Birds Of Avalon
Birds Of Avalon Bazaar Bazaar [3.5/5] It was bound to happen: Neo-stoner bands have been raiding the Sabbath and Lizzy playbooks since before Fu Manchu told us the action was go. But Birds Of Avalon have decided the new black is Lou Gramm-infused, psych-jam rock that’s part Cheap Trick and part Allman Brothers. The smiley...
Acute
Acute Arms Around A Stranger [3/5] Make no mistake about it: Acute love to slather on the atmosphere and orchestration. And producer Dave Trumfio’s certainly no stranger to the more-is-more approach, having worked with texture-mad icons such as Grandaddy, Wilco and My Morning Jacket. But it rarely feels like texture for its own sake. And...
Rocky Votolato
Rocky Votolato The Brag And Cuss [4/5] Within its first plaintive notes, The Brag & Cuss declares with little ambiguity a new musical chapter for the inimitable Rocky Votolato. Based in folk and dipping more heavily into country than any of his prior releases, this fifth LP finds the now-distinguished Seattle songwriter employing a proper...