The Crymuscles, Le Chronique
One long love song to the art of the hang, the nature of this
place, Le Chronique is the musical equivalent of California
cuisine. “Manners and Respect” is a bit overblown for an album about
chillin’ out, but most of the tracks espouse an easygoing, fresh vibe
with cosmopolitan influences — French pop, Latin, and hip-hop
among them — while catering to the West Coast lifestyle.
(self-released)
The Sippy Cups , The Time Machine
It’s every music-loving parent’s dilemma: Compel the kids to enjoy
the Talking Heads and REM or put up with whatever inane tunes they’ll
wiggle to. This Peninsula-based kid-rock sextet offers a solution
through clever songs that appeal to adult ears and speak to kids’
imaginations. While “The Time Machine” and “My Loose Tooth” might not
make your next mixtape, they’ll do the trick. (Snacker Disc)
Raised by Robots, Disorganization Will Save Us All
EP
The style is there, but the substance is not. For a band that apes
influences as disparate as the Arcade Fire and Johnny Cash — not
to mention the blatant borrowing from Oakland’s WHY? in “Dinner Pill”
— any attempt at cohesion within a four-song EP may well be
futile. But in the absence of a broader rubric, Raised by Robots’
admittedly sharp indie rock fails to draw blood. (Terrorbird)
Andy Mason, Stories Told
There’s something about the harmonica, especially in folk music,
that slays the soul. Bob Dylan knew it when he’d leave his words
hanging for a harp solo, and so does East Bay singer-songwriter Andy
Mason, whose pop sensibility and troubadour personality are bridged by
infrequent but beautiful harmonica swells throughout this solid
sophomore effort. (Last Stop Records)
