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Green Day’s ‘Warning’ an album screaming political transition

Matthew Montgomery

Warning

Green Day is an influential and largely controversial punk-influenced rock band that came out of the punk/ska scene of Berkley, Calif., in 1987. The evolution of their albums suggests a move from self-involvement, indulgence, and youthful unrest to a higher, more universal, and more political purpose. Warning, released in 2000, is a pivitol album on the road to later, more politically charged, albums. It mixes angst, sex, and social commentary and is their most musically eclectic album to date. Their political voice is more honed and relevant with every album — everything about Warning screams transition. The band is made up of three extremely talented men, and the music is only getting better as they get more popular, more visible, and more political.

The first and title track addresses a society that is concerned with their safety and taking great measures to ensure it:

“Better homes and safety-sealed communities
Did you remember to pay the utility?
Caution: Police line, you better not cross.
Is it the cop, or am I the one thats really dangerous?
Sanitation, expiration date, question everything.
Or shut up and be a victim of authority”

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February 25, 2010 Tags: , ,
Posted in Album Reviews, Features No Comments »

REVIEW: Panther Attack! gives us heart-pounding, funky post-rock

Scott Mathews

Panther Attack! @ Club Tropical (credit unknown)

Panther Attack!’s full-length album, Martyr Bonus, was released in 2007. The quartet, from Seattle, Wash., is composed of a bassist, guitarist, and two drummers — with one drummer often trading out as the second guitarist. Martyr Bonus is their first and only full-length album to date, with Sharp Moments EP being their only other recorded release. Martyr Bonus is a wonderful instrumental album tilting from groovy post-punk to shoegaze.

The first track on the album, “Frolic, Just Don’t Lick,“ is slow to crescendo and has a shoegaze feel. It lays out the groovy standard to come throughout the album. The guitars have a muddy feel in this track and, appropriately, croaking frogs. Layered cleverly through the guitars, the bass pulls us slowly forward through the mud, reminiscent of plodding through a swampy, hazy field. The drums are absent through the entirety of this track.

Moving forward two tracks to “Stands About, With Dumb Look On Face,” we are immediately greeted face paced guitar and dual drum kits wailing away. Jazzy scales take us from fast and loud to quiet and slow, and back again. The drum kits in this track are a delight. They are responsible for much of the feverish feeling throughout this six-minute-long track. From here on out, the entire album feels much more jazzy than the initial two tracks.

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Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews, Seattle, Washington No Comments »

Symphony of Science debuts “The Poetry of Reality,” latest in science mashup series

Matthew Montgomery

Symphony of Science, the brainchild of electronica musician John Boswell, has released the latest entry in a series of inspiring and geeky music videos: “The Poetry of Reality,” the fifth video in the series, describes the simultaneous beauty and utility of scientific inquiry through snippets from figureheads of science and skepticism.

The Symphony of Science — “The Poetry of Reality” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Symphony_of_Science-The_Poetry_of_Reality.mp3|titles=Symphony of Science – The Poetry of Reality]

The video includes lectures and interviews from the widely known — Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, Stephen Hawking — to some known in more specific circles — PZ Meyers, Brian Greene, Carolyn Porco, Michael Shermer — and represents an engaging cross-section of figures of science advocacy.

Musically, “The Poetry of Reality” is perhaps the strongest piece since the first video, “A Glorious Dawn.” If the Symphony of Science is successful in spreading its very important message, it will be to the benefit of humanity as a whole.

Posted in Downloads, News, Video No Comments »

SPOTLIGHT: Lightspeed Champion releases new full length LP

Jared Montgomery

Lightspeed Champion

Lightspeed Champion is the brain child of Devonté Hynes and has been active since 2005. In 2007, he released Falling off the Lavender Bridge to critical acclaim. This record was recorded and produced in Omaha, Nebraska with the help of Saddle Creek producer Mike Mogis.   Mogis is most famous for his work with Connor Oberst and Bright Eyes. Falling off the Lavender Bridge has a star studded guest list, including Nate Walcott, pianist and trumpet player for Bright Eyes, and The Faint drummer Clark Baechle.

Now, in 2010, Hynes has finally released the followup to 2007’s Falling off the Lavender Bridge, titled Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You and is a bit more complex than the initial Lightspeed Champion release. Where Falling off the Lavender Bridge is often simple and poppy, the new record is thick and speckled with new sounds. Now, it’s not to say that Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You doesn’t feel like the same band that captured the indie folk scene’s heart back in 2007, but it is definitely a departure from the earlier release. Devonté’s voice is definitely stronger on this release. The 2007 release had a kind of sweet nervousness to the vocals, which have since been replaced with vocals soaring with confidence and intention.

You can currently purchase the both Lightspeed Champion albums at Domino Record’s website on vinyl for $12.99, CD for $8.99 and digital for $7.99. The band is currently touring the UK and western Europe.

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Posted in Albums in Brief, Artist Spotlight, Reviews, Video No Comments »

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.

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

NEWS: SLC record store Slowtrain plans customer appreciation party

Matthew Montgomery

Slowtrain, one of Salt Lake City’s few independent record stores, is planning a customer appreciation party for March 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Not the first party of the sort they’ve thrown, the event includes a performance from David Williams and acts as a preface to a live show from Laura Gibson and Ethan Rose.

In other Slowtrain news, the store has placed their Blue Note reissue series LPs for sale online, with each running from $50 to $60. The store is the only outlet selling the LPs in Salt Lake City, and their stock is limited.

Slowtrain is located at 221 E Broadway in Salt Lake City and sells tickets to upcoming shows in the greater Salt Lake City area. Read on for a list of shows Slowtrain is selling tickets to — tickets are only available for cash and include a $1 service fee.

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Posted in News, Salt Lake City, Utah No Comments »

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).


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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.

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

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