AltCtrlToob, The Procrastination Edition: Knifey and Glanville Stayed on the List

These couple videos have been on my review list for awhile, but they were too good to forget about. The first video is from Canadian garage rockers Knifey, who chronicled “Serf” off their debut album beached.  This is pure Weezer-worship, from the guitar tone to the harmonies to the self-effacing lyrics — and I love… Continue reading AltCtrlToob, The Procrastination Edition: Knifey and Glanville Stayed on the List

Gun Control, Shock Rock, and Prunes on the Road: Granny Goes on the Record with Alternative Control

It turns out that I popped Granny’s cherry. Alternative Control’s review of Granny 4 Barrel’s video for “She Likes Guns” was, in fact, the first negative review the song has gotten.  But what Granny mainly took issue with was how the review interpreted some of her comments to Loudwire — so like civil adults (one… Continue reading Gun Control, Shock Rock, and Prunes on the Road: Granny Goes on the Record with Alternative Control

EP Review: Oliver Cheung’s Remembrance

Hong Kong composer and multi-instrumentalist Oliver Cheung has released his first offering, an three-track instrumental EP titled Remembrance.  It’s a pleasant, ambient listening experience, but it lacks passion.  Cheung has a solid songwriting foundation; moments in “Fragments” and the title track gain momentum quite well.  However, I feel this project would benefit from the input… Continue reading EP Review: Oliver Cheung’s Remembrance

AltCtrlToob: Saturday Morning Cartoons with Xenosis, Sacred Ash, and Wildstreet

Meant to post this installment of AltCtrlToob like a week ago, but sometimes grown-up things get in the way…. This morning, er, afternoon I’m riding the high of a fun show at one of the only Connecticut indie venues left, #thankfreakinggodforcherrystreet.  It’s the perfect time to make a fresh pot of coffee and pull up… Continue reading AltCtrlToob: Saturday Morning Cartoons with Xenosis, Sacred Ash, and Wildstreet

EP Review: Nocturnal Animals’ Dark Lit Places

In their 2017 EP Dark Lit Places, Atlanta’s Nocturnal Animals serves up four tracks of mysterious, surf-tinged alternative rock.  Fans of Green Day will enjoy this band — vocalist Mason Jones has a vibe reminiscent of Billie Joe’s nasal whine, especially in “Red Shoes.”  (Unrelated to the Elvis Costello tune of the same name, as… Continue reading EP Review: Nocturnal Animals’ Dark Lit Places

EP Review: Trigram (Self-Titled)

LA-based industrial artist Trigram released his debut EP in November 2017, commenting on topics from that range from social media addiction to relationship violence.  In the video for lead single “Assimilate,” people are controlled by their devices in a post-apocalyptic world.  But is that really so far off from the “pre-apocalyptic” world we live in… Continue reading EP Review: Trigram (Self-Titled)

Album Review: Guy Grogan’s Purgatorial Hearts

Prolific New Mexico singer-songwriter Guy Grogan released his eleventh full-length album, Purgatorial Hearts, on New Year’s Eve of 2017.  A dozen anthems for those “navigating their way through the wreckage of […] relationship battlefields,” Purgatorial Hearts‘ upbeat music belies its serious topic. One of my favorite tracks was the Elvis Costello-esque “Tell Me Your Name… Continue reading Album Review: Guy Grogan’s Purgatorial Hearts