33 and a Third

Making sense of new music one revolution at at time

[33-third-blog]

Review: Brooke D. - The Little Green Monster EP

Brooke D. knows her voice. Her latest EP The Little Green Monster features it as the only instrument. In each song on this album she layers together her voice with the help of a loop pedal to achieve rhythm, harmony and melody. And she does so with wonderful results.

Big City opens this album with a simple beat that builds and builds until we get a full song that sounds like a mixture of early Regina Spektor and Kate Nash. But Brooke D goes in a different direction; she's not as playful as the other artists. And this isn't a bad thing at all. Instead, Brooke is more introspective creating songs that come off as adorably sincere.

<a href="http://brooked.bandcamp.com/track/big-city-2" _mce_href="http://brooked.bandcamp.com/track/big-city-2">Big City by Brooke D.</a>

Brooke also uses her voice to raise important questions, like in “Why are we sleeping?” By creating a simple and quiet back beat with her voice, she allows the lyrics to float up to the forefront. This allows the listener to really hear and grapple with the main focus as she sings, “Why are we sleeping/ while others are dying/ why are we sleeping/ while others are crying/ while others have nothing.”

Overall, The Little Green Monster is a short and sweet EP that showcases Brooke D.'s determination. To be able to pull off all those harmonies and beats with just her voice and a loop pedal is hard and she gets the timing just perfect. It is this perfection and sincerity that makes this album so enjoyable.

Brooke D's EP was produced by Patrick Garcia at Expressions College for Digital Arts. Pick up the album for only $3 here.

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After Party: Violet Hour’s EP Release Show

The Violet Hour's EP release show at Bottom of the Hill last night was truly a show for the fans. Frontman Le Duc Violet sang his voice away, literally. As the set went on, his speaking voice in between songs became more and more of a whisper - but he still managed to belt out the catchy melodies of his tunes. After stating the cost of the new EP, Le Duc added that if you didn't have the money, you we're still going to get one. And after an energetic set closer of “Whatever It Takes,” complete with a wall-of-sound feedback ending, Le Duc and co. even came back for an encore!

 Although I got there late, I was able to catch the second half of The Myonics set, and it was delightfully chaotic as ever. Seeing them in a venue with a good sound system definitely helped, as the feedback from the electric autoharp wasn't completely overwhelming. Singer Jasper shook hands with a zombie and sang behind a tombstone (as the stage was decked out for Halloween) and the trumpet-assisted melodic hook on “I'm Not Ready” was catchy as ever.

 However Violet Hour was who most came to see, fans beckoned others to the front of the stage and there were audible cheers of excitement during the opening chords of the first song “As Surreal.” And although it wasn't a perfect set - bassist Adam Szyndrowski fumbled between bass and keyboard on one song and Le Duc's voice did lose some of its power by the end of the set - it was still a stunning and excellent show. Jasper of The Myonics and The Symbolic Jews appeared kneeling on the edge of the stage supplying back-up vocals for a couple songs from The Violet Hour's older work: The Castro Arms EP. And the band even played a super-catchy brand new song, which has yet to be recorded. The whole set was lively and energetic; Greg danced and kicked and shook about, Adam dancing and rocked and jumped around, and drummer Ryan Hendry kept the beats coming on an amazing sound (and sparkly looking) kit.   Overall, it was a great show and a great time. For those of you in the South Bay, Violet Hour is playing again this saturday, 10/22 at The X Bar in Cupertino. Check out the details here. And listen to the Violet Hour’s latest EP, Cowardly Loins (and I highly recommend you do) here.

Written by Greg Promani

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Our very own Greg Promani has made a video (above) about a free show with his band Horrorscopes coming up this Saturday at 8pm. Presented by Lone Wolves, Horrorscopes will be playing along with Talk of Shamans, Wes Lesley and His Dead Medley, Brooke D., Little Teeth, and Michael Bordelon. DJs will spinning all night long too. For more info click here. 

Written by John Promani

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Visit Original Link

Violet Hour has just released a new EP called Cowardly Loins and it's a great selection of tracks that revel in rock and roll. Their catchy first single, "Least I Could Love You" easily let's the listener slide into the beat and sing along to the chorus. But it also packs a subtle sadness with lines like, "Now I'm just an imbecile/ hanging from your windowsill/ blood will flow and blood will spill/ but only if it be your will." 

We'll be posting a more in-depth review soon, but first, if you're in the Bay Area, you need to check them out at their two upcoming shows:

The first is the Record Release Party at Bottom of the Hill tomorrow! Doors are at 8:30 and tickets are just $8. Violet Hour will be playing with The Myonics, The Symoblick Jews, and Arms N' Legs, so it's sure to be a great show! And don't forget to wear your brightest waistcoat in honor of Violet Hour.

Their second show is this Saturday, October 22nd, at The X Bar at Homestead Lanes in Cupertino. It starts at 9 pm and is only $5. Plus it's all ages!

Written by John Promani

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Clinically Obsessed: M83 - "Midnight City"

                                                 M83's latest double LP Hurry Up, We're Dreaming has Anthony Gonzalez singing to new heights. The synth-rock we've all come to enjoy is still there, but his new voice is even stronger. His use of this new found talent catapults this album, an epic look at childhood nostalgia, into new territories. And Midnight City, the first single, showcases it all through a massive, stadium-ready rocker. Take a listen and check out the music video via Gorilla vs. Bear, which even has children with X-Men like powers!

Written by John Promani

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Review: Magiccolors - Put a Lemon in it to Make it Funner

Greg Promani can't stop writing songs. Already a member of two bands (no_fires and Horrorscopes), this local artist may have created his best work yet with Magiccolors, Put a Lemon in it to Make it Funner. This solo project leads us through the remembrance and heartbreak of a summer romance. Greg says it was, “written as a 'viking funeral for my memories of the past summer'” and not only does he succeed in making his memories come alive but he does so in a way that's so familiar you can't help but sympathize.

These lo-fi bedroom recordings give us the sense of immediacy heartbreak albums need. We can imagine ourselves right there with him as he cries over his guitar in “I'm Sorry”, or when he longs for what he's lost in, “Walk the Dogs to the Liquor Store and Back,” and even when he remember what was great about it all in, “Stella, Espresso.” His use of interludes drives us through all these changing emotions that swirl in the musical memories around this loss. And even when things get a little ridiculous, like the aching guitars in “Walk the Dogs to the Liquor Store and Back,” we can still forgive Greg because who hasn't been a little ridiculous after a bad break up?

Greg manages to create an EP all about heartbreak, a collection of those memories that spans musical genres, from rap to ballads. With this you can already see the versatility and potential he can bring to a full LP. Put a Lemon in it... also ends up being the perfect end of summer album. The nostalgia over the loss of a girlfriend extending into the loss of warm summer nights and the realization that the fog and rain must return. Go through this cathartic journey along with Magiccolors at: http://magiccolors.bandcamp.com/.

Written by John Promani