Review: The Great Pretenders [Mini Mansions]

The Great Pretenders [Mini Mansions]

by: Kitty White

Mini Mansions, a sharp dressed trio from California, are set to release their second album titled The Great Pretenders next week. With months of teased singles and videos the hype amongst fans is at an all time high, and for good reason, this album is wonderful. Mini Mansions have traded in their White Album-esque sound of their eponymous album for a much wider array of influences and cameos such as Alex Turner, Brian Wilson, and The B-52’s Fred Schneider. Although in writing it sounds like a motley crew, everything melds together into a perfectly sherbet colored dreamscape of an album.

Review: No Cities To Love [Sleater-Kinney]

No Cities To Love- Sleater-Kinney

by: Kitty White

Thank the heavens for 2014 and the year Sleater-Kinney not only reunited but also announced a new album and tour. Now next week we can expect their new album No Cities To Love to sit on our shelves as if there was never a gap between 2006 and 2014. 

2014 In Review

I would just like to thank everyone who has read and contributed to RTTM in 2014 for making this a great first full year on the web. This blog has become much more than I could have ever imagined and it wouldn't have happened without all the help I've had. Thank you again and here's to an even better 2015! ~Kitty

Review: Sonic Highways [Foo Fighters]

Sonic Highways- Foo Fighters

by: Kitty White

Foo Fighters released their eighth studio album Sonic Highways today to mixed reviews. The album features eight songs recorded in eight different US cities accompanied by an HBO mini series that focuses on the musical background of each of the cities and then ends each episode with the song from the featured city with a local legend playing along with Foo Fighters on the song. The guest artists feature some heavy names such as Rick Nielsen, Joe Walsh, Gary Clark Jr., and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie. Even with a star-studded cast of characters on the album, the album has fallen short of many people's expectations. It doesn’t feel right giving an overall broad opinion on this album seeing as each song really has it’s own background to it and therefore get’s a little messy. The project itself was quite ambitious so let’s start off giving credit where credit is due for Foo Fighters taking on such a task of a nationwide album. Sometimes first flights are a little rocky but there’s a few shining moments that still make it worthy of praise.

Album of the Week: Riot Act

by: Kitty White

The seventh studio album from Pearl Jam, Riot Act, brings a new yet familiar Pearl Jam to the table filled with experimentation and collaboration.  The great thing about Pearl Jam as a band is that everyone in the band is a songwriter. Every single member is capable of writing beautiful music and this album showcases that wonderfully. The band had been together for a little over a decade when Riot Act was recorded and released and to me it signifies a new chapter of life for Pearl Jam.

Review: Brody Dalle at Bottom Lounge Chicago

by: Kitty White

On July 26th Chicago opened its arms and ears to Brody Dalle at the Bottom Lounge. The former front woman of The Distillers and Spinnerette just released her first solo album Diploid Love earlier this year and has been on tour since. This show was one of my most anticipated of the summer and it lived up to every expectation.

Review: Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

by: Kitty White

Last week Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden kicked off their tour together and stopped by the south Chicago suburb of Tinley Park for a show the audience will remember for the rest of their lives. Both bands are celebrating 20 years of one of their most iconic albums: The Downward Spiral for NIN and Superunknown for Soundgarden. Despite being on the older end of the spectrum on the current touring circuit they both rocked harder than most of the young guys out on the scene right now, proving why still going strong after all these years.

Playlist of the Week: Our Current Jams

To keep our readers updated on the RTTM family here is a collection of some of our writers' current jams. From long time favorites that never leave the circulation to some not-so-guilty pleasures here's an insight into what we're listening to these days.

Playlist of the Week: Feel Good Hit Of The Summer

by: Kitty White

July has just started and summer is in full swing. It's the time of year for beach parties and bonfires and neither are complete without a soundtrack. From the feel good classics to the one hit wonders of the 90's that all of your peers know the words to, this playlist covers it all. There's a little bit for everyone, and rocking 33 songs long it'll last your entire party without getting too repetitive. Enjoy your summer, remember to stay hydrated, and wear sunscreen when outside for long periods of time.

