Chris O'Toole - Reviews
Yo La Tengo
Inspirational hip-hop influenced reinterpretations on vinyl only of lead track from Yo La Tengo's latest 'Popular Songs' album
To Rococo Rot
Accessible electronica on eighth album from experimental and continously evolving Dusseldorf-based trio To Rococo Rot
Quasi
Exuberant and imaginative indie rock on tenth album from Quasi, the other project of Built to Spill guitarist Sam Coomes, and Janet Weiss, the drummer for both Sleater Kinney and Stephen Malkmus
Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now
Shallow and throwaway debut album album from Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now, which in reworking several popular standards veers close to parody
Nick Cave And Warren Ellis
Pastel Nick Cave and Warren Ellis soundtrack to faithful new film adaption of Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road', which proves restricted by the film and book's macabre and desolate nature
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Rewarding double live CD recorded at a gig in 1977 by influential San Francisco acid rock outfit, Quicksilver Messenger Service
Clientele
Glorious and melodic folk-tinged pop on fifth album from continously underrated London-based group, the Clientele
Om
Gloomy, but meditative and compelling stoner rock on fourth album from stoner rock duo, OM
Big Pink
Stylish, but unsasisfactory debut album from much hyped electronic duo and recent 4AD signing, the Big Pink
Manchester Orchestra
Cerebral, but surprisingly versatile debut album from Atlanta-based group the Manchester Orchestra, which will come as a welcome treat to punk metal fans
Various
Erratic and uneven tribute album to influential 7O's German experimental group Neu!, which includes contributions from Sonic Youth, Primal Scream and School of Seven Bells
Wooden Shjips
Compelling combination of German minimalistic influences and Detroit-style garage rock on second album from experimental Californian-based group, Wooden Shjips
Jackie-O Motherfucker
Evocative and lush-sounding tenth album from psychedelic/folk experimentalists, Jackie O Motherfucker
Bonnie Prince Billy
Surprisingly vibrant new album from Will Oldham, under his moniker of Bonnie Prince Billy, which, while losing none of his usual darkness, proves to be more hopeful in its tone than his past work
Katie Malco
Refreshing, but compelling tales of love and loss on new four song EP from Northampton-based singer-songwriter, Katie Malco
Shearwater
Mesmerising compilation of highights from this year's 'Rook' album, B-sides and live tracks on new EP from highly acclaimed baroque pop outfit, Shearwater
Jackie O Motherfucker
Effective combination of new material and reworkings of old songs recorded live in Amsterdam by Portland-based oddball and maverick post rockers Jackie O Motherf**ker
Skeletons
Incomprehensible, but occasionally rewarding fifth album from Skeletons which defies easy categorisation and is a delightfully disorientating mess
El Perro Del Mar
Sparse, immaculate-sounding third album from El Perro Del Mar, the moniker of Swedish chanteuse Sarah Assbring, which somewhat overtly downbeat, does not quite match up to the heights of her well-received eponymous second album
Hamell on Trial
Lo-fi, but abrasive live album recorded at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival from New York-based singer-songwriter and social satirist, Hamell on Trial, which twisting common interpretations of reality into new and exciting shapes reveals to its listener the modern world in a new light