James Mercer has been doing his amiably anxious alt-pop nice-guy thing since the Shins’ strummy-sad 2001 debut, Oh, Inverted World, expanding his sound without diluting his signature shy intimacy. Last time out, on 2012’s great Port of Morrow, Adele producer Greg Kurstin helped give Mercer’s world-weary melodicism a sleek polish.
Category: Indie
Album reviews: The Shins, Old 97s and Colin Hay
From the playful stylings of The Shins to the still kickin’ Old 97s to a frequently introspective Colin Hay, here are reviews for the new albums by these three venerable acts: James Mercer takes the helm on “Heartworms,” producing The Shins’ fifth album and shaping the band’s style and identity as much as ever. Mercer creates a diverse set of tunes which remain playful even when he explores relationships where nothing appears to be simple or straightforward.
Screen Scene for week of March 10: A familiar ape returns
“Kong: Skull Island” – Not be confused with “Kong: We’ve Seen This Before,” as we get yet another big-screen treatment of the giant ape that likes to throw temper tantrums. This time around, we also get weird dinosaur-looking thingies that live below ground.
Cool things to do in Huntsville, Feb. 26-March 4
Turn to the left, turn to the right: Fashion Week Alabama returns for its sixth year. The four-day event features local designers, runway shows, pop-up shops, fashion photography gallery, a “Next Top Model Walk-Off,” hair and make-up artistry and more.
Ride share another new track, a Home Is A Feelinga
Having unveiled ‘Charm Assault’ – their first new track in 20 years – yesterday , the band have now followed it up with ‘Home Is A Feeling’, which is a more laid-back and dreamy affair that its predecessor. Frontman Mark Gardener says of the track: “‘Home Is A Feeling’ to me is like a slow, wide-screen, sonically, layered, slowed motion warm wash.
Mothers bring off-kilter, enchanting sound to SF
The Georgia band Mothers released one of last year’s most striking, vulnerable albums, “When You Walk a Long Distance You Are Tired.” Conjuring the off-kilter indie rock sound of bands like the Throwing Muses and Cat Power, the group, led by the enchanting singer Kristine Leschper , above, is quietly catching ears with potent tunes like “Copper Mines” and the brooding “It Hurts Until It Doesn’t.”
Native Blood band members form bonds of friendship
“About once week, we just started jamming,” said bass player Wesley Williams, 27. “We never really talked. It was all about the music.
The New Year – “Recent History”
Brothers Matt and Bubba Kadane have been making intimate, precise indie-rock together for decades – first in pioneering slowcore band Bedhead, then in the New Year, and most recently with David Bazan and Will Johnson in Overseas. This spring, the New Year are coming back with Snow , their fourth album and their first in nearly 10 years, and today they’ve shared lead single “Recent History,” an excellent swirl of interlocking guitars and steadily pulsing drums.
New Albums: Brandon Can’t Dance, ‘Hidden Figures’ soundtrack, The Doors
Brandon Can’t Dance is the nom de indie rock of Philadelphia songwriter Brandon Ayres. In the manner of rising DIY stars like Car Seat Headrest and Havertown’s Alex G , Ayres has followed several self-releases on his Bandcamp page over a number of years with this official coming-out party on the Lucky Number label.
Phoenix concerts of the week: Keith Sweat, Crowbar, Surfer Blood,…
Phoenix concerts of the week include Keith Sweat, Crowbar, Surfer Blood, Noname, Tennis, the Radio Dept., the Growlers, Blues Blast and the Staves. Phoenix concerts of the week: Keith Sweat, Crowbar, Surfer Blood, Noname, Tennis, the Radio Dept., Growlers Phoenix concerts of the week include Keith Sweat, Crowbar, Surfer Blood, Noname, Tennis, the Radio Dept., the Growlers, Blues Blast and the Staves.
Screen scene: Local film news
Venues from the tour include ghost towns, outsider art shrines, national parks, small community halls, the highland wilderness and a Reykjavik show that became the largest gig in Iceland’s history. A $2 suggested donation includes free popcorn.
David Bazan’s melancholy Yule
David Bazan’s new holiday album “Dark Sacred Night” is not a festive release filled with mistletoe, holly and happiness. The indie singer-songwriter instead offers up a batch of Yuletide songs that are quiet, moody and drenched in melancholy.