If It's Too Loud...

I owe everyone an apology. The latest full length from Milwaukee's Brief Candles has been out for over a month, and I'm just letting you all know about it now. I know with some of my reviews I can drop the pretend professional journalist act and be a little over gushy. With Retreater I'm worried I'm not going to be gushy enough . It's just that good. The album starts off with "A Way Around," a lighter, bouncier shoegaze song that owes as much to 90's alternative power pop as it does anything. That leads into "Appearances," which is more discordant and with chuggier guitars, but still retains the same spirit. The third song, "Tiramusi," is more traditionally shoegaze, but does that by ramping up the noise and aggression factor. These three songs embody what is great about this album. None of the songs truly sound alike, but they all build off each other to make a cohesive unit. You're going to end up loving this. You can list...

It's been far too long since we've heard from Milwaukee's Brief Candles. Luckily for us, teh band has released the first single from an upcoming full length. "Provisions" starts off simply enough. Brief Candles do this beautiful blend of pop leaning shoegaze ( I have previously described it as a cross between Guided By Voices and My Bloody Valentine ), and "Provisions" furthers that perfectly. It's mid-tempo, jangly, and just enough to bop along to. And then something happens. Shoegaze songs always have these little parts that seem like the song might devolve into chaos, but they never do. It's just not what shoegaze does. But then "Provisions" does. It ends in what can only be described as Sonic Youth trying to cover Iron Butterfly. And it's glorious. Brief Candles' next full length isn't due until the fall, so get ready to listen to "Provisions" a ton while we wait. Luckily, you can do that below. You can als...

Yet again out of Minnesota , and on Guilt Ridden Pop , comes another fantastic new 90s tinged release. Released a couple weeks back, Brief Candles’ new EP, Newhouse , blends Guided By Voices power pop with the shoegaze of My Bloody Valentine and early 90s Sonic Youth. Songs like “Olympic Sleeper” start off with a more upbeat, lush version of Galaxie 500 and just devolve into sheer controlled chaos, in the most melodic way. “Terry Nation,” may be my favorite, and sounds like something off Daydream Nation fronted by Kevin Shields. The songs are intricately layered, with the sound that there may be multiple tempos, and nothing quite fits together like it should, except it does. You’re doing yourself and the music a disservice if you just put it on in the background while plugging away at work. If My Bloody Valentine is the perfect hangover music, Brief Candles is what you listen to on your way to getting hung over. To listen to and purchase Newhouse, head on over to Brief Candle...