Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: a sunny day in glasgow, ambient, ashes grammar, dream pop, Kevin Shields, march release, Nitetime Rainbows, shoegaze, The Flaming Lips, The Jesus & Mary Chain
A Sunny Day in Glasgow's latest EP is a shoegazer's dream
WE GIVE IT: 17/20 Watts
PREVIEW: VISIT A Sunny Day in Glasgow’s MySpace
In the wake of their successful 2009 release Ashes Grammar, Philadelphia-based dream pop band A Sunny Day in Glasgow have already compiled a lavish new EP for 2010. Nitetime Rainbows takes a step away from the band’s shoegaze roots, and begins to explore new territory. Songwriter Ben Daniels swaps Jesus and Mary Chain influences for Flaming Lips-esque tones on “Nitetime Rainbows.” Rather than the typical, ambient vocal mix, lead vocalists Annie Fredrickson and Jen Goma are mixed with neo-psychedelic overtones. A Sunny Day in Glasgow’s vocals always radiate beauty, but Nitetime Rainbows sounds even more lavish than the band’s previous work.
Harkening back to their shoegaze heritage, “Daytime Rainbows” is sweeping, explosive, and ever powerful. Genre pioneer Kevin Shields would be proud of the band’s mastery of composition and use of guitar effects. Tight drum rhythms and subdued synthesizers sound natural and effortless. Juxtaposed to this sonic orgasm, “So Bloody, So Tight” blissfully blends shoegaze and electronica. Continue reading
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Editor's Picks, M83, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Radio Dept.
What a dark yet informative month it’s been. I’m a little bit sad that October only contains four Sundays, but I’ll try my best to make this post count. Last week we explored the humble beginnings of Nick Cave. This week, let’s check out another great band: The Jesus & Mary Chain.
You’ve probably heard this song, “Just Like Honey.” It’s off of their amazing album Psychocandy. The entire thing is thirtysomething minutes of pure listening joy- fuzzy and perfectly dark. Though this popular track is pretty slow, don’t be fooled- there are several songs off the album that are going to make you want to move.
20 Watts 