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MICHAEL MAROTTA

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ca-l

Class Actress | Rapprocher

Carpark (2011)
The rescue of Elizabeth Harper from Brooklyn's singer/songwriter coffeehouse circuit is the modern electro-pop scene's equivalent to Luke Skywalker rolling up to the first Death Star to save Princess Leia in Star Wars: A New Hope.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  October 19, 2011
Ladytron2_list

Ten years in, Ladytron grounded by Gravity

Post-dance
More than a decade into their career as trusted electro-pop veterans, Ladytron's place in the world of pop music seems as precarious as when they started.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  October 05, 2011
gn-list

The Good Natured | Skeleton

Astralwerks (2011)
The seven-song Skeleton EP is a combination of two previous import EPs, sounding already like an immediate best-of, compiling six Good Natured studio tracks and a (throwaway) remix.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  September 27, 2011
augustines-list

The improbable rise of We Are Augustines

Comfort music
With new management, new supporters, and the same Pela fans, We Are Augustines remain a work in progress.  
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  September 22, 2011
camden-l

Out: If a hook falls in a forest, does it make a melody?

From Cambridge to Camden town
With scratchy, bratty vocals plastered over stinging dual guitarwork, Camden delivers turbo-charged indie-pop, making otherwise pretty noises sound gritty and playfully hung over.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  September 20, 2011
FALL091611_SoccerMom_list

Boston rock delivers: 8 record-release shows you need to check out before 2012

Plus, the most anticipated local album releases this fall
If asked to name the biggest band out of Boston right now you’d probably find it difficult, if not impossible, to come up with an answer.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  September 16, 2011
list_grassisgreen_66

Out: We must protect this GHouse

For Tim Luckow, the Grass is Green on Moving Day in Allston
Tim Luckow clutches a beer, flashes a smile, and watches one of the cornerstones of his GHouse collective on stage at Great Scott.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  September 07, 2011
drumz-list

The Drums | Portamento

Frenchkiss (2011)
If the Mozzer himself is going to stay forever ensconced in his elder-statesman Vegas Era, then I'll gladly take this bold blond bout of Morrissey youth-worship wrapped nicely in 2011's garage-pop wave.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  September 07, 2011
list_tji_allasia66

Music venue movement

Rock and Relocation
For Cambridge's All Asia Café, the afterlife will feel a bit like Valhalla.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  August 31, 2011
dom-l

Dom | Family of Love

Astralwerks (2011)
After writing and recording most of his debut record in Worcester bedrooms with DIY sweat,beat-up paisley guitars, old Casios, and computer programs, this time he's upgraded to a proper studio session with producer Nicolas Vernhes (Animal Collective, Björk), experimenting with a "dial tone solo" and Fun Machine keyboard.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  August 03, 2011
VB List

Viva Brother connect Britpop to gritpop

Uncommon people
"When we started this band, it was the result of looking back and finding the last great era of music — and that was Britpop," says cool and confident singer/guitarist Leonard "Lee" Newell on the phone from the UK.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  July 27, 2011
ming list

Ming Ming | Ultrameta OK

Lefse (2011)
"Murder of the Most Artful" is the most pop-leaning, a three-minute wobble that slowly morphs into a blip-groove romp, and the atmospheric "Ringer Park Girls" is a synthed-out, swagged-out analog boast that's impossible to pin down.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  July 19, 2011

Massachusetts

Earthquake Party
Earthquake Party
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  July 07, 2011

Michigan

Stepdad
Stepdad
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  July 07, 2011

Nevada

Candy Warpop
Candy Warpop
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  July 07, 2011
first-ever best music poll awards party at brighton music hall

Out: Good times a’Bruin

A celebratory night of Boston rock (and hockey) at the Best Music Poll awards
It was the first time the Boston Phoenix hosted an awards party for its 23-year-old Best Music Poll, but what erupted June 15 at Brighton Music Hall was a drunken shitshow that honored decades of Boston rock and roll, and was capped off by the Bruins' first Stanley Cup championship since 1972.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  June 22, 2011
BMP results

Meet the winners: 2011 Best Music Poll

This year's BMP, our 23rd annual, was crystallized by two hard-working, against-the-odds rock bands.
This year's BMP, our 23rd annual, was crystallized by two hard-working, against-the-odds rock bands.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  June 20, 2011
boston band Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library

Local music blogs weigh in on BMP 2011

Polling the InterWeb
We came up with the nominations, you came up with the winners. But what about the blogs, man? Don't they get a say? They sure do.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  June 17, 2011
free mp3 of the week

MP3 of The Week: The Macrotones

Grab their "Flutenbier"”MP3 at On The Download.
The Macrotunes have evolved into a hybrid fit for freaking fans of jazz, boom-bap, roots reggae, and acid-worthy jam bands.
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  June 09, 2011
pn list

Out: Never mind the rapture, here's Pretty & Nice

Without Judgment
There's a sense of calculated jubilation in Pretty & Nice's frantic brand of caffeinated pop, one that's a bit paranoid, a bit euphoric, and always on the verge of spinning out of control.  
By: MICHAEL MAROTTA  |  May 26, 2011
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