Seattle CD Reviews

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CD Reviews: the Tripwires, Spiral Stairs

The TripwiresHouse to House (Spark and Shine)At last year's REVERB, I was immediately taken with the Tripwires for this reason: In their power... More>>

Published: October 28, 2009

CD Reviews: Blake Lewis and Josh Ottum

Josh OttumLike the Season (Cheap Lullaby)Josh Ottum, formerly of Friends for Heroes, is all over the place in the finest sense of the phrase. His... More>>

Published: October 21, 2009

CD Reviews: New Music From the Blakes and Karl Blau

The BlakesSouvenir (We Are OK Records)There's a simple message behind Souvenir, and it is this: Fathers, keep your daughters away from the... More>>

Published: October 07, 2009

CD Reviews: New Music From Grand Hallway and J. Tillman

Grand HallwayPromenade (self-released)Two of the grandest sophomore discs in Seattle music arrived at the SW offices around the same time, from... More>>

Published: September 30, 2009

CD Reviews: New Releases from Grayskul and Grand Archives

Grayskul"Mod Volatile"/"At the Time" (Fieldwerk Recordings)Onry Ozzborn and JFK, collectively known as Grayskul, are known for their dark,... More>>

Published: September 16, 2009

CD Reviews: New Releases From David Bazan and Sirens Sister

David BazanCurse Your Branches (Barsuk Records)To a nonbeliever—or to those unfamiliar with the evangelical beliefs that defined the first... More>>

Published: September 09, 2009

CD Reviews: Luc and the Lovingtons and Blue Scholars

Luc and the LovingtonsFeel the Warmth (self-released)When Winthrop, Wash., resident Luc Reynaud went to the storm-battered Gulf Coast in 2005, he... More>>

Published: August 26, 2009

CD Reviews: Soul Kata and Ramona Falls

Soul KataHere I Am (Broken Time Records)Aside from the "jazz lite" you hear on 98.9 FM, there's typically not much worse than cheesy,... More>>

Published: August 19, 2009

CD Reviews: Six Organs of Admittance and Throw Me the Statue

Six Organs of AdmittanceLuminous Night (Drag City)Ben Chasny, the guitarist known as Six Organs of Admittance, makes music that evokes gigantic,... More>>

Published: August 12, 2009

CD Review: Big World Breaks' <i>4 Those Lost</i>

CD Review: Big World Breaks' 4 Those Lost

Big World Breaks4 Those Lost (self-released)If you can imagine a merger of 1940s-era jazz big band, Spanish Harlem–style boogaloo from the... More>>

Published: July 22, 2009

CD Review: Lady Drama's <i>Aftermath</i>

CD Review: Lady Drama's Aftermath

Lady DramaAftermath (self-released)Two years and countless live shows since the release of their demo, Lady Drama's debut full-length Aftermath... More>>

Published: July 22, 2009

CD Review: The Physics’ 2003 Is Better Than Your 2009

The Physics High Society (self-released)The first time I saw local hip-hop group the Physics perform live, I reviewed them thus: a band that's... More>>

Published: July 15, 2009

CD Review: <i>Zirconium</i> is Patrol at Their Atomic Best

CD Review: Zirconium is Patrol at Their Atomic Best

Patrol Zirconium (Stiff Slack)Heavy, hard, and fast—that used to be how most guitar-centric rock bands once played, and that's exactly the... More>>

Published: July 15, 2009

CD Review: The Builders and the Butchers' <i>Salvation</i>, and Steelo's <i>Music</i> For the Ladies

CD Review: The Builders and the Butchers' Salvation, and Steelo's Music For the Ladies

The R&B duo is as diverse as the scene that spawned it.

The Builders and the ButchersSalvation Is a Deep Dark Well (Gigantic Records)It's safe to say that Salvation Is a Deep Dark Well, the Builders... More>>

Published: June 24, 2009

CD Reviews: k-os and GMK

k-osYes! (Virgin)Musically schizophrenic might be the best way to describe k-os, Toronto's guitar-playing MC whose vocal style travels from... More>>

Published: June 10, 2009

Andrew Oliver Impresses With <i>Just 4 U</i>

Andrew Oliver Impresses With Just 4 U

Andrew Oliver Kora BandJust 4 U (In Music We Trust)For those who enjoy the sweet sounds of West African music, the Northwest is a mini-haven for... More>>

Published: June 03, 2009

The Final Spins Weave Homegrown Pop on <i>This Is Then/That Was Now</i>

The Final Spins Weave Homegrown Pop on This Is Then/That Was Now

The Final SpinsThis Is Then/That Was Now (self-released)While This Is Then/That Was Now isn't the type of pop album you can listen to from start... More>>

Published: June 03, 2009

CD Review: Enigk Keeps Fans Waiting for <i>Diary, Part 2</i>

CD Review: Enigk Keeps Fans Waiting for Diary, Part 2

But the former Sunny Day Real Estate frontman is still tackling good vs. evil, temptation, and redemption.

Jeremy EnigkOK Bear (Lewis Hollow)Fans of emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate have never forgotten the band's 1994 debut, Diary. It's the only... More>>

Published: May 27, 2009

CD Review: Choklate Grows Up on <i>To Whom It May Concern</i>

CD Review: Choklate Grows Up on To Whom It May Concern

The songstress is primed to break the Northwest soul barrier.

ChoklateTo Whom It May Concern (Me Music)There are a number of reasons why it's hard for singers pursuing neo-soul and R&B to make a national... More>>

Published: May 27, 2009

CD Reviews: Oleta Adams and Miles Okazaki

New work by two locals.

Oleta AdamsLet's Stay Here(E1 Music)After years of working as a vocalist in the realm of R&B and gospel, Seattle-born, Yakima-raised singer Oleta... More>>

Published: May 06, 2009

CD Reviews: New Music From Weinland, Skeletons With Flesh on Them

Weinland Breaks in the Sun (Badman)John Adam Weinland Shearer deals in metaphor and moods. The lead singer of the Portland band Weinland writes... More>>

Published: April 29, 2009

CD Reviews: Tap Tap, Andy Werth

Tap Tap The Re-Introduction (Lynx Records)When 21-year-old Tacoma rapper Tap Tap's latest disc, The Re-Introduction, first showed up at SW... More>>

Published: April 08, 2009

CD Reviews

Back in black. . . at Wal-Mart only.

AC/DCBlack Ice(Columbia)In recent years, I've taken to evaluating, somewhat subconsciously, each new AC/DC album by way of what I'll now... More>>

Published: November 05, 2008

New Music From T.I. and Growing

T.I. Paper Trail (Atlantic)T.I.'s previous album, T.I. vs. T.I.P., focused on the uninteresting duality of being both a menacing street dude and... More>>

Published: October 08, 2008

New Releases From Metallica and Tricky

Strengths and weaknesses.

MetallicaDeath Magnetic(Warner Bros.)It's great to hear guitarist Kirk Hammett soloing again, and Lars Ulrich pounding a kit that sounds like... More>>

Published: September 24, 2008