Heavy-hearted in the Midwest since 2011
Reviews of albums, shows, songs and the like.
I think I’d read the name Steve Reich recently, that’s why I’m writing what I’m writing at this very moment. Now, I’d heard of Steve Reich before recently. In fact, I’ve heard his name mentioned many times over the years. I never seeked his music out. I was never one to check out modern classical […]
Read More Music For 18 MusiciansRipley Johnson and his bearded friends in Wooden Shjips have made a name for themselves as master purveyors of psychedelic stoner rock. A mix of heavy drone, motorik beats, and a healthy dose of 60s garage rock blues these Bay area fuzz Gods have been putting out stellar albums for years now. Back To Land […]
Read More Wooden Shjips :: Back To LandIt’s that time of year again where I put on my thinking cap, revisit many albums I’ve bought and listened to over the year, and figure out which ones I loved the most. This is always so hard as I know there are records I haven’t had a chance to listen to enough or didn’t […]
Read More jhubner73 presents: My favorite albums of 2013I’ve never been a fan of the screaming. Even as a child, when I was around another tot that found it necessary to scream and bark to get attention from other tots, a teacher, adult, or the like I felt that I needed to get away from this banshee in OshKosh B’gosh as quickly as […]
Read More Honorable Mention Part IV: Deafheaven ‘Sunbather’psychedelic adjective —used to describe a drug (such as LSD) that affects your thinking and causes you to see things that are not real : caused by the use of psychedelic drugs : suggesting the effects of psychedelic drugs by having bright colors, strange sounds, etc. I’ve never actually looked up the definition of psychedelic. […]
Read More Honorable Mention Part III : Besnard Lakes ‘Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO’Another band I discovered this year that have been around for a few years is Earthless. A San Diego three-piece that consists of guitarist Isaiah Mitchell, bassist Mike Eginton, and drummer Mario Rubalcaba and play what most folks call psych rock. Psych rock, space rock, stoner rock…all are things that have been said when speaking […]
Read More Honorable Mention Part II : Earthless ‘From The Ages’It’s that time of year again. Yes, it’s the “My Favorite Albums of 2013” list time of year. I’ve been feverishly working on mine, and I’m nearly done. It’s probably the most detailed and agonizing list I’ve made yet. Before I started this page I loathed those lists. I felt they were pretentious, overzealous, and […]
Read More Honorable Mention Part I : The Knife’s Shaking The HabitualSeconds into “Be Gone”, the lead off track from Brad Laner’s newest solo album Nearest Suns you know this isn’t going to be your average listening experience. Part psych-pop, part Eastern-influenced, and all aural sunlit grandeur, Laner takes his Medicine magic and spreads it over 60s-influenced pop and makes a record that sounds quite magical. […]
Read More Brad Laner :: Nearest SunsMiracle’s Mercury is a loving homage to early 80s synth pop, much like Quentin Tarantino’s loving film homages to 70s exploitation films and the entire career of Sam Peckinpah. Like Tarantino, Steve Moore and singer Daniel O’Sullivan have created a debut album that’s steeped in inspiration, all the while never blatantly aping that inspiration. Unlike […]
Read More Miracle :: MecuryA few months back I heard this great new psych pop/rock band out of Italy named The Vickers. They play a great mix of classic psych pop. Think a nice mix of Sgt. Pepper and Something Else by The Kinks and you’ll have a good idea of what these guys do. But along with that classic […]
Read More The Vickers’ “I Don’t Know What It Is”