Review: The Presidents of the United States of America at The House Of Blues Chicago

by: Kitty White

“Well I’ve been elected to rock your asses ‘till midnight,” Chris Ballew wails as he starts The Presidents of the United States of America set with their version of the MC5 classic ‘Kick Out The Jams’ at House of Blues Chicago on a Tuesday night in June. The night began with a local Chicago band known as Workout Music who were fast paced and helped keep the anxious crowd pumped for the main act. 

There Are No Rules In Rock 'N' Roll

by: Kitty White

There are no rules in rock. The whole point of rock 'n’ roll is that there are no rules. It’s pure rebellion and to slap some unwritten laws on that kind of kills the entire vibe. This goes for not only the musicians themselves but for the fans as well. Especially with lists being a big trend on the internet as of late, too often do manifestos of the do’s and don’ts of concert going and being a rock band pop up on popular websites and social networks.

Playlist of the Week: Music To Dream To

by: Kitty White

Some of us need music for all 24 hours of the day, including the ones we aren't conscious for. From being just a little sleepy at the end of the work day to those heavy hard sleeps with vivid dreams theres a song out there for every weary eyed listener.

Local Buzz: Tigerbomb [Lancaster, PA]

by: Kitty White

Out of Lancaster, PA rises Tigerbomb: a band creating their own brand of rock. This three-piece combines different types of rock and funk and adds in their unique vocals to create what I can only describe as System of a Down meets jam band meets Buckethead. Their sound is fluid and wouldn’t fit comfortably under just one genre. Tigerbomb’s eponymous first release showcases this very well.

Review: Diploid Love [Brody Dalle]

Diploid Love- Brody Dalle

by: Kitty White

Her first full release since Spinnerette’s self-titled release, Diploid Love is also Brody Dalle’s first ever solo project. The covert ‘Jill of all trades’ plays most of the parts on the album but has the likes of Shirley Manson, Emily Kokal, Michael Shuman and Nick Valensi sharing some of the spotlight with her on the album as well. It’s a powerful collection of personal songs that mix all the ingredients of Dalle’s former days in The Distillers and Spinnerette and modernizes them in a way only this veteran punk rocker could do. 

Review: The National at The Chicago Theatre

by: Kitty White

From April 15-18th The National had a residency at the beautiful Chicago Theatre. With all four nights sold out almost instantly after tickets went on sale it was a well sought after show for Chicago fans and I was lucky enough to get tickets to the second night. According to a local radio host the second night of a four-night stand is the magical night and that was most definitely true.

Local Buzz: Rocket Brigade [Central PA]

by: Kitty White

Rocket Brigade is a three piece from Enola, PA. Last year they released a 9 track album titled \m/.

Their influences range from The Smashing Pumpkins to Darkthrone to Black Sabbath and all are evident throughout their album.

Review: Morning Phase [Beck]

Morning Phase- Beck

by: Kitty White

Never have I encountered a more aptly titled album than Beck’s newest release Morning Phase. This album is a refreshing sunrise on the 2014 music scene. Morning Phase is Beck’s first full-length release since 2008. It’s peaceful melodies echoes his 2002 release Sea Change, which is said to be a companion piece to Morning Phase.

Album of the Week: Live Through This

by: Kitty White

And the sky was made of amethyst

Album of the Week: Random Access Memories

by: Kitty White

Up All Night To Get Grammys

One More Time? Try Five. That’s how many grammys Daft Punk won for their most recent album Random Access Memories. Completely sweeping every category they were nominated in at the Grammys Sunday night, it’s only fair we honor the album of the year.

Playlist of the Week: Midnight Cruisin'

by: Kitty White

Whether it's the radio or my own library of music, I cannot sit down in that driver's seat and turn the key in the ignition without some good tunes to accompany me on my commute. Over the years I've come to the conclusion why certain songs must be played on the radio everyday: they are excellent driving songs. Some of them are the ones you can't help dancing -or air drumming- along with and others are those ones you scream so loud the driver in the car next to you gives you disapproving looks. Here are some songs to keep you awake while behind the wheel.