Posts Tagged The Julie Ruin

STEELE PICKS: Best Albums of 2016

Posted by Amy Steele in Music on December 17, 2016

here’s the music in heavy rotation or that intrigued me or moved me in 2016. we need music and the arts now more than ever. music heals.

chairlift

Chairlift, Moth [Columbia]
–the duo aptly describes its music as “25th-century folktronica.” infectious beats, sweet vocals. the Brooklyn band just announced its break-up on Twitter.

Bat for Lashes, The Bride [Parlophone]
— concept album. all the songs on this album= perfection. dark humor, dark melodies with gorgeous arrangements, provocative lyrics and lilting, rich vocals.

Warpaint, Heads Up [Rough Trade]
–the all-female Los Angeles indie band plays soothing, swirling, pretty, contemplative, dreamy, free-spirited music. Warpaint is Emily Kokal (guitar, vocals), Jenny Lee Lindberg (bass, vocals), Stella Mozgawa (drums, vocals) and Theresa Wayman (guitar, vocals). The new album sounds a bit more pop, a bit more loud and loose without departing from the loveliness that makes up Warpaint’s current musical catalogue.

Daughter, Not to Disappear [4AD]
–haunting vocals, swirly moodiness and thoughtful lyrics

Tindersticks, The Waiting Room [City Slang]
–sexy, dark music. Singer Stuart Staples oozes romance with that brooding baritone and the varied instrumentation of violin, keyboards, percussion and guitar leads to gorgeous layered arrangements.

Band of Horses, Why Are You OK [Interscope]
–this band makes me feel slightly warm and fuzzy. also one of the best shows this year.

Julianna Barwick, Will [Dead Oceans]
–this album soothes and calms. I often listen to it while I’m at acupuncture. my review.

The Julie Ruin, Hit Reset [Hardly Art]
–edgy brilliance. The spectacular album bursts with a tangible emotiveness, unapologetic lyrics and a collective embrace for individual truth and identity.

Basia Bulat, Good Advice [Secret City]
–there’s an earthy loveliness in the Canadian folk singer-songwriter’s vocals. her captivating and honest lyrics get buoyed by layered melodies.

James, Girl at the End of the World [BMG]
–one of my favorite 90s Britpop bands. this electronica/ indie-rock album does not disappoint. my review.

Suede, Night Thoughts [Warner Bros.]
–another one of my favorite British bands from the 90s still at it.

Band of Horses, basia bulat, best of 2016, best of the year, Chairlift, Daughter, James, Julianna Barwick, Suede, The Julie Ruin, tindersticks, Warpaint

new album and tour: The Julie Ruin

Posted by Amy Steele in Music on July 8, 2016

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The Julie Ruin, Hit Reset [Hardly Art] out today July 8, 2016

Just received the new album Hit Reset yesterday so I’m in expository mode, enjoying and absorbing its edgy brilliance. The spectacular album bursts with a tangible emotiveness, unapologetic lyrics and a collective embrace for individual truth and identity. So far I adore it all. Stand-out songs include “I’m Done,” a peppy clap-back to negativity as well as “Mr. So and So,” a sarcastic take on the faux feminist guy. This one’s much more personal. Kathleen Hanna explained: “I was way more honest lyrically on this record because we’d been on the road together and I felt more confident taking risks in front of my bandmates. I’ve written about my personal bouts with illness, abuse, sexism and how hard it is for me to walk away from people even when they are toxic Tasmanian Devils before, but not in this way. Some songs were so close to me I had to stop singing in practice and while recording because I was crying. It’s rare to work with a group of people you feel okay doing that with.” This is the band’s first full-length since 2013’s Run Fast as well as the release of the phenomenal, potent biographical documentary The Punk Singer (which charts Kathleen Hanna’s career from Bikini Kill to The Julie Ruin).

North American TOUR:

July 14–Chicago–Thalia Hall

July 15–Detroit–Marble Bar

July 16–Lakewood, Ohio–Mahall’s

July 18–Toronto–Lee’s Place

July 19–Montreal–Theatre Fairmont

July 21–Cambridge, MA–The Sinclair

July 22–Portsmouth, NH–3s Art Space

July 23–New York–Panorama Fest

August 10–Richmond, VA–Broadberry

August 12–Carrboro, NC–Cat’s Cradle

August 13–Atlanta–The Wrecking Ball

August 14–Birmingham, AL–Saturn

August 16–Nashville–Mercy Lounge

August 17–Cincinnati–Woodward Theater

August 19–Washington, DC–Black Cat

August 20–Philadelphia–Union Transfer

September 18–Chicago–Riot Fest

October 7–Vancouver–Rickshaw

October 8–Seattle–The Showbox

October 9–Portland, OR–Wonder Ballroom

October 11–San Francisco–The Fillmore

October 12–Santa Cruz—Rio Theatre

October 14–Los Angeles–The Roxy Theatre

October 15–Los Angeles–The Roxy Theatre

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Kathleen Hanna, The Julie Ruin

Steele Picks: Top 30 Albums of 2013

Posted by Amy Steele in Music on December 2, 2013

–unfortunately I can’t possibly hear every album released. I don’t hear about things. I don’t get access to many until the public does. publicists don’t send me as many albums in advance as I wish.

–here are the the albums this year that moved me, inspired me, made me think.

–they’re in alpha order