THE VENN REVIEW

Music reviews using Venn diagrams
and baby making analogies.
PASCAL PINON. If Daughter and Mum had a baby. Delicate and beautiful were the first two words I wrote down after listening to Pascal Pinon. The next were Daughter and Mum. I didn’t have to search wikipedia long to realize my instinct guesses were correct; they are from Iceland and they are in fact sisters. Twin sisters. I’ve been listening to their delicately beautiful album titled “Twosomeness” all morning. And each time it ends, I start it over. www.pascalpinon.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

PASCAL PINON. If Daughter and Mum had a baby.

Delicate and beautiful were the first two words I wrote down after listening to Pascal Pinon. The next were Daughter and Mum. I didn’t have to search wikipedia long to realize my instinct guesses were correct; they are from Iceland and they are in fact sisters. Twin sisters. I’ve been listening to their delicately beautiful album titled “Twosomeness” all morning. And each time it ends, I start it over.

www.pascalpinon.com

Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

CAYUCAS. If Little Joy and Beck (Odelay) had a baby. Just stumbled across this band yesterday. I imediately thought of Beck as the Dad in this relationship. The Little Joy connection is for the frequent reverb and island feel that this album brings. Looking forward to giving these guys a few more listens, as there are some very catchy, single worthy songs on it. www.cayucas.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

CAYUCAS. If Little Joy and Beck (Odelay) had a baby.

Just stumbled across this band yesterday. I imediately thought of Beck as the Dad in this relationship. The Little Joy connection is for the frequent reverb and island feel that this album brings. Looking forward to giving these guys a few more listens, as there are some very catchy, single worthy songs on it.

www.cayucas.com

Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

PHOSPHORESCENT. If Bonnie Prince Billy and Sun Kil Moon had a baby. I am just going to come out and say it the same way a friend of mine did (who worded it so very well). I am angry at anyone that knew about Phosphorescent and did not tell me about them. It’s bands like this that continue my overwelming search for good music. Just knowing that artist(s) like this can put out 5 albums before someone like me (who is constantly searching for new music) finds them/hears about them, makes me sick to my stomach. But alas, I guess it all comes around; I eventually found them. www.phosphorescentmusic.com  Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

PHOSPHORESCENT. If Bonnie Prince Billy and Sun Kil Moon had a baby.

I am just going to come out and say it the same way a friend of mine did (who worded it so very well). I am angry at anyone that knew about Phosphorescent and did not tell me about them. It’s bands like this that continue my overwelming search for good music. Just knowing that artist(s) like this can put out 5 albums before someone like me (who is constantly searching for new music) finds them/hears about them, makes me sick to my stomach. But alas, I guess it all comes around; I eventually found them.

www.phosphorescentmusic.com 

Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

THE STAVES. If First Aid Kit and Laura Marling had a baby. Three sisters. Born to sing together. Similar to First Aid Kit and other sibling groups, they almost make it look/sound effortless. I was sold after listening to the first 30 seconds of ‘Dead & Born & Grown’. These girls are going to be doing some big things in 2013 and I for one am excited to try and catch them out live when they stop in Nashville, in a few weeks. www.thestaves.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

THE STAVES. If First Aid Kit and Laura Marling had a baby.

Three sisters. Born to sing together. Similar to First Aid Kit and other sibling groups, they almost make it look/sound effortless. I was sold after listening to the first 30 seconds of ‘Dead & Born & Grown’. These girls are going to be doing some big things in 2013 and I for one am excited to try and catch them out live when they stop in Nashville, in a few weeks.

www.thestaves.com

Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

ANDREW LEAHEY & THE HOMESTEAD. If Ryan Adams and Tom Petty had a baby. Andrew Leahey takes everything that is good about alt-country and makes it his own. Having listened to Andrew plenty of times before, I knew how strong his songwriting was. After a few listens, though, I quickly recognized that his new EP titled “‘Summer Sleeves’ has some of his strongest work yet. Don’t wait till summer to pick it up. It makes for good spring listening too. www.andrewleaheymusic.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

ANDREW LEAHEY & THE HOMESTEAD. If Ryan Adams and Tom Petty had a baby.

Andrew Leahey takes everything that is good about alt-country and makes it his own. Having listened to Andrew plenty of times before, I knew how strong his songwriting was. After a few listens, though, I quickly recognized that his new EP titled “‘Summer Sleeves’ has some of his strongest work yet. Don’t wait till summer to pick it up. It makes for good spring listening too.

www.andrewleaheymusic.com
Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

*REPEAT REPEAT. If The Ettes and The Volcanos had a baby. So most of you in the Nashville area know Jared and Kristyn via East Nashville Underground. But did you know they have a killer surf rock band called *repeat repeat?? Well, now you do. I am only basing this review off of their only released track, their single, titled “12345678” but I can tell you that they are on to something huge here with this throwback sound. The Ettes come to mind for the “Mom” of this band, but I went for the surf rock instrumental band The Volcanos as the band’s “Dad”, because of their old yet modern sound that sticks to the genre’s prerequisite requirements. Along side of the great instrumentation, Jared and Kristyn’s vocals compliment each other very well in an indie rock sort of way and that really sets them apart from other surf rock bands that have traveled the same path. I look forward to hearing their first full length release.  NASHVILLE NOTE: They are performing April 30th at The Mercy Lounge w/ Dick Dale. www.repeatrepeatmusic.comClick on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

*REPEAT REPEAT. If The Ettes and The Volcanos had a baby.

So most of you in the Nashville area know Jared and Kristyn via East Nashville Underground. But did you know they have a killer surf rock band called *repeat repeat?? Well, now you do.

I am only basing this review off of their only released track, their single, titled “12345678” but I can tell you that they are on to something huge here with this throwback sound. The Ettes come to mind for the “Mom” of this band, but I went for the surf rock instrumental band The Volcanos as the band’s “Dad”, because of their old yet modern sound that sticks to the genre’s prerequisite requirements. Along side of the great instrumentation, Jared and Kristyn’s vocals compliment each other very well in an indie rock sort of way and that really sets them apart from other surf rock bands that have traveled the same path. I look forward to hearing their first full length release. 

NASHVILLE NOTE: They are performing April 30th at The Mercy Lounge w/ Dick Dale.

www.repeatrepeatmusic.com
Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

CHROME PONY. If Jay Reatard and Ty Segall had a baby. So I have known these guys for 10 years or so now. We both hail from neighboring small towns in Indiana. We shared shows back in the day while they played under the name “Redracer”…and I believe Kyle (drums) even sat in on an OLD demo of mine waaaay back when. They were great then but now, I believe, they have truly found their sound. Its raw. Its honest. Its catchy. It makes you want to smoke a cigarette (I quit smoking 2 years ago). Good guys. Great music. Go get you some….. NASHVILLE NOTE: They are performing April 4th at The Stone Fox AND April 5th at The Basement. No excuses. Go check these guys out. www.chromepony.tumblr.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

CHROME PONY. If Jay Reatard and Ty Segall had a baby.

So I have known these guys for 10 years or so now. We both hail from neighboring small towns in Indiana. We shared shows back in the day while they played under the name “Redracer”…and I believe Kyle (drums) even sat in on an OLD demo of mine waaaay back when. They were great then but now, I believe, they have truly found their sound. Its raw. Its honest. Its catchy. It makes you want to smoke a cigarette (I quit smoking 2 years ago). Good guys. Great music. Go get you some…..

NASHVILLE NOTE: They are performing April 4th at The Stone Fox AND April 5th at The Basement. No excuses. Go check these guys out.

www.chromepony.tumblr.com
Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

JENNY O. If Jenny Lewis and Joanna Newsom had a baby. I knew fairly quickly that I was going to love this album after giving it a first listen on Spotify a week or so ago. It is one of those albums you immediately want to repeat and give a second, third, err.. a fourth listen. For her first full length release, Jenny O. shows A LOT of promise with these songs. I look forward to trying to catch some of this album performed live at The Ryman with Rodriguez next month. www.jennyo.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

JENNY O. If Jenny Lewis and Joanna Newsom had a baby. I knew fairly quickly that I was going to love this album after giving it a first listen on Spotify a week or so ago. It is one of those albums you immediately want to repeat and give a second, third, err.. a fourth listen. For her first full length release, Jenny O. shows A LOT of promise with these songs. I look forward to trying to catch some of this album performed live at The Ryman with Rodriguez next month. www.jennyo.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.

NATALIE PRASS. If Sia (from 2006) and St. Vincent (minus the gritty guitars) had a baby. I am hoping to finally catch Ms. Prass tomorrow night (March 2) at The Basement as she opens for Foreign Fields. From what I have heard (her 2011 EP is quite good), I think these two acts will make a solid bill. Check her out tomorrow (March 2) at The Basement! Then after Foreign Fields, we can all hold hands and skip down to the Mercy Lounge/High Watt to relive some of the ENU madness by catching a few ENU alumni (and more) at the Third Shift Amber Lager SXSW Send off Party. Yeah, its going to be a fun night in Nashville. www.natalieprass.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.
NATALIE PRASS. If Sia (from 2006) and St. Vincent (minus the gritty guitars) had a baby.

I am hoping to finally catch Ms. Prass tomorrow night (March 2) at The Basement as she opens for Foreign Fields. From what I have heard (her 2011 EP is quite good), I think these two acts will make a solid bill. Check her out tomorrow (March 2) at The Basement! Then after Foreign Fields, we can all hold hands and skip down to the Mercy Lounge/High Watt to relive some of the ENU madness by catching a few ENU alumni (and more) at the Third Shift Amber Lager SXSW Send off Party. Yeah, its going to be a fun night in Nashville.

www.natalieprass.com
Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.
MOON TAXI. If Kings of Leon and Umphrey’s McGee had a baby.   This wasn’t the first time I’d heard of Moon Taxi, BUT it was the first time I gave their latest album, “Cabaret” a listen. I was actually surprised how much they DID NOT sound like a jam band. I unfairly put them in that box and it appears they have diversified a bit since I last listened. In any case, I foresee these guys being a killer finale headliner to the ENU Winter Festival. Speaking of finales, this is the last installment of the ENU Winter headliner series. Hope you have enjoyed checking out these bands as much as I did………….NOW GO TO EAST NASHVILLE UNDERGROUND THIS WEEKEND!!! www.ridethemoontaxi.com www.eastnashvilleunderground.com Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.
MOON TAXI. If Kings of Leon and Umphrey’s McGee had a baby.
 

This wasn’t the first time I’d heard of Moon Taxi, BUT it was the first time I gave their latest album, “Cabaret” a listen. I was actually surprised how much they DID NOT sound like a jam band. I unfairly put them in that box and it appears they have diversified a bit since I last listened. In any case, I foresee these guys being a killer finale headliner to the ENU Winter Festival. Speaking of finales, this is the last installment of the ENU Winter headliner series. Hope you have enjoyed checking out these bands as much as I did………….NOW GO TO EAST NASHVILLE UNDERGROUND THIS WEEKEND!!!

Click on the diagram for a sample track by the artist.