[Interview for Popshot.]
Before the start of Spoon’s summer tour, I got the chance to chat with Britt Daniel — the singer/songwriter/guitarist of that amazing group. Here’s what transpired:
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[This preview of a show of Spoon's in Nashville originally appeared in All the Rage.]
Despite widespread critical acclaim for their last two records and a 10+ year career, Spoon are still relatively unknown to most rock fans. After all, they’ve never quite followed a traditional rock path to success. With art school leanings and a solid rock sound, Spoon have always seemed slightly out of time with the rest of the world. (continue reading…)
[This review originally appeared in All The Rage.]
Stateside
Phonograph
(Action Driver Records)
Imagine a Southern Rooney – pop choruses, fine playing and a deep respect for rock history – and you’ve got Stateside. Yet where Rooney’s rock flies the West Coast flag literally and sonically (with its bright harmonies and breezy rhythms), Stateside draw on Southern rock for their flourishes. One hears the echoes of Skynyrd and .38 Special inside their modern songcraft. On their debut album, Phonograph, Stateside do their level best to reconcile honed hooks with bar band revelry. (continue reading…)
[Review for Popshot.]
Ten years ago Christopher Colunna would have been a rich man. His one-man, recorded-on-a-computer band, Bumblebeez 81 is mostly an exercise in sonic collage. You can just hear the critics hyphenating all the genres he plays with. If it weren’t for Beck, Beastie Boys, Aphex Twin and the entire IDM genre, Bumblebeez 81 might have had a chance of sticking out. (continue reading…)