Brian Shultz

Introducing Technically, Introducing's title is a misnomer: This is the sophomore full-length for the psychedelic-tinged, orchestral pop act Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground, following 2008's self-titled debut. But it has been in the works for quite some time: The album was written and partially tracked in late 2008 and 2009; finished in late 2009; […]

Split EP   The Sidekicks mixed refined punk and folk-tinged jubilance on their 2009 full-length, Weight Of Air, which functioned as a history lesson on the last three decades of alternative radio. We finally get new material from them in the form of this split with indie/emo/punk wunderkinds Tigers Jaw, who themselves keep true to […]

Reverse The Curse Hither & Yon Reverse The Curse's full-length debut, Hither & Yon, is a few years in the making. The band's last proper EP, Paths, was issued back in 2008 as an indelibly solid slab of punky post-hardcore nestled somewhere between Hot Water Music and Polar Bear Club. That sound's all the rage […]

Andrew Jackson Jihad/O Pioneers!!! Split EP If both Pulp Fiction-inspired cover art and the idea of a 9-inch record (you read that right) isn't incentive enough to pick up this Andrew Jackson Jihad and O Pioneers!!! split, then the music should hopefully do the trick. Andrew Jackson Jihad are appearing on roughly their fifth split […]

The Holy Mess The Holy Mess   The Holy Mess's self-titled compilation is a handy starter kit for prospective fans of the band. You get everything the Holy Mess have done thus far (2009's Dismount EP and last year's Benefit Sesh 7-inch), plus two new jams, rearranged to consider coherent flow and order but remaining […]

Places And Numbers Travels   Travelsis the full-length debut of the sprawling solo project from Bobby Darling, guitarist for the newly reactivated Gatsbys American Dream. It's a mixed bag, but within the near-half-hour of bouncing, poppy beats are some rewarding moments. The whimsical introduction of opener “Places And Numbers”—which provides neither places nor numbers; discuss—will […]

Bon Iver Bon Iver   There's a moment during “The Wolves (Act I And II),” from Bon Iver’s breakthrough debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, where the most brutal contrast simply works. It's when Justin Vernon, the center of the indie-folk project, fearlessly inflects the last word of his quietly emotional interrogation, “What might have been […]