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oceanRain has written the following articles:

ASIN B004DY4Z6O

Destroyer - Kaputt

Review by Bruce Porter

No matter the variety of styles, the multiple layers of instrumentation and the revolving cast of musicians, Destroyer remains at its core a shabby, tousled-haired poet with an acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder.»

From http://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/covers/the-meadowlands.jpg

Favourite 50: The Wrens - The Meadowlands (chosen by Bruce Porter)

In Depth by Bruce Porter

As part of our 10-week “DiS is 10!” celebration, we’ve asked 50 of our favourite people to tell us about one of their favourite albums of the past 10 years. Here, DiS contributor Bruce Porter (aka OceanRain) shares his choice. On the face of »

From http://www.morrmusic.com/backstage/files/mm097_12x12_LOWRES.jpg

Seabear - We Built a Fire

Review by Bruce Porter

On We Built A Fire Seabear address past shortcomings. »

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These New Puritans - Hidden

Review by Bruce Porter

At some point in the planning stages, These New Puritans front man Jack Barnett must have said: 'Okay, we can either stick to our guns, make another pretty-decent record, or we can go for broke'. I mean, how else does writing a collection of songs around a bassoon come about? »

Joe

Joe Goddard - Harvest Festival

Review by Bruce Porter

As admirable as Goddard’s synth talents are, it’s hard to discount the notion that Harvest Festival is inferior to any number of Warp acid house and techno releases. Off the dance floor the tunes are too sterile to fully embrace.»

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Mark Eitzel - Klamath

Review by Bruce Porter

While fans will be pleased with Eitzel doing what he does best, turning alcoholic rants into strangely evocative allegories, it’d be nice to hear the musical backdrop afforded greater opportunities to punctuate his lyrics. »

The Dodos, Time To Die

The Dodos - Time To Die

Review by Bruce Porter

In the two years since the Dodos caught their big break, opening for Les Savy Fav and later Akron/Family, they have signed to Wich»

The Dandy Warhols ARE Sound

The Dandy Warhols - ARE Sound

Review by Bruce Porter

The Dandy Warhols have never made it easy to approach their act as anything much more than cleverly stupid, vacant and insincere r»

From http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a47/moralpanic/tattoo.jpg

Alt Country Week: Silver Jews - A Morality Play in Six Acts

In Depth by Bruce Porter

David Berman may have retired from Silver Jews for now, but his unmatched version of American Surrealism will continue to define one strand of the perennnially tangled Alt Country...»

microcastle deerhunter

Deerhunter - Microcastle

Review by Bruce Porter

In what amounts to a peek behind the curtain of Deerhunter’s reverb compositions thus far, Microcastle justifies our expectations for greatness»

canopy anopy

Canopy - Canopy//Anopy EP

Review by Bruce Porter

If you still need convincing that timeless pop tunes can be made, Canopy’s debut EP aims to make you a believer again»

pumice quo

Pumice - Quo

Review by Bruce Porter

Soft Abuse should voluntarily consider a parental advisory sticker. No, nothing so mundane as foul language, depictions of sex and»

at mounr

Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

Review by Bruce Porter

Wolf Parade's anticipated second album finds the Canadians delivering a collection that's great as a whole, but seems to be without many standout songs»

french kicks swimming

French Kicks - Swimming

Review by Bruce Porter

It's disappointing watching French Kicks dog-paddling on their fourth LP when we’ve seen glimpses of how good they are at freestyle»

silver jews lookout mountain

Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea

Review by Bruce Porter

Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is the logical next chapter in Silver Jews' manuscript, one which has had us hooked since its opening lines»

visiter the dodos

The Dodos - Visiter

Review by Bruce Porter

Duos tend to take a minimalist approach with their sound and this is almost certainly the case for bands laying a folk foundation.»

trouble in dreams

Destroyer - Trouble In Dreams

Review by Bruce Porter

Destroyer’s Daniel Bejar is possibly better known for his contributions to The New Pornographers when he should be an icon in his own right. Then again, something as beautiful as Trouble In Dreams should remain our secret»

rral emotional trash

Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash

Review by Bruce Porter

Monochromatic guitars on Real Emotional Trash can feel transparent without the playful twists which made Pavement all time greats, but it's superfluous to compare phases of Stephen Malkmus’ career in this way»

band of horses LP sleeve

Band of Horses - Everything All The Time

Review by Bruce Porter

Perhaps a lack of originality will keep the purists from unabashed devotion, but I fail to envision too many from not giving this LP the thumbs up. There are an overwhelming number of positive forces behind this album relative to its negatives. Indeed, many DiS readers, I suspect, will have a new favorite record.»