NASCENT

By Nate Seltenrich

Reviews originally published in the East Bay Express on 1/16/08.

Wayward Sway, On a Broken Machine (self-released). Sufjan Stevens, eat your heart out: These folks know how to rock a banjo the way it was meant to be rocked. Mandolin and violin, too. Wayward Sway’s bluegrass rock is refreshingly authentic, original, and full of life.

The May Fire, La Victoria EP (Rock Whores Recordings). This San Francisco group’s second EP of ‘07 — part of a plan to keep fresh product in the marketplace — is a mixed bag of six punky alt-rock tunes. Opener “Make It Right” takes the cake with a fuzzed-out pop jam straight from Weezer’s early days.

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Peck the Town Crier and Brigades Like This

Reviews originally published in the East Bay Express on 1/9/08.

Peck the Town Crier: Groundhog’s Day (self-released). Peck the Town Crier has waged war against predictability. Slowish raps tend toward spoken word and performance art, while low-key backing tracks tap into jazz, funk, bluegrass, marches, and more. Not everything works, but at least nothing is expected.

Brigades Like This: Brigades Like This (Lifeboat Records). Great intentions don’t always yield great results. Better mixing would go a long way for Bridges Like This’ debut, which stumbles in the muddy shoegazing of bands like Mogwai and My Bloody Valentine.

By Glenn Jackson

Evacuee is a San Francisco three-piece that makes music on the harder side of indie rock. Somewhere between These Arms Are Snakes, Fugazi, and maybe even Pavement lies Evacuee’s catchy yet dissonant songs. The most distinctive aspect of Evacuee is their overall sound. Intensely whiny vocals spill over a thick mesh of guitars and bass while drums constantly drive the songs forward. (more )On their EP 2 to 32, Evacuee presents four distinct songs — the standout of which is Webs (more)

Big Vik, The Grannies, DJ True Justice, and David Gans

Reviews originally published in the East Bay Express on 1/2/08.

The Grannies: Incontinence (Wondertaker). A decade’s bounty of suitably sloppy punk rock outtakes and demos from a rotating cast of eight dudes shamelessly adorned in gaudy dresses, ragged wigs, and copious tats. Dig the cover of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.”

Big Vik: Intro (self-released). Brent “Bik Vik” Victory wants to make it big as a songwriter and producer. To showcase his skills, the still-underground Oakland artist composed this so-so sampler of status-quo urban and pop sounds. Time will tell if it’s enough to propel Vik to the next level.

DJ True Justice: True Justice (self-released). DJ True Justice’s taste is commendable, though not quite as hot as the scratching he cuts through this satisfying set of underground Bay Area hip-hop and R&B.

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