New Vinyl Mondays

  \11.9.23\      Front range local Britt Devens has been crafting folky tracks with a delicate attitude since an EP, All the Pretty Things in 2016. A disciplined and self-taught singer/songwriter, There is a great depth to her work that spans the themes of love and loss, with a strong focus on the moments and people that help us grow and we grow from. More than anything, her music is an avenue for self-exploration and healing while providing a comfortable space for others. By creating this mirror through her work, one can peer into themselves as well.      This is the first full length album from Britt and comes on the tail of the end of an educational career and a relationship she was ready to leave in the rearview mirror. Following a while spent traveling and performing, sometimes with a band, sometimes for a beer and some food, Devens eventually landed back in her home state. Now, sober and better footing, Here I Go Again is here to show off what al...

  \28.8.23\      New York has been a breeding ground for boundary-pushing sonic projects in the modern era, but few would look to Rochester for the same creativity NYC has. G Caliolo is changing this expectation, bringing the city slick of their Long Beach, Long Island home to their hometown. Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter only go so far to highlight the talent Caliolo brings to this project. Helped out by Matt DeWaters on bass, Kyle Waldron on guitar, Stephen Roessner on piano, percussion, synth, and a roster of other contributors, Underneath is a blend of punk, lounge, classic rock, and good old indie alternative sounds with a gorgeous patchwork of moods and vibes.       Typically when I sit down to review a record, it is one I’ve listened to more times than I can count, and Underneath is no exception. However, I think the magic of this album comes from the smooth vocals and heavy psychedelic guitar distortions that create a noise that's e...

\14.8.23\ As a Denver local act putting on immersive live performances, I was shocked to find I've known of Bluebook well before their powerful full length debut last year, Optimistic Voices. And as much as I would love to bring you this great record, I've yet to get my hands on the LP. So for now I'll leave you with a strong recommendation to give this album a listen on streaming (or tape if you can find it). Today's review centers around the debut work from Julie Davis and Jess Parsons; The Astronaut’s Wife. I first became introduced to the duo in 2019 when I was looking for cassettes to go with my car's tape deck. It goes without saying this tape rarely left the player (with rare exceptions for the debut EP from American Football and an album I've mentioned previously from Roommates). This 5 track EP starts with a characteristic melodic droning with a deep yet muddled percussion that gives enough rhythm to keep the listener hooked. "Carnage" is the ...

\7.8.23\ Undoubtedly a man of many facets, beginning with the formation of the foundational Britpop group Pulp in the late 70’s early 80’s, and continuing to today with his additions to the score for the film Asteroid City. Wes Anderson’s work has been a recent throughline in Cocker’s career, with the infamous “Petey’s Song” appearing in the film Fantastic Mr. Fox. He would also voice the character of Petey, adding to his acting career having also played a musician in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. After his appearance in the 2009 film, he would go on to be a radio host for the BBC full time until 2017 when he released Room 29, a concept album with Chilly Gonzales. Since then Cocker has gone on to form a solo act JARV IS… releasing Beyond the Pale in July 2020.  Tip-Top’s story begins in the pages of The French Dispatch’s script, the wide-ranging anthology film from the master of the comedy drama, Wes Anderson. Following his second stop motion film Isle of Dogs, Anderson bega...

 \20.1.20\ Any good name has a good back story. Any strange name has the same one. Someone said something funny and it stuck. Commonly abbreviated as RKS, this North Carolina five piece outfit claims the name Rainbow Kitten Surprise proudly. With several members being a part of the LGBT community, love, acceptance, and religion all play into the lyrics of each album.  Since I last wrote about this group, they have played a packed show at the prolific Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, which sold out in less than a week. Pushing out more demos and recently rocking out for PBS at Austin City Limits in the fall of 2019, released this month.  Getting back to their roots, Lead Voice for the band, Sam Melo, began his songwriting in college, performing for his dorm block. Darrick Keller joined Sam in making the  Mary  EP together. Later, members Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney, and Charlie Holt joined the band ahead of the groups first album that was later paired with th...

\2.9.19\ This explosive combo album by famed American and Australian Blues artists Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett combines both artists perspectives in a way that few have. Both artists on this album have a story to tell about where they’re from and their unique musical backgrounds.  Courtney Barnett got her start in the underground scene in Australia, working with many bands before breaking it solo in 2012. Since then, she has made a name for herself as the blues rock queen from down under. It was her first album, Sometimes I Sit and think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, is where I first heard her and fell in love with her melancholy, self-assured vocals and blues-inspired guitar riffs.  Of the two, Kurt Vile has a much more extensive story, going hand in hand with the rock group, The War On Drugs, as well as a history of solo material going back to 2003. His 2015 album B’lieve I’m Goin Down… saw a top 50 charting on the Billboard 200. His storied history in the American rock scen...