Birdwatching
The all-new blog from the Daily Cardinal Arts Desk.
7 postings
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The Sounds at the Majestic
11/13/09 6:31 PM
Are you a big fan of Blondie? Talking Heads? The Cars? Disappointed you missed the New Wave movement of the 80’s? Fear not, for The Sounds brought the New Wave to Madison last Friday in a full-force with a show at The Majestic that exploded with a burst of energy equivalent to several hand grenades and an overloaded laptop battery. Formed in Sweden in 1999, The Sounds have gained a significant following on both sides of the Atlantic in their decade of existence and just released their third album Crossing the Rubicon this summer. Perhaps best known for their recent charting single “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake,” as well as...Track Review
10/21/09 2:06 AM
Julian Casablancas – “River of Brakelights” If “11th Dimension” showed the artistic honesty that an electro- Julian Casablancas is capable of, “River of Brakelights,” the second track to leak from the forthcoming Phrazes for the Young LP, flirts with the pretentious underachievement that dominated the Strokes’ fledgling—if not tragic—attempt at a post-electronica sound on First Impressions of Earth. What made the Strokes function so smoothly at the onset was each instrument’s willingness to shy away while another took lead, using their talents as a complement to each other instead of a unique expression in itself; and “River of Brakelights”...Slideshow: Portugal. The Man at the Majestic on Oct. 9, 2009.
10/9/09 2:31 AM
The Daily Cardinal's Isabel Alvarez captured Portugal. The Man's characteristically engaging show at the Majestic Theatre on Oct. 9, 2009.
Pains of Being Pure at Heart / the Depreciation Guild / Cymbals Eat Guitars at the Stage Door
9/16/09 8:05 PM
By Kyle Sparks Whether the result of the economic recession or an oversaturated medium, it seems like more and more bands are seeking refuge in touring partners. Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the Depreciation Guild and Cymbals Eat Guitars are no different: the three critically acclaimed indie outfits looped arms and stormed into the Stage Door as one formidable bill of talent. The real story of the night were openers Cymbals Eat Guitars. Scrappy intellectuals, they combine intricate full-bodied orchestration with a ruthless, no-holds-barred DIY ethos. Their debut, this year’s brilliant Why There Are Mountains, is one of the most realized debuts since Elvis Costello’s My Aim is True or the Stone Roses’ self-titled release, but contains far...
