Basically, I believe the singer-songwriter scene is overcrowded at the moment. Arguably, the ‘genre’ has always been pretty full because of its vague definition. However today it’s almost like anyone who’s has the hipster look and possesses a guitar is eager to make this stereotype their own. That’s reason enough to not take the scene too seriously, yet every so often the mediocrity is broken by someone new who appeals to my need of just listening to simple and small songs. Continue reading
Category Archives: WRM
Wander Meulemans
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
It seems everybody is talking about Courtney Barnett nowadays. From what I’ve read Courtney Barnett is super cute in her own slacky manner and, in one way or another, also equals greatness with her garage-poppy music. Well, if that’s the case, I ask myself what’s not to love? With all this enthusiasm surrounding her persona I hope you don’t mind if I share my thoughts about her debut album that was recently put out on her own Milk! label. Please, sit down and listen up.
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Modest Mouse – Strangers to Ourselves
Frankly, I laughed out loud when it was announced Modest Mouse canceled their full 2013 European tour to work on a new album. After all, the band already was on hiatus for several years back then, so why plan a tour just to cancel it? Also the promise of a 2014 release date was broken due to the departure of founding bassist Eric Judy. Forgivable or not, there is no reason to be mad because much of what Modest Mouse touched in the past turned into pure gold. Now let’s only hope all this delay did not put a spanner in the works. Continue reading
Matthew E. White – Fresh Blood
Although the lazy sunday morning setting of Matthew E. White’s 2013 debut, Big Inner, wasn’t that bad, I openly wondered if it was up to stand the test of time. Alright, I confess I streamed Big Inner throughout that year more than a few times, but alas for him, it didn’t made my end-of-the-year-list. Hereafter I forgot about him until he announced his sophomore record Fresh Blood, which title-wisely made me curious about what our caucasian soul man has been up to the last year. Continue reading
Erase Errata – Lost Weekend
Have you wasted your weekend looking for a bunch of spry ladies with a strong view on politics? Well, look no further because the girls of Erase Errata are here to fill your monday with some cool psych punk with a message. The band’s track titles and lyrics of old, ‘A Thief Detests The Criminal, Elements Of The Ruling Class, ‘Another Genius Idea From Our Government’ and “Murder With Your Tax Dollars” speak volumes in that respect. Lost Weekend is Erase Errata’s fourth and again is expected show little subtleness towards socio-political issues, in a very catchy manner that is. Continue reading
Viet Cong – Viet Cong
When it comes to about everything January is just a very yawnful month. The weather is grey, people’s gazes are tiresome and, most importantly of course, the number of new album releases is at an all time low. For God’s sake, the sooner January is behind us the better. In the past few weeks I feared nothing relevant would be brought out. Luckily I was wrong. The Canadian post-punkers Viet Cong decided the beginning of the year was an excellent time to release their first studio album and since I was trapped in the wrong venue during last years Le Guess Who festival a review of this album seems a good idea to start our year with.
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Album Year List (2014)
Although it’s always difficult to pin down a musical year in a few words a lot of critics do it anyway. Thus, we can’t stay behind on that, can we? However, before we end 2014 in style, let us loosely say we enjoyed working in the dark to serve you the reviews of the music we like and that nothing is true and yes, … everything is permitted.
C.W. Stoneking – Gon’ Boogaloo
He looks kind of scary, just sitting there in a white suit with a skull painted face holding a guitar, smoking a pipe. C.W. Stoneking, is the self proclaimed ‘King of Hokum’ and with that title comes a bit of myth making. There no harm in that of course, however, what if lines between fake and real fade? For in Stoneking’s music this was always the case and it gets a new chapter with the recently released Gon’ Boogaloo. Continue reading
[Live Review] Marillion – Christmas Tour 2014, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht
Ah, 1988, it was the year the first internet virus showed up on our screens, the first exoplanet was discovered, the United Nations stated it would wipe out polio and a lot of forgettable Hollywood stars were born. Indeed, it was a very good year. Sadly 1988 was also the year leadsinger Fish, left the progressive rock band Marillion due to managerial issues. At the time Fish was a larger-than-life icon and the hole he left seemed difficult to fill up. However Steve Hogarth, who was appointed to be his successor, managed to start a new successful era with Marillion. On Monday, the band visited the sold out TivoliVredenburg as part of their 2014 Christmas Tour, Sounds from the Darkside mingled with a merry crowd and reports. Continue reading
[Live Review] Le Guess Who? 2014, Various Locations Utrecht
If you leave out the May Day editions, tonight its the eighth time Le Guess Who? will kick off in Utrecht (NL) again. The festival always offers a mixture of unknown and renowned indie acts during the last weeks of November and this year there is no exception on that. Personally, I’m always looking forward to Le Guess Who? because it brings a bunch of interesting artists to my doorstep. Luckily the festival organizers can’t complain about the attention from the Dutch media they’re getting these days and Sounds from the Darkside can’t be left behind on that, so during the coming days we will keep you posted about the festival’s proceedings.
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