoustic, as well as a look at their upcoming shows.

(more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Artist Spotlight, Seattle, Washington, Video 1 Comment »

NEWS: Cedar City songwriter compilation, Cedar Breaks Out!, hits shelves after release party

Matthew Montgomery

Cedar Breaks Out!

Saturday saw the release of the latest project from the home of independent music in Cedar City, Groovacious Records. Cedar Breaks Out!, a 14-track compilation consisting of some of the town’s best singer-songwriters, made its debut last night at the record store, which was nearly bursting at the seams with attention.

The compilation features 14 artists from the Cedar City area, and 11 of those performed at Saturday evening’s celebrations. It serves as a refreshing reminder that not only are Open Mic nights at Groovacious packing a punch with their unique performances and evocative covers, but these musicians can provoke an emotional response with their own music.

The album sees a street release date of Tuesday, when it can be purchased for $9.99 at Groovacious Records. The album is being released on Groovacious Platters, the record label run by Groovacious Records owners Tim and Lisa Cretsinger.

(more…)

February 22, 2010 Posted in News, Photos, Southern Utah, Video No Comments »

SPOTLIGHT: Jack Conte, one-man band, destined for limelight stay

Jared Montgomery

Jack Conte

Jack Conte

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jack Conte. He is a San Francisco native that has only been on the scene for about three years, but will stay in the limelight for much longer than fifteen minutes if he continues releasing EPs like he has in the past.

I first discovered Conte after finding “Lonely Ghost” on YouTube. I made the mistake of not watching the video the first time I listened through it, but thankfully glanced a peek after feeling hypnotized into listening to the song a second time. It was then that I discovered that he is a one-man band – something you don’t see very often. At one point he even uses a homemade method of voice distortion by singing into a tube and waving it vigorously in front of a microphone. He then proceeds to put the beat down on some organ pedals. It is clearly stated in the YouTube description that there are no hidden sounds: “If you hear it, at some point you (will) see it.” Also included in the video: an electric Wurlitzer and him releasing a can of confetti, played in reverse. (more…)

February 21, 2010 Tags: , , ,
Posted in Artist Spotlight, Reviews, Video No Comments »

The music of “Chrono Trigger” continues to evolve after 15 years

Jared Montgomery

"Chrono Trigger" box art

Box Art from the SNES game "Chrono Trigger"

Since “Chrono Trigger” was released in 1995, it has been widely regarded as having one of the best soundtracks on a video game. It helped spur the scene of video game music remixes and has had many iterations over the years. The soundtrack by Yasunori Mitsuda, originally in just 16-bit audio, still contends with full orchestral music heard in today’s games and has a large cult following in the video game scene.

One of the most notable renditions on the soundtrack is the acid jazz album Chrono Trigger Arranged Version: The Brink of Time. The album was released just over three months after the game and features ten remade tracks. Initially, the album had very mixed reviews with critics claiming to either love it or hate it. Personally, I enjoyed this acid jazz arrangement of the soundtrack quite a bit. It has all the workings of an enjoyable acid jazz album mixed with memorable songs that incite great memories. The choice of acid jazz seems like an obvious one simply because the sounds used, if not emulate, at least do justice to the original 16-bit sounds.

Yasunori Mitsuda arr. DJ Ali Haeri – “Kingdom Trial” remixed with “1, 2 Step” by Ciara feat. Missy Elliott from Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/2-05-1-2-Step-Ciara-feat.-Missy-Elliott.mp3]

Yasunori Mitsuda arr. DJ Ali Haeri – “Underground Sewer” from Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/3-08-Underground-Sewer.mp3]

Yasunori Mitsuda arr. Daniel Floyd – “Morning Sunlight” from Chrono Symphonic (2005)
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/02-Morning-Sunlight.mp3]

 

(more…)

February 20, 2010 Tags: , , ,
Posted in Downloads, Features, Video Game Music 2 Comments »

BRIEF: The Low Anthem ready tour, 7″ release

Scott Mathews

The Low Anthem

The Low Anthem are a American folk-rock group currently comprised of four members. With a range of interesting musical instruments and vocal harmonies, they create a comforting blanket of sound to easily float away in. The Low Anthem are incredibly talented across the board and are worth a serious listen.

The Low Anthem’s first headlining tour begins February 23rd in Pittsburgh, PA with stops at SXSW Music and Media Conference and Festival and Sasquatch! Music Festival at The Gorge in George, WA. The Low Anthem are set to release a limited-edition 7″ of their single “Charlie Darwin,” on the A-side and previously unreleased tracks on B-side. The 7″ will be available for purchase March 2nd, 2010. Their latest album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, released with Nonesuch records in 2009. It is available for purchase on CD as well as 12″ vinyl here: www.lowanthem.com/store

The Low Anthem — “Charlie Darwin” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/charlie-darwin.mp3]

(more…)

February 18, 2010 Tags: , ,
Posted in News, Photos, Video No Comments »

PLAYLIST: Having trouble waking up? Try our energetic playlist!

Matthew Montgomery

Do you have trouble waking up? I do. Of the many strategies I’ve tried for waking up at a proper time — some more successful than others — one of the most successful, aside from having cold water unexpectedly sprayed on me, has been finding a few catchy, exciting pop songs to jolt me into normal life. In no particular order, here are seven of my favorite songs that help speed my waking process.

Radiohead – “No Surprises”
A veritable classic of our time, “No Surprises” floats you into a waking state with a staccato bell-like guitar introduction. There’s a reason it’s one of the most recognizable introductions in modern rock music, and when I’m waking up, I always find it important to listen to something at least vaguely recognizable. I hate being startled into my day.

Arcade Fire – “Wake Up”
Is this one too oblique? Maybe, but it’s still a damn good song to hear as you drift back into consciousness. There’s something about the driving guitar, the faux-choral arrangement, that blanket of warm distortion. Give this a whirl in your wake-up routine, and I’m sure you’ll notice a certain hopefulness pervade through your day.

(more…)

February 17, 2010 Tags: , , ,
Posted in Playlists, Video No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »