Reviews (4)

A surprisingly good (and original) indie rock album by a guy who recorded it by himself upstairs in his mom's house! - 4.5 stars
What's so neat about Say Hi To Your Mom is the fact that it's one guy who recorded all of his albums upstairs in his mother's house. The other neat thing is that, with all this in mind, he can still create some "great" songs ("I Think I'll Be A Ghost" is a great and unusual piece). The singer's voice pretty much perfectly fits the music's style, although he sounds pretty depressed and emotionless most of the time - some might not like him either. The lyrics are usually pretty interesting, sometimes funny and occasionally deep - "I Think I'll Be A Good Ghost" is a nice example. That song is also one of several very catchy and memorable songs that are found here (a couple others are "The Twenty-Second Century" and especially "The Death Of Girl Number Two"). Musically it's essentially just indie rock with a little garage rock thrown in, but it's also slightly experimental. Say Hi To Your Mom definitely shows lots of promise - perhaps if he had a major label contract then he could create a great album. "The Twenty-Second Century", "The Death Of Girl Number 2" and "I Think I'll Be A Good Ghost"(and to an extent "Poor Pete Is A Bit Self Conscious") push it up from a "4" to a "4.5". This is a relatively original album that some people might not like, but indie rock fans and the open-minded will definitely enjoy it (if you like this then check out his other album "Numbers & Mumbles", too!). Recommended!
P-p-p-pitchfork
With so much emphasis on nouveau freak (whatever) folk, drum'n bass/riddim/world rap, Gang of Four retreads and techno house beat sound collages, it's suprising that pitchforkmedia even found time to review this delicately ferocius bit of understated beauty from SHTYM. The fact that the reviewer seemed more concerned with pointing out that he, too, has ridden the L to Bedford smacks of self-conscious defensiveness, a knee jerk reaction that tends to be par for the course in the all too disappointing review. I've been waiting for a Pitchfork review of Say Hi for quite awhile, and while it is disappointing that they overlooked Numbers and Mumbles, at least it gets name checked twice in the span of four short paragraphs. I would also expect a reviewer to listen to an album at least once the whole way through, but it sounds like he maybe listened to those 30 second snips on this page and called it a day, throwing in some derisive sarcastic taunts ("How convenient...boo hoo hoo") to please himself.
Another Great Hit From SHYTM
I bought this CD in pre-order from the home site. When I first put it in, my first instict was classic Say Hi To Your Mom: catchy hooks, cleverly geeky lyrics, and an amazing sound that will keep you listening over and over. I got all three and more.
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Subjects:  1. Indie Pop    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. United States of America   

Reviews (12)

Very good, best Apples Album
This great debut, though not polished, is the best the Apples in Stereo have to offer. The songs are very upbeat and reminiscent of the Beach Boys, though Schneider's nasal vocals can be a little irritating, they are tolerable and fit with the songs. Highlights of the Cd are the first 9 songs except the intro narrative, especially "Greenmachine" and "Glowworm". If you like sunny upbeat music this Cd is definantly for you, and if you have to own one Cd of the Apples in Stereo this is the one to own.

Their best album, from what I can tell
I don't have all of AIS' albums, but of the three I either own, or have owned, this one's much better than "Tone Soul Evolution" and TONS better than "World Inside the Moone," which I turned right around and sold about two weeks after buying it (read my review of it!). Psychedelic Wonderland
How this band can play such ultra-lighthearted, blissful, trippy pop reminiscient of Saturday morning cartoons when Gen X were children without being schmaltzy and pointless, I have no idea. Must be genius. :~)Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Pop    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Neo-Psychedelia    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Power Pop    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Box set
• Original recording reissued

Reviews (7)

Underwhelming early material paired with fantastic outtakes disc
If you like "Propeller" and "Bee Thousand," this set is worth purchasing just for the surprisingly excellent "King **** and the Golden Boys" disc, which is largly made up of outtakes from those sessions, including a demo of the best song Robert Pollard's ever written, "Don't Stop Now."
Ready to take the plunge?
This is a big investment, and not one to be taken lightly. There is just not a ton of music in this package. The first four albums, each on a separate CD, average about 30 minutes a piece. The outtakes album is a little longer, but nowhere near the possible 80 minutes. Overall, we are talking well under three hours of music. Searching for a heart of gold? Look here...
This is simply a must have set,GBV fan or not. It gives you 6 albums of great music AND points the way to even more GBV triumphs yet to come. This collection contains the band's independantly released albums right up to Vampire On Titus plus it adds a disc of cuts that you can only get with this set. There are more valuable gems that exist here than in all of the diamond mines in the world. I choose this vinyl version,which has been like a best friend to me since 1995, only because you get Propeller as a bonus. 6 lp's of the finest music you will ever hear...yes Virginia there is a God! Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Box Sets (Audio Only)    3. Indie Rock    4. Lo-Fi    5. Pop    6. Rock   

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (5)

WOW!
I love this album! The songs are WAY better than Scout's debut album. This cd has a more beautiful, catchy feel to it. The songs are a little reminiscent of Stretch Princess in terms of the lead singers vocal similiarities which is great. I love the emotive vibe this cd gives off. Amazing album! Buy it!!!

awesome!
saw them live and decided to buy a CD after the fact here. SO glad i did. this band is great. i recommend this one.

Stunningly brilliant
By far, the best cd of 2003.From beginning to end it is pure sonic perfection.Also, if you ever get a chance to see them live, DO IT! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (3)

For the adventurous lo-fi indie punk fan.
Yes, Beat Happening is not for everyone. Let's just clear that up now. If you only really enjoy listening to high-quality productions in the vein of nu-metal, teen-pop, rap, etc. (not that ALL of those genres are bad necessarily), then you most likely will NOT enjoy this band's music. However, if you like indie rock, DIY punk, early Velvet Underground, or simply put, music that doesn't really care what the listener's opinion of the music is, than you should really check out Beat Happening.
This band SUCKS
If you like indiferent out of tune guitar playing and drumming that makes Mo Tucker seem like a virtuoso then this album is for you.The singing and song writing are occasionally interesting but the general atmosphere of boredom and sloppy indifference ruins the experience for me.This sounds as if several of my musically less than talented friends decided to form a band and a week later recorded an album. It's not charming, just weak and one more reason to hate indie pop.

Solid indie rock offering
The second full-length release from the Beat Happening (after their self-titled debut and an EP collaboration with Screaming Trees) finds them showing all sides of their collective personality. Jamboree contains eleven songs, due to the punk aesthetic covering only twenty-four minutes, that range from the powerful, catchy "Bewitched" to the seeming test of listener tolerance "The This Many Boyfriends Club." Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Underground    3. Indie Pop    4. Indie Rock    5. Lo-Fi    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Twee Pop   

Reviews (11)

Matador Comp #2
The second of Matador's compilations features 2 CDs of old material and 1 CD of previously unreleased songs from great artists like Pavement, Cat Power, Chavez, Modest Mouse, Mogwai, Yo La Tengo, Sleater Kinney, Guided by Voices and Boards of Canada.The best two new songs from Disc 3 made it onto subsequent Pavement and Cat Power releases, respectively.All three of the Matador comps are packed with dozens of good songs at a single CD price and strongly recommended for new fans.

Great music for really cheap
The tracks on this look like a collage radio play list!!!!! You got THE best in underground rock/Folk/Pop all in One cd. If YOU like good underground (Not that stuff that passes for rock these days) Then buy this.

"Everything" really IS nice
I owe a debt to Matador Records' "Everything Is Nice" compilation,. It was through these three discs that I was originally introduced to many of my now-favorite bands, including Solex, Nightmares on Wax, Pizzicato Five, Pavement, Yo La Tengo, and many others.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Dance    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Box Sets (Audio Only)    4. Club/Dance    5. Electronica    6. Experimental Techno    7. IDM    8. Indie Electronic    9. Indie Pop    10. Indie Rock    11. Lo-Fi    12. Noise Pop    13. Pop    14. Post-Rock/Experimental    15. Rock    16. Rock/Pop Collections    17. Singer/Songwriter   

Reviews (3)

A thoughtful and emotive journal
I think I would venture to say this is my favourite Kimya album (although they are all good and have their place) and perhaps one of my favourite lo-fi, anti-folk albums ever.Kimya has a brilliant way of making you feel like bouncing and crying at the same time.Her melodies are generally light, and often on this album the lyrics are quite heavy. If the whole world listened to Kimya Dawson, there would be no wars
I am severely in love with this album. It is vital that you are aware of the beauty and creativity of this artist. To begin with, the lyrics are clever and original. Clever and original may even be understatements. They're humorous, but at the same time saddening and beautiful. It's as if I could have written these songs, except that I'm not talented and eloquent and I can't play guitar.
fronts no jacks.
This is a great, surreal and soulful album. All of the songs hold up. On "For Katie", Kimya gives a shout out to Jeffrey Lewis, another great contemporary New York songwriter who you should check out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anti-Folk    2. Contemporary Folk    3. Indie Rock    4. Lo-Fi    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Features

• Original recording reissued

Reviews (13)

the first of GbV's great records
somehow robert pollard believed. no one else did. this little plaything could do something special. it not so much redefined the music scene as exposed it to what it had always been. not quite the classic album some would make it out to be, it is, though, a thoroughly terrific record, completely unexpected and paved the way for what would come. better than vampire on titus, but in no way as good as bee thousand or alien lanes.

An Album with Hundreds of Different CD Covers, and an Infinite Amount of Creativity
My CD contains 'Propeller and "Vampire on Titus''on one disk (only available for a short while; now they must be purchased separately), although I doubt that very many people would be particularly envious of this `coup'. Actually, its advantages are questionable, because the two albums combine for a total of 33 (!) tracks, which is overwhelming by anybody's standard and makes it doubly difficult to allow the songs to sink in.
Essential...It's all essential
All good kids must have this record.Simply the best of the GBV catalog, but Bee Thousand is the best place to start.You should buy them both, along with Alien Lanes and Under the Bushes and call it a summer.You will not need any other CDs because to appreciate the full range of value you will have to listen to them incessantly for at least 2-3 months.Best of luck finding the right type of work to allow for the listening and record buying you will need.At least the touring might slow now that Bob is solo, but probably not since I fear he has quit smoking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Indie Rock    4. Lo-Fi    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

The Kills’ debut is a stark 21st Century blues album, the sort of thing that would have struggled to find an audience before the White Stripes broke into the mainstream. So it’s lucky for them--and us--that they had such respectable coattails to ride on. The duo--Alison Mosshart, a.k.a. VV, and Hotel--play a music that’s blues influenced with a garage rock edge, and that’s where the similarities end. Sure, the Kills use a drum machine instead of a live drummer, but the differences run much deeper than that: The Kills’s blues rock is dirtier and more sex-drenched version of blues rock, a result of the shared vocal duties of Hotel and VV. The sultry "Hitched" says it all ("I’ll get my name stitched on your lips so you won’t get hitched"). These are songs that sweat sexual menace, recalling Boss Hogg or early PJ Harvey (on "Superstition" and "Wait," VV’s voice is a dead ringer for young Polly Jean’s). Best of all, these songs are stuffed with hooks. In a sea of pretenders, the Kills are capable of providing some genuine competition for the White Stripes.Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (35)

Not for everyone
Be wary, this disc is not for everyone. In fact, I'd hazard a guess that most people would really dislike this album. I also don't think giving this album a once-or-twice-over at a friend's house would be necissarily beneficial. Borrow it from someone for awhile if you really want a first impression, but it takes a few listens to get used to the differences between this and alot of other bands. If you're willing to take a chance, go for it, buy this disc and don't give up on it until you're thoroughly convinced it's either fantastic or terrible.

this is not white stripes
white stripes suck, this album actually is good and has talent

Good if you've never heard Discount before.
If you're a fan of Discount(Allison's old band) this album can be a dissapointment; if not you'll enjoy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Garage Punk    2. Garage Rock Revival    3. Indie Rock    4. Lo-Fi    5. Pop    6. Rock   

Reviews (7)

Y'all. It's the B sides.
This album isn't Lost Blues, no. While Lost Blues is the most direct Oldham-as-Palace release because it's the A sides of singles, this is a collection where he stretches out as a songwriter. There are loud songs, songs with fiddles, a drum machine and tape hiss. Between it all is arguably Will's most raw crooning! If you prefer Lost Blues and its like with the melodies of Bonny Billy, fair enough, but this collection is the flipside and just as frequently transcendent.

Lost...and found!
Wow. I'm seeing a lot of mixed reviews for that CD, and that excites me. See, this is my first Will Oldham et al. CD, and if this isn't the pinnacle, then I can't wait to hear the rest! This was the only disc byWill, palace, etc. available in my area, so I picked it up and have beenutterly fascinated by it ever since. It has a weird hypnotic quality toit... almost like lsitening to insects on a summer night... it's organic,spooky, endlessly mysterious. Each listen reveal a new wrinkle. I put thisin the same category as the best works by Giant Sand, Richard Buckner,Magnetic Fields... There is a genuine mysticsm to it. I ordered a few morePalace and Will Oldham CD's, and I can't wait to hear what his "AList" stuff sounds like. some songs are stunning, others tiresome...a truly mixed bag
This cd starts off so promising, especially with the perfect "Drinking Woman" but falters later on in the cd when poor production value and shakey vocals begin to lose their charm and start toagrivate. Will Oldham is a wonderful musician, however he seems to be in arut with this album. I don't regret buying this cd because the few songsthat I like, I REALLY LIKE...but the others are rather skipable. If you area major fan of Palace or Will Oldham, this is still a must-have, but forothers who are unsure, you might be better off copying it from a friend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

Think of Morrissey fronting Prefab Sprout by way of the Go-Betweens, and you're in the game with New Zealander Stephen Jones. His six-year bedsit gestation period, neatly documented in recent months via three Handsome Boy reissues, suggested a pop maestro in the raw. Here he takes wing with a trio of supple, lyrically ripe U.K. hits ("You're Gorgeous," "Goodnight," "Candy Girl"), plus some sharp remakes of older material ("Dead Bird Sings," the uncanny Blue Nile imitation, "Bad Shave"). Tunefully addictive stuff from a pop original. Read more

Reviews (9)

Gorgeous
I first heard You're Gorgeous on the radio in the office. As soon as I heard the first line of the first verse I grabbed my pen and waited for the DJ to tell me who it was. My immediate reaction was Echo and The Bunnymen meets U2 with a splash catchy infection to top it off. Once I had Baby Bird scrawled on my memo pad I rushed out to HMV and bought the album. Ugly Beautiful Says It All
There is some very distasteful and disquieting stuff here -- start with the insert cover which may be a toe-tagged corpse, follow that with the blasphemous-to-some Jesus Is My Girlfriend and Bad Shave, and then I Didn't Want to Wake You Up (not that he could have because the object of the song is quite dead, thank you).You get the idea.A couple other cuts miss; Atomic Soda in particular seems endless.I just hit the skip button for them and doing so still leaves eight or nine wonderful pop songs, twisted pop in a couple cases (Candy Girl and You're Gorgeous) but tuneful hooks and singable choruses abound.The CD closes with two wonderful bittersweet love songs, July and Baby Bird, pushing you out of this odd CD with a lingering taste of sweetness and, yes, innocence.

sexy & creepy & just plain good pop
babybird is amazing.excellent songwriting, excellent voice.it's, as i said, sexy & creepy, but also bouyant & uplifting."45 & fat" will get stuck in your head for weeks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Pop    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Singer/Songwriter   

Reviews (7)

Subtle but powerful!
These guys should have their picture next to the Lo-Fi Music entry on Wikipedia. They define the Lo-Fi alternative rock genre. Their music is subtle yet powerful. The music just flows! Keep it up!

Great debut from Brooklyn pop unit.
"Discodsadness" is the debut album by Say Hi To Your Mom, a project by Eric Elbogen, a Brooklyn pop musician.While its not quite as good as its followup, its a really great record.
GREAT
just the same as the other reviews, great name. thats what really caught my attention, it is just so random that i had to preview one of the songs. good music. fits almost everymood you are in basically. well for me it does ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Pop    4. Quirky, minimalist indie pop.    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (3)

Diverse and thoughtful
Every song on this album delves into some deeper realm, each farther from each other.It ranges from punk rantings ["Can U Feel It?"] to doleful, whistful, beautiful melodies ["Shoe-In"] to a take on 60s soul music ["Sister, Brother"], and each attempt is brilliance.The harmonies between Geoff and Jodi are highlighted by masterfully understated guitar work and heart-wrenching lyrics.I can see why bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Ida are such devoted, self-proclaimed fans of this band.These songs never miss their mark.

If I had a bike, a hill, and an IHOP...I'd be there.
The Secret Stars is the name of a duo, Geoff Farina (of Karate fame) and Jodi something-or-other.Most of the tracks are experimental, slow, sparse pop songs. Geoff is God
Shoe In and some sonatra are typical Geoff Farina.The secret stars, in my opinion, is one more outlet for this amazing song writer.If you are a fan of Geoff's solo album buy this, too.I would have gave it 5 stars, butI'm not a fan of the other artist's work on this album, but Sister Brotheris a tight track.Her work on the last album was beautiful, though. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Pop    3. Indie Rock    4. Lo-Fi    5. Noise Pop    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Sadcore   

Editorial Review

After the success of his previous album, Read more

Reviews (12)

