The Bare Minimum
Hit After Hit
Independent (2014)
Oh, to be a fly on the wall during one of Toronto-based The Bare Miniumum's practices. It's generally an added bonus to discover that a band has a sense of humor about themselves, but with these guys it's seemingly the only thing they're concerned with. In interviews, the band presents themselves as lots of things. At times, they're an unconcerned and unimpressed party band. At other times, they're a band deeply committed to DIY and punk ideals. They crack jokes, and talk a lot about why songs need to be short and straight to the point. With Hit After Hit, their first album, they're trying very hard to do something. It's just hard to tell what that something is. Based on sonic output alone, the four piece sounds as though they are shooting for a certain "party time, excellent" vibe; one comprised of Molsons, cheese pizzas, foosball, and repeated viewings of Sylvester Stallone's Time Cop. What may sound like a party to them mostly sounds like four dudes sitting in their dorm room and staring into their solo cups while mulling what to do next. They'd like to throw a party, but they don't play well with others. A quick … Read more
Rudimentary Peni
Cacophony (Re-issue)
Outer Himilayan (2013)
In the darkest recesses of some of our minds lies an unspeakable and unknowable terror, and some artists have brushed … Read more
Signals Midwest
Light On The Lake
Tiny Engines (2013)
I’ve sat on this review for a while, waiting for that easy-to-describe-it moment to hit me. With Signals Midwest, I … Read more
John Frusciante
Enclosure
Record Collection (2014)
Though he’s primarily known for being the former, on-again, off-again guitarist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Frusciante has long … Read more
The War On Drugs
Lost In The Dream
Secretly Canadian (2014)
The Philadelphia rock scene is famous for producing indie bands heavily dosed on vintage, classic rock. Folker Kurt Vile recalls … Read more
