Recent Articles

post thumbnail

The Cult - “Born Into This” : Sentimentalist Magazine Review

 Has it really been six years since the last Cult album? Following up 2001’s Beyond Good and Evil, Born Into This hits hard with eleven new studio tracks from founding members Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy. Nothing terribly new here just more of the same heavy guitar oriented alternative rock and roll that we’ve come [...]

2 Oct 2007 | More
post thumbnail

Demander - “The Unkindness of Ravens” : Sentimentalist Magazine Review

 This album is a live wire of smart arrangements and punched up vocals. Fronted by the dynamic Karen Correa and Sivan Harlap, both of the Hissyfits, along with Jared Scott, this is a rolling freak out that sounds like a barroom brawl that’s been sliced up by siren wails and intellectual reasoning. Full of abrupt [...]

2 Oct 2007 | More
post thumbnail

Division Day – “Beartrap Island” : Sentimentalist Magazine Review

 Division Day have all the accomplished components set in motion to become scenester heavyweights; it’s no wonder they have clout, hailing from Santa Cruz and Los Angeles. They’ve got a little bit of Dismemberment Plan rawk with the lyrical nuance reminiscent of The Promise Ring and Iron and Wine. Division Day is steeped in deep [...]

2 Oct 2007 | More
post thumbnail

The Most Serene Republic - “Population” : Sentimentalist Magazine Review

 A band that reads like a reference book of prog and indie rock from the 70’s on. It’s inevitable that one must mention the following bands in order to get the gist of the The Most Serene Republic: Yes, Rush, Polvo, Superchunk, Tortoise, Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips, Sigur Ros, and Death Cab. There are touches [...]

2 Oct 2007 | More
post thumbnail

Robert Pollard - “Coast to Coast/Standard Gargoyle” : Sentimentalist Magazine Review

   
Pollard is not about to lose his title as one of the most prolific living songwriters any time soon, especially with this two-album release. Though the former Guided by Voices frontman has been releasing solo work since 1996, this is the first time he, or anyone for that matter, has been known to release [...]

2 Oct 2007 | 5 comments | More
post thumbnail

The Sadies – “New Seasons” : Sentimentalist Magazine Review

 Five albums into their cosmic Americana, The Sadies keep treading down familiar trails. Their roundup of surf, bluegrass, and psychedelic country is still awash with waves of lingering reverb and a backbeat rhythm of upright bass and drums, grounding the sonic textures from complete lift-off. “What’s Left Behind” is a low-gauge nickel frenzy of guitar [...]

2 Oct 2007 | More
post thumbnail

Saint Bernadette – “In the Ballroom” : Sentimentalist Magazine Review

 The debut album from Connecticut’s Saint Bernadette hits the sort of notes and touches that make me weak in the knees, by expertly melding things I’m a sucker for: ballsy broads, smoke-filled jazz clubs, and, of course, the element of surprise. Lead vocalist Meredith DiMenna has, if you can imagine—and perhaps you should be sitting [...]

2 Oct 2007 | 1 comment | More
post thumbnail

The Whiles - “Sleepers Wake” : Sentimentalist Magazine Review

 One would assume these are students of the Pernice Brothers, Belle and Sebastian and the melancholia of Warren Zevon. Perfect for wintry fireplace listening minus the manners. Sleepers Wake is low on guilty pleasure but high on comfort and warmth. There are occasional quirky harmony and instrumental touches, but “Sleepers Wake” emits politeness, dismisses cynics [...]

2 Oct 2007 | More