Hypnotic...wicked...witty...musically & lyrically devestating...
Only gave 4 stars because this album isn't for everyone, and a 5-star review makes people go out and buy stuff. In this case if a lot of people did that, they'd be disappointed and would post negative reviews here.
Accessible Smog
Smog's Red Apple Falls is indicative of Bill Callahan's direction towards a more easy-to-swallow pill of indie folk. The songs have more form, the instruments are all pretty much conventional instruments, and Callahan's voice has adopted a rather soothing drawl. That's not to say Callahan has dumbed down his sound in any way. Instead of the lo-fi mess-terpiece of Wild Love, we have the country-tinged Red Apple Falls, a record filled with Callahan's usual tales of lost love and lost confidence. The pedal steel takes a rather prominant role on many of the album's more fleshed-out tracks such as "Inspirational," giving the album a sort-of alt-country feel reminiscent of Will Oldham's work. Sitting along with a rather uncharacteristic slice of upbeat pop ("Ex-Con") are some of Callahan's best pieces of minimalist folk. While "Red Apples" and "To Be Of Use" are carried by rather simple piano and guitar figures, they say so much with so little as the clich? goes. Thus with this record, Callahan has proven himself a master of both the full-band and the lone musician. Red Apple Falls is a great starting point for any potential Smog fan.

(classic)
I own just about all of the official Smog releases from the gritty home tape recordings, to the newer albums that will keep some steady friends around. This is by far the best (Smog) album that I've heard. Think Leonard Cohen meets The VU w/a touch of beautiful pedal steel over the top of it all. This album really is amazing and it embraces all of the different stylings that Bill Callahan employs throughout all of his works. From violent pop songs set over a cheary beat (ala Ex Con), to the isolated and introspectiveness w/a gritty sense of humor (es Stranger). This album really hits home. The one thing that may annoy new comers to this album is the heavy handedness of all the symbolism that reoccurs throughout the album. To me it's perfect but to others it can possibley ware you down. If you get this album and are looking for more Smog to listen to then the next logical step is Knock Knock. If you own Knock Knock and want more of the same then pick this one up. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Sadcore    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

Hailing from Athens, Georgia, and often discussed in the same breath as psychedelic upstarts Olivia Tremor Control and Neutral Milk Hotel (since they all operate under the loose umbrella of the Elephant Six collective), Elf Power are an eccentric rock quartet that perform engaging, subtle music with a sonically subversive underbelly. On the band's third full-length release, songwriter Andrew Rieger shows a penchant for clever wordplay on tunes like "All the Passengers" and "O What a Beautiful Dream." Along with band members Bryan Helium, Aaron Wegelin, and Laura Carter, Rieger takes the listener on a quirky musical journey that is as surreal as it is smart with unconventional instrumentation and random noise filtering throughout. With cameos by Athens alt-rock royalty, this marks the dawning of a new psychedelic underground. Read more

Reviews (21)

At least it's unique compared to the rock mainstream.
With this 1999 release Elf Power have an interestingly detailed and certainly bold, albeit cloying record.
Another psychedelic rock classic by the famed elephant 6 band!
Elf Power is one of the best indie rock groups around. If you don't believe me, listen to this album, "Creatures" and "Walking With The Beggar Boys". The lyrics may not be very interesting in the long run (though they are indeed very catchy and memorable which helps if you wish to sing along), but boy is it entertaining! Every song on this album has great instrumentation and is extremely fun. Andrew Rieger's vocals are, once again, very soothing and dreamy (though it varies - "Creatures" is way more dreamy sounding than this one). Every person I've played these two albums for ended up has humming or singing the choruses right after. If you're a music collector or even just a fan of rock music do yourself a favor and buy this album.
Dream in sound
No, it's not the kind of elf power that we saw in "Lord of the Rings," with the rings and the river and so on. It's one of those deliciously weird names that Elephant 6 bands frequently use. And in "A Dream in Sound," Elf Power magicks up a sweet, vaguely psychedelic batch of catchy pop tunes.
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Subjects:  1. Indie Pop    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Neo-Psychedelia    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Features

Reviews (4)

their best EP
if vampire on titus could be re-recorded...if the versions of marchers in orange and dusted are any indication, it would be the greatest LP of all time. also here is the all-time GbV classic, my impression now. this is a very nice little disc.

Worthy of a purchase by all GbV fans...
You are reading this review because you are wondering if this EP is worth the price you'll pay for it.If you are paying $10 or less, than it is.
Best 12-minute album you'll ever hear!
At over fifty cents per minute these had better be great songs, and they are. There are enough hooks here for the last 3 GBV albums, which should tell you how great the old stuff was (sorry Bob - I understand your need to evolve though). The disc (at least the old version I have) comes in one of those low-budget cardboard covers similar to LPs, which seems to cause this disc to disappear from my collection and then reappear occasionaly for several consecutive listenings. The cliche "pop gem" truly applies here. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop