[Photos] Barroco Fest: Venice Is Sinking, Tealights, Cousin Dan @ The Goat Farm (11/6/10)

Cousin Dan:


Tealights:


Venice Is Sinking:

[Photos] Oryx & Crake, Venice Is Sinking, Book Of Colors @ The Earl (8/28/10)

Book Of Colors:


Venice Is Sinking:


Oryx & Crake:

[Mp3] Venice Is Sinking: “Falls City”

Venice Is Sinking‘s newest record was recorded live at the Georgia Theatre on two microphones over four days without the use of overdubbing or post-production. In theory, this idea seems very cool, but I find VIS much more compelling in the studio than in concert, and this stripped-down sonic approach strips out many of the elements of this band that I enjoy most. That’s not to say that Sand & Lines isn’t a good record, because it is. But it is a case of an artist taking a direction that diverges from my personal tastes, and while I won’t hold it against them, I also doubt I will spend anywhere near as much time with this record as I did with AZAR. Then again, maybe it will grow on me. I would certainly recommend you check it out for yourself, and here’s a song I dig from it:

Venice Is Sinking : “Falls City”

Buy Sand & Lines
Venice Is Sinking website

Photos: Tealights, Venice Is Sinking, This Piano Plays Itself @ The Earl (11/9/09)

This Piano Plays Itself:

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New Venice Is Sinking: ‘Okay’ (EP & Video)

visokay

I recently revisited Venice Is Sinking‘s full-length album released earlier this year, AZAR, and have totally put it back in my heavy rotation yet again. It has grown on me so much since first hearing it in the spring. It turned out to be good timing to get back on a VIS kick, because they have kept busy this year and just last week dropped a new EP and music video. Both are based around the AZAR song “Okay”. The 5 track EP kicks off with the single, then goes into two covers from a band called Okay. I’m not familiar at all with that band, but I certainly enjoy VIS‘s take on their songs. The final two tracks are reworked versions of AZAR tunes, including an alternate version of “Okay” and “Ryan’s Song” (my fav on this release). The EP serves as a great bookend to one of the better records to come out of Georgia this year. Here’s an audio sample and the video for the title track:

Venice Is Sinking : Compass

Buy Okay

Venice Is Sinking myspace



Venice Is Sinking @ Kavarna (4/3/09)

What The Hell Am I Listening To?!?

The three best Spring 2009 releases from Georgia:


Lotus Plaza

While Bradford Cox gets the lion share of credit and attention when people talk about Deerhunter, the band is far from a solo endeavor. The quiet genius of Lockett Pundt is the ying to Cox’s yang. His debut album under his code name, Lotus Plaza, demonstrates not only the impressive talent Pundt possesses, but the music itself parallels his seemingly humble, stoic stage persona. Everything has this weird, distant detachment to its sound and the whole thing feels like a background. What initially attracted me to Deerhunter in the first place were the ambient, instrumental jams on Cryptograms, and those ideas seemed to be fleshed out much further on The Floodlight Collective. I feel like I peel back a new layer every time I listen to this record, so be advised this is a grower that may not hit you that hard upon your first listen, but I think it is one of the best to come out this year.

Lotus Plaza : Red Oak Way

Lotus Plaza : Whiteout

Buy The Floodlight Collective

Lotus Plaza myspace




Mastodon

Mastodon have returned with a record that is more psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll than metal. At times it reminds me of the best of Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd, but still remains completely a thing all its own. The record showcases just how successful this band is at straddling the line between arena rock massiveness and avant-garde artfulness. Crack The Skye is a logical progression for the band, and the best thing about this album is that it gives you exactly what you were expecting and hoping for from the follow up to Blood Mountain. I know I had some giant expectations, and they have been completely fulfilled. Here are the first two tracks to start your journey:

Mastodon : Oblivion

Mastodon : Divinations

Buy Crack the Skye

Mastodon myspace




Venice Is Sinking


photo by: Ian Darken

Athens’ Venice Is Sinking have finally unveiled their sophomore effort, AZAR, and it is a gorgeous yet surprisingly difficult release. Something about the pacing makes it hard to penetrate, and it has taken me a while to learn to love this record, but love it I do. It is simply unapologetic about its heavy employment of emotional builds and pushing dreamy lushness to its limits. Seven songs are strung together by the four part instrumental title track combing the best of both worlds between conceptualism and exceptional pop music. With Arcade Fire fallen back to Earth and Sufjan Stevens missing in action, the symphonic indie rock approach has become a lot less hip these days, but fashionable or not, Venice Is Sinking have created an outstanding collection of music that you should pick up:

Venice Is Sinking : Azar One

Venice Is Sinking : Iron Range

Buy AZAR

Venice Is Sinking myspace

Photos: Venice is Sinking, Strezo @ Kavarna in Decatur, GA (04/03/09)

Strezo


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