REVIEW: ZAMMUTO - ZAMMUTO

Article for L.A. Music Blog

How is it possible to make experimental music look so easy? Well, maybe not easy, but sound collage act The Books‘ four studio recordings feature this atmospheric and strangely arousing style, utilizing loops and samples to the point of actually having emotionally-charged dexterity. It is music whether or not you think otherwise, and it has resulted in some of the most impressive and immersive “music” this reviewer has heard in my years listening to countless artists try and try again. While I may not get over the fact that the decade-old duo is no longer, I can find solace in knowing that one-half of The Books — handyman Nick Zammuto — has taken the necessary steps to form a new band and move on into deeper, even stranger directions...

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http://lamusicblog.com/2012/04/review/album-review-zammuto-zammuto-2/

REVIEW: DANIEL ROSSEN - SILENT HOUR / GOLDEN MILE EP

Article from LA Music Blog

We haven’t heard from Grizzly Bear since 2009′s Veckatimest, one of this reviewer’s top releases of that year and the album that pretty much catapulted the band into popularity thanks to some excellent singles and strong songwriting. The band has announced a new album for release later this year, but most assuredly, vocalist Daniel Rossen has felt the need to fill the three-year gap with some solo work...

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http://bit.ly/Hldr3I

REVIEW: SLEIGH BELLS - REIGN OF TERROR

Article from LA Music Blog

Upon listening to the first track off Reign of Terror, “True Shred Guitar,” you hear the sounds of a live crowd in anticipation of seeing Sleigh Bells come on stage (which they do) and begin to do what they’re always good at: being loud. Loud and cantankerous. Loud and cantankerous in the way you might expect from bands like AC/DC, and it’s these bands that “True Shred Guitar” and most of Reign of Terror take their heavy metal distortion cues from. Considering its swift lyrical progression and repetition, “True Shred Guitar” hardly sounds long enough to really be deemed a track, but it sets the atmosphere for the rest of the album...

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http://lamusicblog.com/2012/02/review/album-review-sleigh-bells-reign-of-terror/

REVIEW: CLOUD NOTHINGS - ATTACK ON MEMORY

There’s been a lot of ’90s revisiting lately, mostly because it’s been 20-some years since Nirvana’s Nevermind exploded onto the scene. But simply reminiscing while playing these “old” records isn’t enough for some artists, particularly those whose bands’ shelf lives rely on these influences to bring out their sounds. Take Cloud Nothings and their latest LP, Attack On Memory, for example. The title itself can allude to the band’s ability to bring out these almost eerie, ghost-like memories of sounds from bands that struck the early-to-mid-90s alternative era with fervent aggression.

REVIEW: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY @ ROYCE HALL

Here is my review of the awesomeness that They Might Be Giants pulled off at UCLA's Royce Hall on Jan. 28th. Photos are by me as well.

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http://lamusicblog.com/2012/01/review/they-might-be-giants-30th-anniversary-royce-hall/

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW PREVIEW!

Here's a short preview of the 30th anniversary show that I will also be reviewing at UCLA's Royce Hall this Saturday, January 28th. For those of you not in on They Might Be Giants (when you've obviously had thirty years to do so), then this article will give you some insight.

Read more: http://lamusicblog.com/2012/01/news/they-might-be-giants-30th-anniversary-show-preview/

MYFM PRESENTS FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS @ THE ROXY

Los Angeles-based neo-soul group just kicked off 2012 in the best way possible by playing at The Roxy here on Sunset Blvd. last week. You can check out my concert review for LA Music Blog by clicking the link below. Photos by Melissa Karlin, unless otherwise noted.

Read here: http://lamusicblog.com/2012/01/review/private-show-for-fitz-and-the-tantrums-the-roxy/

LISTEN TO ZAMMUTO'S LATEST EP RIGHT NOW

Nick Zammuto of sound collage band The Books is prepping for his full-length LP later this year by releasing a three-track EP. Are you ready for some kind of awesome?

Read more:
http://lamusicblog.com/2012/01/news/listen-to-nick-zammutos-latest-ep-right-now/