Style: Slacker Rock, Indie
Vibe: Existential, Catchy, Angsty, Contemplative, Depressive, Spring
Sonic explorations and research from the outer groove
Style: Slacker Rock, Indie
Vibe: Existential, Catchy, Angsty, Contemplative, Depressive, Spring
Style: Post-Rock, Mash Rock, Post-Hardcore, Slowcore
Vibe: Angsty, Angular, Cold, Heavy, Impressionistic, Suspenseful
Lyrical Themes: Alienation, Existential, Poetic, Storytelling
Musical Attributes: Dynamic, Slow, Dissonant, Raw, Repetitive
Style: Heavy Metal, Stoner Rock, Doom
Vibe: Heavy, Fuzzy, Anthemic, Dark, Ominous, Paranoid, Rebellious, Riffs, Stoned, Confident
Themes: Alienation, War, Political, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Style: Psych Pop, Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Neo-Psychedelia
Vibe: Dreamy, Catchy, Lush, Warm, Alienation, Psychedelic, Studio-as-an-instrument
Musical Attributes: Melodic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Headphone Album
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Free Rock, Jam Band, Tishoumaren-Influenced
Vibe: Groovy, Hypnotic, Colorful, Ritualistic, Communal, Psychedelic
Musical Attributes: Microtonal (Just Intonation), Improvisation (Collective), Instrumental, Progressive, Repetitive, Rhythmic, Thematic
This lost slab of mythical prog doesn’t shy away from indulging in the retro pleasures of instrumental psych-jammage and triumphant jazz-rock. The atmospheric guitar, spacey Moog, and Hammond organ playing are both epic and economical, nary a note wasted. Philip Grondahl’s violin playing on the opening track is especially heroic, recalling the flights of Jean-Luc Ponty or Mahavishnu’s Jerry Goodman. Despite their collective starward gaze, Klyfta remains firmly grounded by the tightness of the rhythm section. Aside from the explosive entropy of the first track (beginning with Anders Strand’s expansive upright bass solo), the grooves focus on repetitive momentum with unwavering determination.
Style: Psych / Prog / Experimental Rock
Vibe: Bombastic, Hallucinogenic, Chaotic, Energetic, Psychedelic
Musical Attributes: Progressive, Dense, Complex, Rhythmic, Riffs, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Technical, Odd Time Signatures
Style: Post-Rock, Art Rock, Industrial-influenced
Vibe: Atmospheric, Cold, Dark, Epic, Ethereal, Ominous, Winter
Style: Noise Pop, Chamber Pop, Indie Rock
Vibe: Passionate, Triumphant, Uplifting, Communal, Driving, Energetic, Messy, Chaotic, Anthemic
Released in 1971 on Atlantic Records Format: LP Style: Progressive Rock Vibe: Triumphant, Epic, Complex, Energetic, Warm, Lush Musical Attributes: … More
Style: Indie Rock
Influences: Shoegaze, Post-Rock, Free Improvisation, Emo
Vibe: accessible, cathartic, contemplative, dynamic, lyrical, passionate, philosophical, poetic
Style: Art Rock, Funk
Vibe: Energetic, Groovy, Spacey, Alienation, Anxious, Catchy, Eccentric, Futuristic, Longing, Passionate, Rhythmic, Spacey, Confident,
Style: Progressive Rock, Experimental Rock
Vibe: Epic, Psychedelic, Chaotic, Bombastic, Cerebral, Complex, Cryptic, Energetic, Ominous, Intense
Musical Attributes: Dense, Polyphonic, Technical, Odd Time Signatures, Headphone Album, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Progressive
Style: Emo, Indie Rock, Post-Hardcore
Vibe: Introspective, Angsty, Dark, Depressive, Introspective, Passionate, Poetic, Sombre
Themes: Personal, Self-Loathing, Regret, Death, Alienation
Style: Post-Rock, Space Rock, Kosmische-Influenced
Vibe: Driving, Motorik, Nocturnal, Urban, Focused, Energetic, Futuristic
Released in 2003 on EMI Records Format: LPx2, 45rpm Style: Art Rock Vibe: Cryptic, Anxious, Angsty, Paranoid, Moody Musical Attributes: … More
Released in 1971 on Warner Bros Records Format: LP
Released in 2016 on Polyvinyl Records Format: LP, translucent purple vinyl
