GRID CITY OVERLOAD: Recommendations

Showing posts with label Recommendations. Show all posts

23 May 2013

On the Verge of Madness

On the Verge of Madness
by Octopus Brothel

New music video from everyone's favorite band outta Hollywood!

21 May 2013

25 February 2013

OCTOPUS BROTHEL DEBUT ALBUM REVIEW

OCTOPUS BROTHEL
CAVE PAINTINGS
http://octopusbrothel.bandcamp.com/album/cave-paintings

Being independently published myself, it's unfortunate that I'm not more often compelled to be proud of the company that puts me in. Admittedly, self-published work is not always the zenith of quality or thought-provoking production, but when an individual or a group manages to succeed in publishing something in not just a classy manner, but also in a way that lets you truly focus on the material rather than just the overlooked hiccups of the production, then it deserves your attention.

Especially CAVE PAINTINGS, Octopus Brothel's sharp-sounding debut release, which features a short list of tracks but displays a large range of ability. Despite a laundry list of setbacks in the last year, Octopus Brothel, a four-piece psychedelic rock band based out of Hollywood, has managed to put together a surprisingly solid album. The strength of Cave is its diversity of sound and its maturity of vision. While many debut albums tend to be a smattering of songs with no definitive foundation to rest upon, Cave maintains a consistent mood and standard throughout its six tracks without becoming stale. Although it might be a comparison the band itself would gaff at, I'm reminded of Incubus's debut album S.C.I.E.N.C.E. and its effortless range of musical styles. The difference here is that Cave is not so schizophrenic as S.C.I.E.N.C.E., which allows the album to be eminently listenable.

Most of the songs are hypnotic, but brutally so, providing a compelling energy that most psychedelic rock lacks. Standout tracks are "Felipe", a dark sideshow-ambient tune with a burning guitar clawing at its edges, "Eternity", a druggy/angry/arena-like meditative track that transitions the album into more serious waters, and "Butterfly Funeral", the most addictive track of the album, which is a cryptic and infectious blend of brooding sounds. The final track, "On the Verge of Madness", is a rewarding finish that proves, by album's end, that Octopus Brothel is not done growing.

One critique of the album is the overuse of distortion on the vocals, which in some cases might have been more gripping and immediate if allowed to be less echo-laden. In spite of that setback, the vocals do add a great deal to this album, and this is possibly why the use of distortion across consecutive tracks can be more frustrating than harmonious.

CAVE PAINTINGS is a definite success on the whole, and its pacing, thoughtfulness and ability will keep you coming back for multiple listens.

STB

09 November 2012

The Venusian

THE VENUSIAN

It's been a long road for her, but Corrie Walton is getting ready to publish her new feminist sci-fi magazine here in Southern California featuring fiction, poetry, art, photography, and all other forms of print media. I have the privilege of being a contributor to the first issue of this ambitious project, along with many other talented artists. I'm very excited about this zine. Here's a preview of what's to come from The Venusian:

KELSEY SHORT
Kelsey Short lives and works in Nowhere Place. Her work has been included in many other rad zines/anthologies including Drollhouse, Space Camp, and Three06. She is a virtuoso with the brush pen, loves kitty cats, and kimchi. You should support these habits by visiting her store, and keep track of her nowhereabouts on her blog.
Contributor Feature
Kelsey Short lives and works in Nowhere Place. Her work has been included in many other rad zines/anthologies including Drollhouse, Space Camp, and Three06. She is a virtuoso with the brush pen, loves kitty cats, and kimchi. You should support these habits by visiting her store, and keep track of her nowhereabouts on her blog.

Contributor Feature
Kelsey Short lives and works in Nowhere Place. Her work has been included in many other rad zines/anthologies including Drollhouse, Space Camp, and Three06. She is a virtuoso with the brush pen, loves kitty cats, and kimchi. You should support these habits by visiting her store, and keep track of her nowhereabouts on her blog.

ANN "A'MISA" CHIU
Ann “A’misa” Chiu is the editor of Eyeball Burp, an eclectic ‘zine that almost matches her unrelentingly unique and positive personality. Her personal art and blog site is called Colorish Dreams, check it out to see more collage and drawings that remind me of Yayoi Kusama’s work with a craftier edge and an extra dose of humor.
Contributor Feature
Ann “A’misa” Chiu is the editor of Eyeball Burp, an eclectic ‘zine that almost matches her unrelentingly unique and positive personality. Her personal art and blog site is called Colorish Dreams, check it out to see more collage and drawings that remind me of Yayoi Kusama’s work with a craftier edge and an extra dose of humor.

Contributor Feature
Ann “A’misa” Chiu is the editor of Eyeball Burp, an eclectic ‘zine that almost matches her unrelentingly unique and positive personality. Her personal art and blog site is called Colorish Dreams, check it out to see more collage and drawings that remind me of Yayoi Kusama’s work with a craftier edge and an extra dose of humor.

Also, The Venusian is still accepting submissions. If you're looking for somewhere to publish, I'd highly recommend giving this one a shot. Here's a link to the homepage and submission guidelines.