April 2010

Ohtis: Downtown Your Heart

The scatterbrained, deconstructionist folk-rock created by Ohtis is a study in contrasts. Crisp, serene strings and soothing vocal melodies flank intense layers of instrumentation and harmony, like a more deliberate and less overdriven Neutral Milk Hotel, or Frank Zappa with…

Open Hand: Honey

The Title track from Open Hand’s new album on Anodyne Records California’s Open Hand is your modern alt/rock band with stony guitars and a heavy beat. But you can expect to hear playful female vocals, pounding German melodies, and a…

Real Estate: Beach Comber

Real Estate is a band from New Jersey, now based in Brooklyn, N.Y. The band has roots in the Garden State and they’re led by singer/guitarist Martin Courtney and feature guitarist Matthew Mondanile (the latter known to some for his…

Fists of Love: Go Sky High

From their recently released self-titled EP Conceived by songwriters Donna Jay Rubin and Chris Schadler upon Rubin’s return from the West coast, Fists of Love began as a three-piece joined by drummer Mathew Arnold (Mallory) in 2008. Cedric Rose soon…