Released in 2004 on Constellation Records Format: LP Style: Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Noise Rock Influences: Kosmische Musik, Shoegaze, Post-Punk Vibe: Chaotic, Noisy, … More
Originally released in 1981 on Rough Trade Modern Classics Reissue (2016) Format: LP
Originally released in 2009 on Invada Records Temporary Residence Reissue Format: LP
Released in 2010 on Blue Horizon Format: LP Recommended Tracks: B3 – True Believers, A1 – Bad Vibrations, B2 – … More
Released in 2005 on ATO Records Format: LPx2, CD
Originally Released in 1994 on Circa Records 2017 Fire Records reissue Format: LPx2, 45 RPM
Originally released in 1996 on Thrill Jockey Records 2017 Reissue on clear vinyl Format:: LP
Released in 2017 on Atlantic Records Format: LPx2
Released in 2017 on Constellation Records Format: LPx2, etching on side D
Released in 2012 on Young God Records Format: LPx3
Released in 1973 on Harvest Records
Released in 2011 on True Panther Sounds Format: LPx2
Released in 2009 on Southern Lord Records Recorded live in 2007 and 2008 Format: LP
Originally released digitally in 2007 2008 pressing on TBD Records Format: LP
Originally released in 2000 on Epic Records 2010 Repress Format: LPx2
Released in 1974 on Atlantic Records Format: LP
Released in 2017 on 4AD Records Format: LPx2, Blue Vinyl
Originally released in 1969 on Warner Bros. Records 1973 Pressing Format: LPx2
Released in 2001 on Temporary Residence Recorded in 2000 Format: LP
Released in 1970 on Atlantic Records Format: LP
Released in 1969 on Atlantic Format: LP Pressing quality: While this album is a masterpiece, these early pressings/masters sound a … More
Released in 2012 on Invada Records Format: LPx2, orange vinyl Limited to 500 copies
Released in 1973 on A&M Records Format: LP
Originally released in 1991 on Polydor 2011 pressing on Ba Da Bing Records Format: LP
Released in 2007 by Gold Standards Laboratories Recorded November 2005 in Amsterdam Format: LP
Originally Released in 2007 on Ipecac Vinyl released in 2008 on Black Diamond Format: LPx2
Released in 2015 on Sargent House
Released in 2012 on Southern Lord Records Format: LPx2, etching on D-side
After 20+ years of using his introspective songwriting as a playground for psychedelic lo-fi experimentation, underdog hero Emil Amos hands the production reins to John Angello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.) for his most polished album yet, capturing the best aspects of 70’s rock classics without ever feeling cliché. The hi-fi analogue production brings a newfound clarity and depth that allows Amos’ songwriting and instrumental performances to bloom; the choruses are anthemic, the atmospheres are darkly psychedelic, and his lyrics are just as philosophical and contemplative as ever.
The Whole Thing is Just There is another beautiful and life-affirming release from Young Jesus, the second with the current L.A. iteration of the band. Their inter-band chemistry seems stronger than ever, with telepathic improvisations, symbiotic catharses, and a mutual love for each other that is easily felt from a listener’s perspective. The lyrics deal with self-exploration and one’s relationship with the world around them, finding solace in spirituality, existentialism, literature, and the ethos of free jazz. Stylistically the music seems rooted in late-90’s indie rock and emo, with seamless but adventurous detours into post-rock, noisy post-hardcore, and free improvisation. Excited to see where these guys go next.
The new album from guitarist Yonatan Gat finds cohesiveness in its sprawling diversity. Stylistically it combines the rawness of garage rock, the thematic improvisation of Free jazz, and the experimental editing of musique concréte with psychedelic production, Arabic and Klezmer scales and surfy tremelo guitars.
