Événement

A Giant Dog (Austin, Merge Records), Great Apes, Mare Island

Austins A Giant Dog have gained a reputation for powerful live shows. Their DIY road ethic has taken them from coast to coast many times over the past decade, logging hundreds of sweaty, intense performances, and building their fanbase one by one in basement bars, dark clubs and the occasional trashed living room.

Toy, their fourth LP and their second for Merge Records, captures the quintet at the height of their powers. The band brings a newfound glam swagger to the punk party, and singer Sabrina Ellis turns in another masterful performance: equal parts brash, defiant, vulnerable, and raw.

GREAT APES
This album deals with some often dark and complex subject matter but follows the melodic and catchy precepts of pop punk. It is a clever juxtaposition of the two that succeeds thanks to the bands adherence to the concept. Musically, it is tight and cohesive with all fat cut away. This is a multifaceted and accomplished album that rewards repeat listens. A sunny album with a troubled heart. Dying Scene

MARE ISLAND
Mare Island stands out as one of the most outstanding new projects from the Bay Area music scene. Their mix of dream pop, post hardcore, and something of the (real) emo of the 90s flows between styles, all thanks to the current of waves on that coast. Noisey MX

Fusion of 1960s pop harmonies, biting guitar arpeggios, romanticized lyrics, shimmering percussion, and feisty rhythms Popmatters