Dinosaurs On Mars! - Dinosaur On Mars!

So I have got another review from an advance copy I received from some old friends/acquaintances whose band is putting out their debut release after making and playing music for quite some years. Dinosaur On Mars! consists of Steven Mucci (vocals, guitars, synth, drum programming), Nathan Casas (bass, guitar), and Tom Morris (Guitar, backup vocals). The sound quality is extremely impressive for being made all in lead singer Steve Mucci's room. Get ready to put on your dancing shoes while listening to them because their sound consists of a dance rock vibe with a lot of fun electronic beats strongly displayed throughout. What really makes Dinosaurs On Mars! music standout and memorable is Steve's passionate and strong vocal performance throughout the entire record that really suck you into each song's existence. Also for using drum programming instead of an actual drummer it doesn't seem to have entirely generic and boring drum tracks but a much more dynamic drumming than one would expect from a band without an actual drummer (I didn't even realize this was recorded without a drummer at first). I think my favorite track on the album is A-Game with it's catchy guitar line as the main dance beat and the synth being used more for the atmosphere of the track's music. They are playing tonight in Brea at Birch Street Bar & Grill for their album release party you should check em out if you are in the area. The plan as I heard it is they will be releasing their debut album in full on the 25th right now they got a couple tracks up on their bandcamp which I embedded my favorite track below for your listening pleasure...

Little Red Lung - Little Red Lung EP

So you know what is great about starting your own blog about local music? Well, first you get to know all these bands you love and help spread the word about them and second, you can get lucky and have them send you an advance copy of their latest release. And since getting the new self-titled EP from Little Red Lung the six tracks have been in constant rotation and I can't seem to get them out of my head, which is definitely not a bad thing. I can't wait for more people to hear this and get transported into the strange and beautiful sounds of Little Red Lung. The EP creates a hauntingly beautiful atmospheric rock sound that is just chill inducing. Little Red Lung's self-titled EP has great musicianship, from it's band members and friends playing great music created from a myriad of instruments including violin, cello, xylophone, vibraphone, trombone, wood Blocks and marimba, plus the usual suspects for an indie-rock band, in creating their unique sound. With so much going on in every song instrumentally, the instrumentation never sounds cluttered and has a great clean mix by Ali Nikou, who also recorded and produced the EP at Blaster Master Productions. Though, through it all, the real star of the show is Zoe-Ruth's vocals which are stunning and strong on every track. Her ability to have such power vocally and still hit those quieter moody harmonies throughout is just stellar. They completely envelope you into what this band is doing musically.

It is hard to pick a favorite track, but if I had to, it would probably be Fangs. That track is pitch perfect with it's twisting harmonies that showcase this band at its best. Though, I must say, the closing track, Strangling Tree, is a close second just for its use of xylophone vibraphone (I thought it was a xylophone but actually it is a vibraphone which is close enough) and a horn section(Trombone) along with the violin that gives the track such a unique sound(the use of xylophone does bring back memories of Oingo Boingo because they are the only band I think of that prominently used xylophone and a horn section in their music). Little Red Lung already has 50 Fingers, the opening track, available on their bandcamp and I am going to embed it below for your listening pleasure. So if you like what you hear, remember to pick up their EP it came out today at noon (man I am late at getting this post up I basically had this done a week ago just wanted to put some finishing touches...) you can pick it up at their bandcamp or a physical copy on their website. Also if you have the chance don't miss them live, you can check out a live recording done over at the blog Recording LA...

Auditorium - Night's Worth Living EP

Auditorium put out a new EP today and if you don't know this band and especially Spencer Berger on vocals then you are missing out on the best vocalist in Los Angeles(hyperbole much? Mayhaps, but I doubt you can think of a better singer). Auditorium continues to produce infectious indie pop that will get stuck in your head. So far in love with some beautiful harmonies and songwriting and pick up this EP on their bandcamp for only 3 dollars(what is that like the cost of a pack of gum?). Well I already talked about the song The Sex Offenders I will leave you with the final song on the EP "Did Your Heart Shake Like This Song?" because it is a love song and their is not enough good old fashion love songs anymore, it's all about the heartbreak nowadays...

Vanaprasta - Slidebar 2/23/12

Well it is nice when a Silverlake bands like Vanaprastra makes it way out to the OC to play. And now I have been to the Slidbar twice in 8 days weird, since I hate that lace and most of the people who frequent it. Though being that I was able to confine myself to the venue in the back made it much better and it is like it's own seperate entity away from the ultra OC bro-bar that exists just outside the doors of the venue.

So the first band was Armada and it is hard to muster up much feelings for them either negative or positive. They played a fairly straight forward alt-rock sound that would fit right into KROQ's rotation alongside the likes of Foster the People and such bands. Yet their was nothing nearly as memorable and catchy enough about their music to elevate it to something special. They were best when rocking out and having some good foot stomping songs that bring to mind stuff by Queen of the Stone Age. While the singer had a very nice tone to his voice and the bassist and guitarist both had some fine chops the drumming just seemed lacking to me. He kept a good strong beat just most of the time it was too simple and none of his fills seemed all that interesting.

Next up was News of the Fire who really had me rocking out and digging them. I immediately knew I wanted to get to know this band better. I really liked how a lot of their songs had these very cool way they built up momentum instrumentally. Then they would crescendo into a full raucous rock out, which live seemed maybe a little muddled and sloppy sometimes during that time but their stage presence and energy made up for it. They have an EP that is available on their bandcamp page that is available for free, I highly suggest giving it a listen at least but really you should pick it up cause it won't cost you anything but a few megabytes of space.

And closing the night was Vanaprastra who really benefited from the great PA system at the venue. Though this might be colored by the only other time I saw them was at Pehrspace which has it's charms but high quality sound isn't really one of them. This night perfectly showcased their bigger than life atmospheric rock anthem sound. There is a level of musicianship and songwriting that on showcase when Vanaprasta play that is a step above your usual indie level rock band. And on-top of being phenomenal musicians they know how to put on a energetic live show with great stage presence which has been honed with lots of playing. This makes me mad that I wasn't able to make it out to their Spaceland Satellite residency last November. Be sure to check these out if you can live or go pick up their debut full length album Healthy Geometry.

Cursive - I Am Gemini

'Wowwowwow" is the name of the 9th track and my initial impression of this ambitious 7th full length release by long time indie rockers Cursive. I continue to love everything Tim Kasher whether it be with this band, his first side-project The Good Life, or now his solo stuff he does not disappoint and "I Am Gemini" definitely does not. While instead of semi-autobiographical lyrics that spill his soul bare of tales of love lost and drinking this tells a much bigger story that doesn't quite hit the mark. I find the conceit of the album's story extremely compelling just didn't quite live up to my expectations. I have been struggling in deciding how I wanted to write this review being I like this album very much so, but I guess it is just not up there with the highlights of Tim's career. But really how many Domestica's, Ugly Organ's, Album of the Year's, or Game of Monogamy's can you expect out of someone. Those are some seriously hard highlights to match. But what is right there with everything is instrumentally and songwriting wise this album is as good as anything Tim Kasher has produced and has all the staples you have come to expect from Cursive's sound, being led by Tim's usual off kilter guitar riffs.

I think the problem is I couldn't connect with this album emotionally like I usually do with any of Tim's work and I think that comes with an over the top story that you can't follow completely without help from the lyric book which instead being traditionally done is setup like a playbill for an actual Greek style play. And I am glad I got the actual vinyl copy of I Am Gemini because with this version the lyric book looks exactly like a playbill you might get as you enter the theater, with an actual cast of characters and stage directions to help set the stage in your mind. I really should get around to telling you the concept of this concept record which is the

musical tale of Cassius and Pollock, twin brothers separated at birth. One good and one evil, their unexpected reunion in a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul, played out with a cast of supporting characters that includes a chorus of angels and devils, and twin sisters conjoined at the head.

taken from the Saddle Creek Records store description for the album where you can buy it. The biggest problem is that these different characters are all voiced by Kasher in the same manner so without the playbill on you, you never know what character is speaking. Making the story difficult to follow along to as well as with

the stage directions involved means you are completely lost on this tale without the liner notes. The icing on the cake of my dislikes is that the themes aren't really clear and I am left lost and dissatisfied with what Tim was trying to do with this release.

Wow it looks as though I have spent a lot of time shitting on something that I like which is not what I set out to do here, so getting back on track I do love the fact that this went all in on the concept. This is meant to be listened to as an entire work and not doing so is doing I Am Gemini and the band a disservice. It is refreshing to see an album that completely defies the all singles all the time mentality that plagues today's music in my opinion. But with all that I am still going to embed my favorite track off the album for your listening pleasure. I Am Gemini is now in stores(came out yesterday). Cursive is playing Amoeba Records for free on Thursday, the Troubadour on Friday and the Glass House out in Pomona on Saturday which should all be tremendous shows.