The Black Jack Gypsys — 3:1

Rock
Joshua Boydston

Oklahoma City trio The Black Jack Gypsys doesn’t engage in any rock ’n’ roll posturing in its debut EP, 3:1. It’s the real deal.

 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Parker Millsap and Michael Rose — Palisade

Folk
Joshua Boydston
Fledgling singer-songwriter and Purcell native Parker Millsap builds quite a foundation with stand-up bassist Michael Rose on their debut, Palisade. From the sounds of it, a monumental career is in the works.

 

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Admirals — Admirals

Indie
Joshua Boydston
With its self-titled debut EP, it’s not hard to see Stillwater rock outfit Admirals wears its influences on its sleeve.

 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

JD McPherson — Signs & Signifiers

All 'Signs' point to excellence.

Rock
Matt Carney
If anybody in Oklahoma is most likely to capitalize on wide-audience distribution right now, it must be Broken Arrow’s R&B-flavored rocker JD McPherson, whose debut album, Signs & Signifiers, was re-released last week by Rounder Records.

 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Double R — Dr. Digital

Hip Hop/Rap
Joshua Boydston
If I had to guess what field of medicine Moore-based rapper Double R (of Purple Mouth Bandits) had in mind for Dr. Digital, I’d have to go with psychiatry. Frankly, this album is pretty crazy.

 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Josh Sallee — Probable Flaws

Hip Hop/Rap
Matt Carney
It’s pretty obvious that local rapper Josh Sallee graduated college between his debut album, Return to Sender, and his second full-length, Probable Flaws.

 

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The 2 Bears — Be Strong

‘Bear Hug’ is dangerous in the best way.

Electronica
Jonathan Davis
Named for the fabulously hairy and rotund, The 2 Bears hail in part from the London DJ scene. This brash and unapologetic dance duo knows how to do one thing: Get you in their paws and never let go.

 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Typist — Midwestern High Life

Rock
Matt Carney
A lot of frustration is unbottled by The Typist’s debut album.

 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Independence 76 — Magpie Parables

Folk
Matt Carney
It’s been a long while since I’ve heard a work of Americana as sprawling and ambitious as Independence 76’s debut album, Magpie Parables.

 

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Kill the Reflection — Together ... Apart ...

Rock
Matt Carney
Somewhere between Depth & Current’s thematic explorations of living in a broken world and Broncho’s uptempo pop-punk resides Oklahoma City trio Kill the Reflection, minus the two previous bands’ shoegaze and pop.

 

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Sleigh Bells — Reign of Terror

2010’s hot indie innovators return without any new bells or whistles. Thank goodness.

Pop
Matt Carney
Two albums in, I’m certain that Sleigh Bells’ distinct brand of girly noise-pop was assembled in some covert lab so as to make me look as ridiculous as possible when commuting to work.

 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Cloud Nothings — Attack on Memory

Don’t be fooled by the title. This punk gem harkens back to days of plenty.

Rock
Matt Carney
It’s pretty tempting to call “Attack on Memory,” the latest album by Cleveland punks Cloud Nothings the work of a punkist, that being its obviously talented front man Dylan Baldi. That’s a compliment, I promise.

 

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Royal Baths — Better Luck Next Life

Mix the dirty blues, paranoia and ugly guitars, and you’ve got a winner of a sophomore album.

Rock
Matt Carney
It sounds Jeremy Cox and Jigmae Baer got the best of both coasts.

 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Various Artists — Chronicle: Music from the Motion Picture

For a bunch of unknowns, this one’s really quite super.

Soundtrack
Rod Lott
I’m uncertain about the hit found-footage film, but the soundtrack for “Chronicle” pops with energy from the start, courtesy of Blonde Acid Cult.

 

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Poliça — Give You the Ghost

Nah, thanks — you can keep it.

Indie
Matt Carney
You’ve got to admire what they’re up to in the north Midwest these days. That Bon Iver/Gayngs/Megafaun collective is probably the best non-Aaron Rodgers thing to happen to Wisconsin in forever.

 

Monday, February 13, 2012