Animal Collective – Fall Be Kind

Domino Recording Co. (2009) (A FACT presentation) Here’s an EP from low-key Maryland beat combo, the Animal Collective. They released a fine little album way back at the start of this year, Merriweather Post Pavilion, that could really have done with a bit more publicity. Perhaps it was just released at the wrong time: ACContinue reading “Animal Collective – Fall Be Kind”

Clutch – Strange Cousins From the West

Weathermaker (2009) Clutch, those grizzled Maryland rock veterans, have been kicking out various forms of jam since the early 90s. Their sound has taken in post-hardcore, aggro-stoner and retro boogie rock. Which makes us wonder: which Clutch will turn up this time? It’s pretty impossible to dislike Clutch, unless you dislike rock itself. Firm cultContinue reading “Clutch – Strange Cousins From the West”

Future Islands and Ear Pwr

Royal Park Cellar, 13 September 2009 It was just another low-energy Sunday evening in the half-local, half-student Royal Park pub. Few engaged with the balding pool tables, and the karaoke machine thankfully held a dignified silence. But, in the pub’s cellar, a number of creative characters were setting about lighting up the evening’s too-early duskContinue reading “Future Islands and Ear Pwr”

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Or: ageing and the unavoidable art of comparison2009, Domino Recording Co. The subtitle’s a tad less catchy, though. I’ve been wondering, for the last few days, how to go about this. On Wednesday, I started thinking about how I should probably have made a small post about this album each day, to document the evolutionContinue reading “Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion”