Aug 21st, 2008 · In the late 1990s, JazzSet made two visits to the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival in Gresham, Ore. Music started before noon, and as the sun burned the haze away, the snow-capped peak shimmered on the skyline, helping to inspire memorable performances by the Billy Childs Trio and the John Blake Quintet.
May 13th, 2008 · Unabashedly cheerful, Bulat's "In the Night" is a perfect slab of shimmering girl-group pop, but it's no mere throwback gimmick. A young singer-songwriter from Toronto, Bulat invests the track with graceful effervescence and an innate understanding of momentum.
Apr 16th, 2008 · Equal parts sin and salvation, Devastations' Yes, U reaches its noirish climax with "Mistakes." Starting with an electronic drumbeat and a dissonant squall before sliding into slow-burning funk and the dispassionate mantra of "I make mistakes," it's unclear whether the song leads down the path to temptation or the road to recovery.
Jul 25th, 2007 · Since the mid-'90s, Imperial Teen has been known for its blend of garage-rock, new-wave and shimmering pop-punk. "Do It Better" follows that formula to perfection: Awash in jangly guitars, warm synths and a straight-ahead danceable pulse, the song is plenty infectious.
Nov 29th, 2006 · Featuring the contrasting vocal talents of Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, the London band Hot Chip makes catchy, danceable indie-rock that runs the gamut from shimmering pop melodies to harder, techno-inspired electro-rock. Now, after the U.S. release of the group's second album, Hot Chip is capturing attention here, as well.
Sep 22nd, 2006 · Smartly sloppy, "Tell Me in the Morning" exudes soulful swagger, driven by bright, shimmering guitar and handclaps. With a great hook, a catchy chorus and many changes in between, the song conjures up the giddy thrill of discovering Gang of Four or The Jam for the first time, which is no small feat.
Sep 14th, 2006 · The hook-heavy foundation of The Format's Dog Problems is aided by involvement from an assortment of power-pop greats. The album does a terrific job of paying homage to the band's pop elders -- Brian Wilson, Harry Nilsson and others -- while keeping its sound refreshingly current.
Aug 16th, 2006 · Scottish sextet Camera Obscura crafts delicate, shimmering indie-pop that rewards repeated listens. Featuring the airy vocals and literate lyrics of Tracyanne Campbell, the songs convey a deceptive simplicity that belies their poignancy.