Released in 2004 on Constellation Records Format: LPx2, Side D is blank
Released in 2018 on Yakketeeyak Music Review: Right out of the gate Little Boat sounds like an homage to the country-tinged … More
Information: Originally released in 1971 This deluxe pressing was released in 2013 on Klimt Records Format: LPx2 (second LP contains … More
Album Information: Self-released in 2017 Format: LP Also available as a visual album on Blu-Ray Written, Performed, and Recorded by … More
Fuzzy riffs, driving rhythms, and spacey synths tear through the speakers like a blistering comet through the solar system.
For fans of Black Sabbath, Neu!, Jethro Tull
Album Information: Originally released in 1970 on Atlantic Records 1974 Repress
After a prolific career as a noise/improvisational/experimental guitarist and a few forays into folk and chamber pop, Jim O’Rourke surprised his audience with an album closer to straightforward rock than his audience could have ever expected of him. Yet underneath it’s catchy, cheery, and polished exterior, his lyrics are full of humorously bitter resentment. Like his debut singer/songwriter album Eureka, Insignificance is full of the meticulous and lush arrangements that Jim would become known for.
Album Information: Originally released in 1999 as Jerusalem on London Records, and then in 2003 as Dopesmoker on Tee-Pee Records. … More
Compilation of 3 EPs released in 2013 on Temporary Residence Format: LPx2, etchings on each side
Album Information: Released in 1972 on Reprise Records 2009 reissue, mastered from original analog tapes
Album Information: This album was self-released on CD in 1997 This pressing was released by Constellation Records in 2013 Format: … More
Album Information: Released in 1975 on Atlantic Records Produced by Jimmy Page Format: LPx2 Recommended Tracks: A3 – In My … More
While each Grails album uses instrumental rock as a means to explore a vast record collection’s worth of influences, none have done so with the subtlety and focus put into each track of this latest offering, allowing us to see the intangible essence of their sound more clearly than ever.
Taking a detour from his usual loner-droner psych folk style, Ben Chasney enlists former Comets on Fire bandmates to jam some heavy rock burners with a a cosmic amount of electric guitar shredding, evoking Neil Young & Crazy Horse blasting off on a rocket. The new electric energy brought to this album is balanced out by an equal amount of the fingerpicking prog-folk and meditative acoustic ballads that have been developing in his music since the 90’s. While I will always love his more melancholy, nocturnal records that sound like he’s lost in a forest somewhere, I welcome the fiery energy of Ascent.
Album Information: Released in 2011 on Partisan Records Produced by Emil Amos Jeff Stuart Saltzman recorded tracks B1, B3, B5 … More
Album Information: Released in 2009 on Downtown Music Exposion originally released in 2008 and is included as a bonus LP … More
Album Information: Released in 1973 on Virgin Records Origin: Hamburg, Germany
“Recorded in an old wooden barn, this second album is swaddled in twilight autumnal ambiance. While the record is bookended by the band’s awesome psych-rock explosions, much of the material here shows increased referencing of jazz influences (modal horns, brushed percussion) and a more organic deployment of micro-electronics. Raw and polished, visceral and cerebral, the band combines rock and jazz traditions of space music with the ‘instrumental’ potentials of mixing room to present a true gem of a record.” (Press Release)
Soft Machine’s second album is an eclectic suite packed full of whimsical psychedelia, Dadaist detours, complex prog structures and jazz-inspired musicianship.
Album Information: Released in 2009 on Constellation Records Tracklist A1 – Do A2 – Make B1 – Say B2 – … More
Album Information: Released in 2007 by Polyvinyl Record Co
Progressive alt-rock that prioritizes dynamics and atmosphere over flashy solos or superfluous complexity. Recommended for fans of Oceansize, Deftones, Mogwai, or the last two Isis albums.
This album is full of energetic, psych-prog maximalism that occasionally settles down into (relatively) slowed down, spacious grooves. I recommend this to fans of The Mars Volta or anyone looking for a manic blend of psych, prog, fusion, punk and latin influences.