New album reviews: Mumford & Sons, Los Campesinos!, Holly Miranda

February 10, 2010 Leave a comment

I’m turning back into the record-reviewing machine I was at some point last year and it’s definitely keeping me on my toes…

Some recent reviews for Critical Mob:

Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More (out Feb. 16 on Glassnote Records): These guys were one of my favorite bands during CMJ and their debut LP is beautiful. They also play with Laura Marling, who I adore and am seeing on Friday. Mumford & Sons’ MySpace

Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring (out now on Arts & Crafts): I love this band and I think they’re so much fun, but wasn’t totally feeling the new record, at least not to the extent of their first two. Los Campesinos’ MySpace

Holly Miranda – The Magician’s Private Library (out Feb. 23 on XL Recordings): I saw her during CMJ and then a few days later opening for Florence & the Machine (where she sang a few songs with Nada Surf!), and she was great live, I love her voice and she’s really talented, but I didn’t necessarily think it was anything totally new and exciting. The record is a lot more impressive though. Holly Miranda’s MySpace

I also wrote a profile on Owen Pallett and fixed up an older version of my review of Great Lake Swimmers’ excellent 2009 release Lost Channels.

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Live photos: Los Campesinos! @ Ladies Literary Club

February 22, 2009 Leave a comment

This show as almost two weeks ago (Feb. 10) but I’ve been busy as all hell, mostly with school stuff, so I am just now posting! This was my first time at Ladies Literary Club, but that place is awesome! And it was much better than expected, considering it was a seated venue. A bunch of people (my friends and I included) just stood in front of the stage, in front of the first row, so the crowd was great up there, but I heard it wasn’t so hot from behind. Titus Andronicus opened and I can’t say I was much of a fan, although it could’ve been worse. I might go see LC! again in April in Detroit at the Magic Stick — I wish that show had been announced sooner … I definitely would have gone to that instead since it’s on a Thursday and this was a Tuesday. Oh well, it was still fun.

Setlist + tons of photos after the jump!

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TOP ALBUMS OF ’08!

December 8, 2008 5 Comments

Disclaimer: I didn’t listen to everything that came out this year (I know, it’s a shocker). There are albums that I know are good but that I didn’t listen to till way later than I should have (i.e. Fleet Foxes, She & Him), so I can’t really justify putting them on this list. Also, I can’t get the freakin’ apostrophe in the ’08 to go the other way and it’s really bothering me. Anyway:

15. Mates of State – Re-Arrange Us (Barsuk)
14. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar)
13. Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
12. Adele – 19 (Sony)
11. Hercules and Love Affair – s/t (Mute)
10. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular (Sony)
9. Kaki King – Dreaming of Revenge (Velour)
8. Santogold – s/t (Downtown)
7. Amanda Palmer – Who Killed Amanda Palmer (Roadrunner)
6. Noah and The Whale – Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down (Cherry Tree)

Top 5 after the jump!

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Live review: Los Campesinos! @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

May 18, 2008 Leave a comment


(photo by Natasha Ryan)

On Thursday night I saw Los Campesinos! at Music Hall of Williamsburg (conveniently located two short blocks from my apartment) and they were sooo much fun, as expected. I was a little disappointed that they weren’t in the gym clothes I’ve heard they sometimes wear onstage, but they were still super cute.

Both of the openers, Savoir Adore and Murder Mystery, were great too so I highly recommend checking them out if you get a chance.

Read my Venus Zine review here.

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