Writing about things that do and don't exit
The Happy Cowboys, actually just one happy cowboy by the name of Hans Westman, trades in languid guitar runs that flow over sunny sonic prairies. Singled Out is a collection of singles released this year. For the most part, Westman's guitar playing reminds me of Bill Frisell's; the emphasis on touch and tone, the pointillist … Continue reading Daily Yinz – The Happy Cowboys – El Roble
Laika, The Astro-Hound, a synth project out of Pittsburgh, recently released a concept album that plays like a Black Mirror episode. The liner notes on Curing Death introduce the concept of "death insurance robots," artificial beings primed to discreetly step in once your loved one dies, with you, the happy customer, none the wiser. These … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Laika, The Astro-Hound – Man on the Moon 2.0
Robin Grayson is a Pittsburgh R&B artist who recently released her debut EP, Hold You Down. The EP's title track is a warm, yearning ballad that showcases Grayson's melismatic singing style, full of multi-syllabic runs, notes that slide easily up and down the musical scale, and a few sublime falsettos for good measure. Grayson promises … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Robin Grayson – Hold You Down
Pittsburgh's Odell Lancaster and California's Flxtch! join forces as Notorious Bastards; their debut tape, Trifecta, dropped last week. Like many albums that draw inspiration from MF Doom's brand of crate-digging, tongue-twisting hip-hop, Trifecta is heavy on dusty strings, flickering bells, and muted drums (when drums are even involved; a few tracks get by on nothing … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Notorious Bastards – Criminals of Alcatraz III
Bonnie and the Mere Mortals synthesize the disparate sounds of honky-tonk country, industrial, and goth into a witchy brew, the latest spoonful of which is their single, "Curses." The track, a menacing hoedown carried by snarled acoustic guitar and cannon shot drums, sees frontwoman Bonnie Ramone pile hex after hex onto some varmint who done … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Bonnie and the Mere Mortals – Curses
80's-throwback quartet Take Me With You have beefed up their sound since last year's a building, a dreaming, that album's skeletal, synth-coated tundra blooming into a rich landscape on the band's new single, Stranger/Aluminum. As soon as "Stranger" begins with pizzicato plucks and swirling, digital strings, you know it's a whole new ballgame for TMWY. … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Take Me With You – Stranger
The Don't Let The Scene Go Down On Me! collective has organized another benefit album to support the one and only Mr. Roboto Project, one of Pittsburgh's most indispensable DIY venues. COVID-19 is still happening even if some people ignore it, and who knows when we'll be able to have the full live music experience … Continue reading The Mr. Roboto Project Benefit Compilation Vol. 3
Pittsburgh rapper Juss Jala has the blues (like a certain Mississippi legend), but you wouldn't know it from her fiery, razor-sharp bars. Jala's October single, "Muddy Waters," follows a snaking trap beat through a minefield of boisterous proclamations, striking imagery, and tuneful ad-libs. One minute she's posted in the studio, passing up earthly pleasures in … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Juss Jala – Muddy Waters
A playlist containing some of the songs featured on Bored In Pittsburgh last month https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1sAtn6No9WITgnyaegVGQ6?si=v-9u46OhTuS2wIMK850xag October 2020 songs that aren’t on Spotify (and where to find them) bruiser beep - EVERYONE IS TRYING TO HEAR YOU Flower Crown - Web (Acoustic) Inch Deep Pool of Slush - Herbal Soap Token String Machine - No Holiday/Excite … Continue reading Bored In Pittsburgh October 2020 Playlist
TV's NORM are a Pittsburgh rock outfit that combine crunchy pop hooks with sardonic lyrics. A few notable Norms have graced our television sets over the years, from The Norm Show's Norm to Cheers's Norm (these are the only two I can think of, actually). "TV's NORM" could be referring to either or none of … Continue reading Daily Yinz – TV’s NORM – Your Own Goddamn Planet
Bored In Pittsburgh 