WHO: Brook Pridemore WHAT: Only I Can Prevent Forest Fires WHY: We’ve been singing Brook Pridemore’s praises for years because he’s, in our minds, the most underrated solo musician currently in the biz. His music is a pleasant mix of folk, deeply inspired by punk ethos, and with a healthy dose of introspective witty lyrics. It’s not just that he’s a great musician, he’s also a wordsmith. He should be packing the halls, but instead he’s out there jammin’ econo,...
WHO: Lice WHAT: Miami Lice (Season Four) WHY: I’ve been a fan of Aesop Rock for a long time and have been following his collab with Homeboy Sandman for quite some time, but never have I heard a collection of Lice songs that’s so elevated and fun. This time it just GELS. I don’t get the Miami reference (Miami Vice, sure, but why?), but somehow, the rhymes and beats just work on a whole new level on this Fourth Season....
We don’t typically review movies that are currently in the theatres here on Ground Control, but then again, Napa Boys isn’t your typical movie. For one thing, I couldn’t get a straight description of what the movie is about. Most of the reviews call it one big inside joke, or they’ve been polarizing: people are either loving it or calling it unwatchable. I guess I had to see it for myself, and as luck would have it, my local theatre...
WHO: Angine de Poitrine WHAT: Live at KEXP WHY: Because music this shocking doesn’t come along very often. It’s the band that’s all over your Instagram feeds! It’s microtonal math rock, but I don’t think the audio recording does it justice. It’s the bizarre costume and watching these two talented weirdos build the songs in front of you that’s half the charm. This rocks on so many levels. Let’s make music fun again! Watch them...
WHO: Steve Gunn WHAT: Daylight Daylight WHY: I try to steer far away from overly-delicate and too-previous-sounding music. Maybe it’s because I wanna rock and I don’t have time for that sad, sappy shit. But Steve Gunn always has a way of making me rethink my choices. Daylight Daylight is such a beautiful, solemn, and rich collection of songs that it gives the genre hope. Why am I listening to, let alone enjoying, a song about a loon so much?...
WHO: Radioactivity WHAT: Time Won’t Bring Me Down WHY: Because, it’s Jeff Burke and the name Burke is synonymous with quality. Time Won’t Bring Me Down is a sentimental pop punk album, in spite of its name. If you’re a fan of the Marked Men, then you already know about this band, and if you don’t, now’s your chance to get on the bandwagon. This album shows that pop punk can still feel relevant, edgy and beautiful, and the trio...
Every year we “joke” about having the best “Best of the Year List” list. We half-kid, since there some truly smart and well-seasoned music lovers out there, but I think this year we mean it. Every publication has had a best-of list more laughable than the next. Yes, everyone is talking about Geese, but can’t we go with less obvious picks? Tell you what, any Best-of list that doesn’t have Lambrini Girls is not worth the trouble. At least you...
WHO: Sharp Pins WHAT: Radio DDR WHY: It’s hard to describe this one. Radio DDR is sugary sweet and tender at times and bubble gum pop otherwise. It’s lo-fi like a 60s record with some very heavy guitars. I keep trying to convince myself I don’t like it, but I can’t. I’m a sucker for pop songs and these are some of the best I’ve heard this year. It’s undeniable. Where did this band even come from and how DARE...
Riddim and Ting by Teenage Engineering Welcome to a brand-new column here on Ground Control! One where we review cool products in a one-off: stuff that was so cool that we couldn’t wait for our Back to School Guide. We are calling it Lost in the Supermarket, and what better way to kick off the column with, arguably, the greatest band of all time: The Clash. The Clash are an essential band for any music lover. Unlike the Beatles who...
WHO: Die Spitz WHAT: Something to Consume WHY: Die Spitz blew up and are growing the way a good band would, by honing their skills, playing shows non-stop, and letting the buzz happen naturally. It doesn’t hurt that they put out an awesome record Teeth and that their live shows, indeed, rip. So, all eyes are on them with their first studio album on their new label Third Man (See? They’re doing it right!). Something to Consume is bewildering because...