Reviews

Albums, singles and shows, reviewed.

567 stories · Page 11 of 29

MusicAlbum Review: Catcalls – The Catcalls EP[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Northern Colorado music scene is truly a unique animal. We’ve got everything from bluegrass, new-grass, indie, alternative, and metal. However, if there was ever a void for a sultry, chill style of blues rock, The Catcalls have filled it with the polished purr of their self-titled release. Led by singer and songwriter RileyNate Wilde · Oct 11, 2019MusicAlbum Review: Jarrod Gipson – Heart Eyes. Cycles. Clear Mind.Jarrod Gipson, known in the local scene as the drummer for Colorado’s own Nina and the Hold Tight, ventures out with debut solo album Heart Eyes. Cycles. Clear Mind. It’s an impressive, ambitious introduction to him as a soloist, where he throws everything he’s got at us. Look for it October 11 and check him out live on November 9 at ALMAGRE in Colorado Springs.Valerie Vampola · Oct 10, 2019MusicAlbum Review: Race To Neptune – Share My FrequencySince Race to Neptune’s inception in 2015, they’ve been delivering gritty yet fun, melodic alternative rock to Northern Colorado. Their upcoming EP Share My Frequency kicks off with the angsty “Unnatural Desires,” which delightfully reeks of flannel and Converse, though it doesn’t stay in one vein, drifting into pop-punk territory, employing spooky vibes and even cinematic, sentimental imagery. Catch them September 13 at Blast N’ Scrap and September 28 at The Downtown Artery with Valdez and Plasma Canvas.Nate Wilde · Sep 11, 2019MusicAlbum Review: VYNYL – PINKThe moody synth-pop elements on VYNYL’s new record PINK, out October 3, are reminiscent of vintage synth groups from the late 80’s like Erasure, a departure from their former alternative rock sound. Dark and moody, they take some classic new wave ideas, dressing them up in 2019’s clothes. Dig them live at White Groves Barber & Taproom September 13 and Lost Lake Lounge October 3.Valerie Vampola · Sep 7, 2019MusicAlbum Review: The 14ers – Mountaintop Folk-PopRyan Kirkpatrick, frontman and songwriter for Fort Collins’ The 14ers, has a love of the outdoors, to say the least.Jay Wallace · Sep 5, 2019MusicAlbum Review: David Baker – Minus PianoDavid Baker’s new jazz album “Minus Piano” is just that. A trio without a piano, or any chordal instrument. Ironically, Baker chose to feature songs written by famous pianists. Without the density of a chordal instrument, the arrangements allow space, demonstrating that bells and whistles can drown-out the tune itself. Baker plays Jay’s Bistro in Fort Collins August 23 & 24, and at Tower 56 in Greeley on August 29.Valerie Vampola · Aug 19, 2019MusicAlbum Review: Places Back Home – The Color & Decay EPSeeing music as a chance to honestly express complicated realities, Fort Collins rock quartet Places Back Home focus their music on darker topics brought earnestly to the forefront on The Color & Decay EP, out August 20. But don’t be fooled by the sincerity – the band will have you on your feet nodding your head at their release parties August 23 at Lost Lake and August 24 at The Downtown Artery.Daniel Thompson · Aug 12, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: Oxeye Daisy – They Say You’re A DemonEven when Denver’s Oxeye Daisy steps out of the box from the feel of their newest EP ‘They Say You’re A Demon,’ they find ways to integrate new textures without sacrificing the dark, spacey vibe. Straying from the dreamy atmosphere by evoking Dick Dale playing punk, Lela Roy’s fearless wails embellish the band’s frantic tension until it floats off to vivid, dreamy Pink Floyd territory mid way. Catch them at Bohemian Nights August 10th in Fort CollinsValerie Vampola · Aug 8, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: American Tomahawk – Mr. GrieverAmerican Tomahawk has been a well regarded name in the Colorado music scene for years despite being Los Angeles residents since 2011.Laura Giagos · Jul 15, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: Soul Brothers – InertiaSampling is an art. Though you’ll hear a few you recognize on Greeley hip hop group Soul Brothers’ new album Inertia, which dropped today, what an artist does with the chopped-up…Colton Bierbaum · Jun 28, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: The Trujillo Company – HomeThe vibe of The Trujillo Company could be summed up as a steady cloud of reefer smoke wafting out of a storm drain into the misty Seattle air, we’ll say circa 1991.Nate Wilde · Jun 17, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: Dressy Bessy – Fast Faster DisasterIf you just heard Dressy Bessy for the first time, you missed quite a lot.Ryan Murphy · Jun 10, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: Johnny Burroughs – DAY 1When you think about contemporary worship music, you think of 20 piece bands singing with at least three acoustic guitars. When Northern Coloradans hear the name Burroughs we think of the 9 piece “sweaty soul band” fronted by Johnny, the eccentric red-haired dude who commands you to get up and dance. “DAY 1,” Johnny Burroughs’ debut solo record is clearly not The Burroughs and is distinctively about singing praise to God, but it’s done with soul, in both the literal and metaphorical senses.Valerie Vampola · Jun 8, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: Ethyl and the Regulars – Honest WorkEthyl and the Regulars’ new album “Honest Work” is a reflection of just that – a mature Americana sound grounded in tradition, yet they incorporate jazz elements including a Thelonious Monk melody as a thematic tool for instrumental conversation.Valerie Vampola · May 16, 2019MusicAlbum Review: Chess At Breakfast – Wealthcare“Wealthcare” is an eight track wander through the vast scope of Rock n’ Roll. Anxious yet contemplative, the new record from Chess At Breakfast burns hot at times with tracks like “Ambulance” and “POTUS Blues” but bounces quickly to the cool modes of “Hello Haunt” and “Glaciers.” “We love that super trapped-in-the-head kind of weird, wonky stuff,” says lead vocalist Caleb McFadden.Laura Giagos · May 7, 2019MusicAlbum Review: Tyto Alba – SuckerA newfound polish and poise comes to Denver dream pop / shoegaze indie rockers Tyto Alba with their forthcoming record Sucker, out May 4. Melanie Steinway’s yelp of “we gotta bring this sucker down” peeks out amidst rich, swirling builds like something off The Cure’s “Disintegration.”Kevin Johnston · Apr 29, 2019MusicAlbum Review: Goatz! – Sweet Inspiration“40 years in radio. 50 years as a working musician. This is my official debut, at age 64. Crazy huh?” This is the line we got from Chris Kresge, frontman of GOATZ! when he sent us his debut bluegrass/Americana record “Sweet Inspiration”Jay Wallace · Apr 15, 2019MusicAlbum Review: Julian Cary – heaven?indeedJulian Cary is a jazz artist, but he doesn’t allow the idea of what jazz should be interfere with his expression: On “heaven?indeed” he neglects traditional song form, adapting the music to fit the form of E.E. Cummings’ poems. The record retains a subtle honesty wrapped in moments of dynamic, tonal beauty.Valerie Vampola · Apr 8, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: Graham Good & The Painters – Good ThingsThe Fort Collins “Funk-n-Rock-n-Roll” band Graham Good & The Painters’ second EP opens with the uplifting gospel-esque of “Good Things,” like the start of Sunday morning service, but Graham Good & The Painters take it further than church.Valerie Vampola · Apr 2, 2019ReviewsAlbum Review: Overslept – With Or Without“With Or Without” (Overslept’s newest) is melodious and melancholy, yet it’s jarring enough to keep discerning pop rock ears piqued, pushing past the boundaries of traditional indie into new, dissonant territory.Nate Wilde · Mar 29, 2019