Shugo Tokumaru “In Focus?” Review

Shugo Tokumaru is one freakishly gifted multi-instrumental/bedroom-pop composer who is able to magically pile his copious instrumentals on top of each other in an arrangement that looks outrageous on paper, but ultimately works in...

Yo La Tengo “Fade” Review

Just close your eyes and listen—actually, don’t close your eyes. You might fall asleep, albeit in the coolest way possible, to legendary indie band Yo La Tengo’s “Fade.” Their latest album—also, their first since...

Christopher Owens “Lysandre” Review

The troubadour was a figure of lyrical poetry that became very popular during the Middle Ages. Christopher Owens seems to embody this role in the 21st century. After the breakup of his debut band...

Black Veil Brides “Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones” Album Review

Prior to listening to their 3rd and latest album, “Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones,” Black Veil Brides seemed to me like a band whose gimmick heavily relied on an overabundance...

Never Shout Never “Indigo” Review

We are back to the ‘90s when it comes to just about everything in today’s pop culture: fashion, makeup and now, music. Never Shout Never’s 4th album “Indigo” seems to bring an abrupt end...

3rd Annual Radar Jamming Best Albums of 2012

For the past few years that I’ve been doing this list, I’d been able to identify a certain theme that had permeated the particular year’s music. When taking a look back at music in...

Toro Y Moi “Anything In Return” Review

Chaz Bundick’s—the mastermind behind Toro Y Moi—musical output can be described as amorphic; he helped pioneer the chillwave genre in “Causers of This,” while channeling his inner dance music enthusiast through the side project...

The Winter Sounds “Runner” Review

Potential. It’s what a lot of your favorite indie bands show glimpses of, but never quite realize. This is the gist of The Winter Sound’s third album “Runner.” It never quite puts you over...

Forma “Off/On” Review

In Latin, the word “forma” means shape or figure, and in a more figurative sense it is also used to describe beauty. This implication suggests that the simplicity of the form and structure in...

Christina Aguilera “Lotus” Review

A year after the release of her album “Bionic” in 2010, Christina Aguilera returned to the spotlight as a judge on “The Voice,” and made a visual statement by showcasing her glowing fake tan...