Half Gifts Zine Vol.1

Here's a sneak preview of the upcoming first issue of the official half-gifts zine! Inspired by the punk zines of yore, half-gifts covers bands that epitomize DIY (Do-It-Yourself) culture. The first issue includes an interview with Florida shoegaze project Carve Color, the top 10 albums of 2012 and some other scintillating  articles. If you would like to receive your free print copy, shoot me an e-mail at jude.noel3@gmail.com with your mailing address. I'll take care of shipping + handling. 

Merry Christmas!

...little tin horns and little toy drums

Cassette Corner - Sea Lions/Teen Runnings Split

Sea Lions/Teen Runnings Split

(Neotomic 2012)

Review: Tyrannosaurus Dead - "Lemonade"

Tyrannosaurus Dead - Lemonade

(2012 Reeks Of Effort)

"A delicious snack for your ears"

Listen: Beach Fossils - "Careless"

Beach Fossils - "Clash The Truth"

(Captured Tracks 2012)

Listen: Chris Cohen - "Heart Beat" (Acoustic)

Review: Eskimeaux - 'Eskimeaux'

Eskimeaux - Eskimeaux

(2012 BLIGHT.)

Cassette Corner: Carve Color - 'Separation'

Carve Color - Separation

(2012 Swan City Sounds)

"A dizzying whirlwind of 90's influences"

Review: Baby Ghosts - 'Let's Always Hang Out Together'

Baby Ghosts - Let's Always Hang Out Together, Okay?

(2012 Self-Released)

 "If you aren't afraid to admit you still play video games and watch cartoons, Let's Always Hang Out Together, Okay? begs to be purchased."

Cassette Corner - 'Motion Sickness of Time Travel/Tidal Split

Motion Sickness of Time Travel/Tidal Split

(2011 Tranquility)

Retrospective 5: The Poconos - 'The Days Are Getting Shorter'

The Poconos - The Days Are Getting Shorter

(Jigsaw 1999)

"Simplicity, charm and beauty."

Cassette Corner: My Own Retard - "Bumble"

My Own Retard - Bumble

(2012 Swan City Sounds)

Cassette Corner: A Grave With No Name - "Lower"

A Grave With No Name - Lower

(2012 Boiled Egg)

"Beauty over substance"

Review: Chris Cohen - "Overgrown Path"

Chris Cohen - Overgrown Path

(2012 Captured Tracks)

"Forget the Beatles. This is a real Magical Mystery Tour."

Review: Various Artists - "Family Portrait"

Gum/Playlounge/Joanna Gruesome/KEEL HER - Family Portrait

(Art Is Hard 2012)

"Two decades of punk rock fit into ten minutes of pure energy"

Retrospective 4: Ducktails - "Lost"

Ducktails - Lost Cassette

(2010 Woodsist/F*** It Tapes)

Review: Wild Nothing - "Nocturne"

Wild Nothing - Nocturne 

(2012 Captured Tracks)

Indie Rock Art

Vivian Girls 

My artistically gifted little sister drew some neat-o For Better or For Worse-inspired portraits of some of our favorite bands. Read on to see more.

Review: Cassettes on Tape - "Cassettes on Tape"

Cassettes on Tape - Cassettes on Tape

(2012 Self-Released)

Introducing: Soft Pastels

Download: Wild Nothing - "Paradise"

Wild Nothing - "Paradise"

(2012 Captured Tracks)

Review: Sea Lions - "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sea Lions But Were Afraid To Ask

Sea Lions - Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sea Lions But Were Afraid To Ask

(2011 Slumberland)

Beach House & Wild Nothing Live Review

Beach House & Wild Nothing

July 20 2012

Newport Music Hall: Columbus, OH

Review: Heavenly Beat - "Talent"

Heavenly Beat - Talent

(2012 Captured Tracks)

Summer Listening List Part 2

Here's the second installment of my summer listening series. Download and enjoy.

Retrospective 3: Filigree & Shadow

This Mortal Coil - Filigree & Shadow

(1986 4AD)

Review: DIIV - "Oshin"

DIIV - Oshin

(2012 Captured Tracks)

Summer Listening List Part 1

To stave off the endless boredom of a lazy, hazy summer, I'll be bringing you a collection of 5 singles a week that are perfectly in tune with the sunny weather. Good news is that most of these tracks are free. Enjoy!

