July/August 2007 Edition
Features
- Feature Article:
- Revising the Eulogy: Re-thinking the life and death of music formats.
- Pontiak: A new model of record labels.
- Concert Reviews:
- A Coffeeshop Double-Header: Jacob Furr plays acoustic-folk that stands out and Lafayette's dynamic post-rock has the audience asking for more.
- RHCP, Take Notes: The Non pulls off a fun and unique mixture of funk-, indie- and post-rock.
- Lists:
- Best of the First Half of 2007: Scott's picks for the top albums from this unusual half-year.
- Pandora Chronicle: The Decemberists - Reviews of 5 songs similar to the Decemberists.
- Address:
- State of the Magazine: Stephen on the future of Independent Clauses.
Album Reviews
- A Fistful of Dynamite - Buck Wild
- Energetic folk punk with poignant lyrics.
- Adam Freedman - Best Laid Plans (Gone Wrong)
- Well-written acoustic social commentary.
- Atomic Bitch - Body Shop
- Rock out!
- Band Marino - The Sea & The Beast
- A unique blend of indie-pop and folk music.
Bees and the Birds - Self-titled EP
- Passionate, straightforward, and immeasurably catchy, this indie-pop EP makes a huge impression.
- The Chris and Joylene Show & Pupa’s Window - A Family Portrait (Split CD)
- The Chris and Joylene Show is easy on the ears with a spot-on breathy voice and Pupa’s Window produces catchy, low-fi pop love-songs.
- The Christmas Lights and Emil - 10 Paces
- Experimental electropop that doesn't overdo itself.
- Cola Wars - Red Flag Day
- Emphatic vocals, punchy syncopation, and undeniably catchy tunes.
- Dishwater Psychics - Dry Night Riverbed
- A moody, dark indie-rock experience that draws from lots of genres perfectly.
- First to Leave - Forging a Future
- An arm-flailing, head-banging, yell-along-with-your-fist-raised epic of a punk album.
- Geoffrey Welchman - One Man Band
- Simple, classic instrumental work.
- Handjobs for Hobos - Right Now
- A musical juvenile comedy duo that doesn’t deliver much music or many laughs.
- The Johnbenders - Self-titled
- New-Wave with a unique balance of dancy drums, driving guitars, and emphatic, meaningful vocals.
- Juhu Beach - Scenes of Abandoned Industry EP
- Experimental with the potential to grow on you.
- The Knockdown - The Nights I Can’t Remember I Can’t Forget… EP
- Catchy alt. rock with shaky gang vocals.
- Kris Racer - Has a Banner Year
- A reformed punker delivers acoustic-based pop songs that don’t strike any particular nerves.
- Look Mexico - This is Animal Music
- Indie rock with mellow layers that teaches you to not judge an album by its track titles.
- The Measure [SA] - Historical Fiction
- Unique vocals accompany well-done folk punk.
- Patient Patient - Professionals and Convicts
- Epic indie rock reminiscent of Radiohead.
- Pikko - Electric Body Design
- Oddball electropop by a Swedish professional dancer.
- Pontiak - Sun on Sun
- Deep, grooving rock and roll with a lot of mountain grit rubbed in it.
- Private Eleanor - Sweethearting
- Impeccable lyricism and well-produced songs that tell a story.
- Pull a Star Trip - An Internship in Optimism
- Great combination of screamo and softer lyrics.
- Reality Serum - Hop In
- Hip hop with a questionable ambient twist.
- Scott & Aimee - Sitting In A Tree
- Fun, humorous and unclassifiable.
- Scott Marrow - For All the Time You Spend Losing, You Better Enjoy Your Failures
- Pushes the boundaries of traditional instrumentation.
- Self-Evident - Self-titled
- Ambience with mind-boggling guitars and flat vocals.
- Street Smart Cyclist - Self-titled 7”
- Extremely intricate, creative, passionate and talented 90’s emo followers create an astounding 7”.
- Superfamily - Warszawa.html
- The perfect concoction of space age hyper drama that redefines the standard.
- Upstate - Bitter Grin EP
- Excellent melody and vocal combinations despite the band having never played together.
- Vivek Shraya - If We’re Not Talking
- A well-crafted electronic record for the heat of the summer.
Note from the Managing Editor
As those of you who have read the writers biographies know, I have been living in central Pennsylvania for the life of this magazine but as of September, I will be relocating to Eugene, Oregon to continue my education and to pursue personal opportunities. Though I am moving, I will in no way be any less a part of the Independent Clauses team. I will be taking this opportunity to access a part of the United States that IC has not been seen in and I would like to invite any bands or readers to contact me as I move. I always embrace the chance to reach a new audience and meet new people and bands. Please if you are playing in, or around, Eugene or just visiting the city, contact me.
Scott Landis