Laura Leebove

writing & stuff

New album review: Thao With The Get Down Stay Down’s “Know Better Learn Faster” November 6, 2009

Filed under: albums — lauraleebove @ 11:12 am
Tags: , , ,

Review of Thao With The Get Down Stay Down’s Know Better Learn Faster on UnderTheRadarMag.com (album out now on Kill Rock Stars)

I also went to Thao’s show on Wednesday at Bowery Ballroom and am finishing up my review now… should be running on self-titledmag.com later this week.

Thao With The Get Down Stay Down’s MySpace

(Also coming soon: CMJ stuff is still on its way because I’m still hardly caught up from it… plus reviews of Florence & the Machine at Bowery, Noah & the Whale at Mercury Lounge, feature on Israeli electro-rock group Terry Poison, and maybe stuff I’m forgetting)

 

New music feature: Dashboard Confessional November 4, 2009

Filed under: music features — lauraleebove @ 12:44 pm
Tags: , , ,

Music news feature on Dashboard Confessional on Billboard.com (and the lead music-section story in the Oct. 31 issue of the print magazine)

I can’t say I’ve really listened to Dashboard since I was in high school, but at least Chris Carrabba was a really good interview, and I truly appreciate that more than whether or not I like the music (in cases like this at least).

Dashboard Confessional’s MySpace (I think the new album, Alter The Ending is streaming right now)

 

New live review: Sufjan Stevens @ Bowery Ballroom October 28, 2009

Filed under: concerts — lauraleebove @ 9:52 am
Tags: , , ,

I’m late on posting this, but it just got posted online last week anyway.

Review of Sufjan Stevens’ Oct. 5, 2009, show at Bowery Ballroom on UnderTheRadarMag.com (photos here)

Anyway, this was my first time seeing Sufjan Stevens and he was just…mesmerizing, even though he kinda looked like a bro. He was so, so good and this is one of my favorite shows I’ve been to recently (and that says a lot). It was one of four sold-out gigs in NYC (two at Bowery and two at Music Hall of Williamsburg), all at 550-capacity venues. It was also my first night with my Canon Rebel XS, my first DSLR, and I’m loving it.

 

New music feature: Steel Panther October 17, 2009

Filed under: music features — lauraleebove @ 9:35 am
Tags: , ,

I’ll spare you the photo because I think it might scare people away from my Web site, but you can find plenty of photos here.

Steel Panther story on Reuters.com (full version in the Oct. 24 issue of Billboard)

A couple of quotes surrounding my being assigned this story:
“I know this isn’t really your thing but…” (editor)
“If there were ever band on god’s green earth that spelled out ‘Laura Leebove’s Worst Nightmare,’ Steel Panther be thy name. They appear to be antithetical to you in almost every way.” (friend)

Ain’t that the truth. I know it’s supposed to be funny, and it is funny in a “Wow, I feel sad that there are people who can objectify women to this extent, even if it’s a joke” kind of way…but it’s too much. Among their song titles: “Asian Hooker,” “Fat Girl (Thar She Blows),” “Stripper Girl,” “Community Property,” and “The Shocker” (yes, it’s about what you think it’s about)…

 

New live review: Mayer Hawthorne @ Brooklyn Bowl October 14, 2009

Filed under: concerts — lauraleebove @ 9:09 am
Tags: , , ,

This was a little while ago but…one of my favorite shows since I’ve been in New York. So much energy, soooo much fun, and I am so proud that he is a Jewish dude from Michigan. Mentioned it already but his album, A Strange Arrangement (out now on Stones Throw) will absolutely be near the top of my best of ‘09 list…I should probably start making that, eh?

Review of Mayer Hawthorne’s Oct. 3 show at Brooklyn Bowl on UnderTheRadarMag.com
You can check out my photos from the show here.

Mayer Hawthorne’s MySpace

 

New live review: Phoenix/Passion Pit @ Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield October 13, 2009

Filed under: concerts — lauraleebove @ 4:18 pm
Tags: , , , , ,

Woooo, finally posted.

Review of Phoenix and Passion Pit’s Sept. 26 show at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield on UnderTheRadarMag.com

You can check out my photos from the show here

Also, this show marks my last time being in a photo pit with a dinky point-and-shoot! Get ready for much better shots starting with Sufjan Stevens, which hopefully will be up this week. Before that, look out for my Mayer Hawthorne review, which hopefully will be up before that (you can check out my photos here though).

 

New album review: Or, The Whale – “Or, The Whale” October 12, 2009

Filed under: albums — lauraleebove @ 8:35 am
Tags: , ,

Review of Or, The Whale’s self-titled LP on UnderTheRadarMag.com (album out now on Seany)

Or, The Whale’s MySpace

 

New album review: Juliette Lewis’ “Terra Incognita” October 9, 2009

Filed under: albums — lauraleebove @ 8:50 am
Tags: , ,

Review of Juliette Lewis’ Terra Incognita on UnderTheRadarMag.com (out now on The End Records)

Didn’t totally love the album but I’m pumped to see her in Whip It!

 

New live review: Yo La Tengo @ Roseland Ballroom October 7, 2009

Filed under: concerts — lauraleebove @ 12:23 pm
Tags: , , ,

Review of Yo La Tengo’s Sept. 25 show at Roseland Ballroom on UnderTheRadarMag.com

This show was a while ago too but just posted this morning. It was my first time seeing Yo La Tengo live, and I’m sort of embarrassed to say I didn’t start listening to them until this past summer when I was assigned an interview with Ira Kaplan. Trying to catch up on 25 years of music was impossible, but from everything I have heard, it turns out I reeeally love them! Also, their newest album, Popular Songs (out now on Matador), is one of my favorites of the year.

You can check out my photos from the show here.

 

New live review: Fanfarlo @ Bowery Ballroom October 6, 2009

Filed under: concerts — lauraleebove @ 4:54 pm
Tags: , ,

Review of Fanfarlo’s Sept. 21 show at Bowery Ballroom on UnderTheRadarMag.com

Photo gallery can be seen here,

I know, this show was more than two weeks ago…and I wrote the review a while ago too but it was just posted yesterday. This band rocks, as mentioned in my last post.