Retrospective 2: Belle and Sebastian - "If You're Feeling Sinister

Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

(Jeepster 1996)

Retrospective 1: fIREHOSE - "Ragin' Full On"

fIREHOSE - Ragin' Full On

(SST 1986)

I'm Back!

After my 2-week sabbatical caused by some computer trouble and other various things, I'm back to posting. In other news, I'm also writing reviews for earbuddy.net, a really great site for finding all sorts of indie bands. I've posted reviews of the new albums by Crocodiles and Grass Widow.

These next few days of Half-Gifts will include a look at some of my favorite albums of all time, so stay tuned for that. Also, why not give this Kiss Felix single a spin while you're here?

With the vocal stylings of an early Prince and catchy new wave not seen since the 80s, Kiss Felix's "When Your Lips Crashed Like Waves into His" is by far one of the best indie-pop singles of the year so far. The melody kind of reminds me of Prince's "I Would Die for You" If you're into The Drums or Wild Nothing, you'll appreciate this reverb washed track.

Review: "Valtari" - Sigur Ros

Valtari - Sigur Ros

(2012 XL)

(9.4)

Review: "Clear Moon" - Mount Eerie

Clear Moon - Mount Eerie

(2012 P.W. Elverum & Sun)

(8.1)

Review: "Gallery EP" Craft Spells

Gallery EP - Craft Spells

(2012 Captured Tracks)

(6.9) 

Review: "Family Perfume Vol. 2" - White Fence

Family Perfume Vol. 2 - White Fence

(2012 Woodsist)

(8.3)

"The Diver" - Led Er Est

The Diver - Led Er Est

(2012 Self-Released)

(8.2)

Review: "Kid Games" - Airiel

Kid Games EP - Airiel

(2012 Shelflife)

(8.6)

Review: Electronic Anthology Project of Dinosaur Jr.

Dinosaur Jr. - The Electronic Anthology Project

(Self-Released 2012)

(7.1)

Review: Mooncreatures - Mooncreatures

Mooncreatures EP - Mooncreatures

(Italian Beach Babe 2012)

(8.5)

Review: The Cleaners from Venus Box Set

The Cleaners from Venus Box Set Vol 1.

(Reissued 2012 Captured Tracks)

(9.4)

Review: All Flows - Acid Aura

All Flows EP - Acid Aura

(2012 Self Released)

(8.0)

Recommended Listening: Dive

DIVE - Live @ Brooklyn Bowl

(Read on to see my review!)

Single Review: Chew - Yuck

Chew - Yuck

  (2012 Fat Possum)

(4.6)

Review: Afterlife - Little Chords

Afterlife - Little Chords

(2012 Self-Released)

(8.7)

Phone Thou - HOUNDSds

Phone Thou - HOUNDSds

(2012 Chill Mega Chill Records)
(9.3)

Review: MMIX - Liam

MMIX - Liam

(2012 Self-Released)

(8.9)

Review: Family Perfume - White Fence

Family Perfume Vol 1. - White Fence

(Woodsist 2012)

(7.8)

Review: Heligoland - Bethmale EP

"Bethmale - EP" by Heligoland

(2011, Self Released)

(7.9)

Review: Under Sleeping Waves - Happy Particles

 

"Under Sleeping Waves" - Happy Particles

December 25, 2011

(8.8)      

Interview: 10 Questions with The KVB

  Hey gang! Ever since coming across their latest album, Always Then, I've been absolutely addicted to the droning, synth heavy sound of solo artist The KVB. I decided it was time to get to know him a little better, and chatted with him over e-mail. Listen in on our conversation by reading on...

A Blast From the Past

The Cry - beautiful reasons

Self Released 1990

(9.2)

Mixtape 1

Our first official mix!
http://8tracks.com/judenoel/half-gifts-1

The KVB - Always Then

2012, Clan Destine Records

Score: 8.3

Introducing: Don Patch

Introducing: Field Mouse

The Music Hunter: The Saga Begins!

   Hey all! It's Tuesday, and you know what that means. iTunes releases new music for the week! To celebrate, every Tuesday I'll be telling you which artists you'll need to check out and which ones to leave on the shelf. Got it? Well here we go!

Introducing: The Honeyheads

Interview: Chatting With Twin Cabins

  Twin Cabins is the solo project of Nacho Cano, who creates infectious indie-pop that's sure to be stuck in your head for days. After finding out about Nacho on his BandCamp page,  I decided to find out more by asking him for an interview. Listen in on our chat as we talk about music, romance, and Wild Nothing.