Steep Canyon Rangers – Out In The Open (Ramseur)
After a stint with comedian Steve Martin, American bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers are back to what they do best – beautiful harmonies over heartbreakingly good music.
Album Reviews
Ty Segall – Freedom’s Goblin (Universal)
A decade into Ty Segall’s tireless, prolific recording career, we are met with his 10th album, Freedom’s Goblin.
Salad Boys – This Is Glue (Trouble In Mind)
Cantabrian outfit Salad Boys’ second album, This Is Glue, opens with a propulsive beat, chugging guitar, and lyrics about driving. It has, from the first few seconds, the feeling of going somewhere.
The Remains Live 1969 (Sundazed)
Almost 50 years after the fact, legendary garage band The Remains finally release a live album, documenting their wild, unleashed stage show, that until recently has only been privy to those who were there at the time.
Wilco – A.M. & Being There(Deluxe Edition) (Sire/Reprise)
Wilco celebrate their formative years with Deluxe Edition reissues of their first two albums, documenting the gestation and growth of one of America’s most important bands of the last quarter century.
The East Pointers – What We Leave Behind (Proper)
Hailing from the Canadian east coast, this trio of two brothers, fiddler/singer Tim Chaisson and banjoist Koady Chaisson, with guitarist Jake Charron, give us their sophomore effort, What We Leave Behind, a strong attempt to inject some fresh vibrancy and enthusiasm into traditional banjo and guitar music.
Typhoon – Offerings (Roll Call)
With songs that are dreamy, anxious, bombastic but yet fragile Portland’s beloved 11-piece collective, Typhoon, are everything I love about America’s art rock scene right now. They are Polyphonic Spree, Sufjan Stevens, Grizzly Bear and Portugal The Man all at once. I just wish they’d choose something a bit more up-beat to write about.
Anderson East – Encore (Elektra/Low Country Sound)
If you need any evidence of the influence of the recently-departed Rick Hall, look no further than this brand new release from Anderson East.
Galaxy Bear – Gala Xyb Ear EP
Claiming to be “your favourite band with a bear drummer”, this Auckland-based 6-piece starts the year out rocking with their debut 7-track EP.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Gumboot Soup (Flightless)
With four full-length albums under their collective belt already in 2017, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard close out the year with album number five…released on the last day of December.