Beastwars Preview

Posted 6:33am Wednesday 25th May 2011

Beastwars are the result of a barbaric and brutal world sliding into the abyss. Where we see war and disaster surrounding us on all sides. Where half-truths and hidden agendas lurk behind every act of the world’s eroding empires. And where all these things are channelled into righteous and Read more...

Feastock; The Arrival of the Invercargill Sound

Posted 11:44pm Monday 9th May 2011

Say the word “Invercargill” to many musicians, and you’ll probably get a rather mixed response. But standing amongst the damp, leafy surroundings of 3 Fea Street, in secluded Pine Hill, I was struck by an interesting concept. Has the country’s most southern city better known for, um, well let’s be Read more...

Antipodean Elite

Posted 10:49pm Monday 9th May 2011

It’s that time again. New Zealand Music Month. A time to reflect on the good, the bad and all that is ugly in New Zealand music. In half celebration, and half disgust, we here at Critic thought we’d put together a list showing you that New Zealand Music isn’t all sales projections, Autozamn, Kids of Read more...

Panda Bear - Tomboy

Posted 6:38am Thursday 14th April 2011

Over the last decade Panda Bear has made quite the name for himself in the independent music scene. Between his work with Animal Collective and his solo albums Young Prayer (2004) and the critically acclaimed Person Person Pitch (2007), he has covered pop, noise, ambient and everything in between. Read more...

Bass Drum of Death – GB City

Posted 6:37am Thursday 14th April 2011

In the running for both the best and worst band name of all time, Mississippi two-piece Bass Drum of Death (BDOD) fuse garage and pop in a haze of stoned energetic brilliance on their debut album GB City. Fitting both the musical and social aesthetics of the current American garage revival Read more...

Idiot Prayer

Posted 1:33am Tuesday 29th March 2011

After only a short year of existence, Dunedin trio Idiot Prayer are set to add their considerable sonic weight to the cities musical landscape. Comprising effortlessly punishing drummer Sam Brookland, bassman David ‘Local’ Ager and vocalist/frontman Tim ‘Tiddy’ Smith, the group’s boundary pushing, Read more...

Rebecca Black – Friday. Single

Posted 4:18am Monday 21st March 2011

IS THIS THE WORST SONG EVER WRITTEN? Thought Justin Bieber was the antichrist? Clearly you’ve haven’t heard thirteen year old Rebecca Black’s latest single “Friday”. Currently a Youtube sensation (topping nine million views to date), Black has taken taste to a new Read more...

Bright Eyes - The People's Key

Posted 4:16am Monday 21st March 2011

“Dear Conor Oberst. You will need more than zany samples to escape the emotional songwriting heartthrob box you have previously been so keen on.” (2/5) Clearly forgetting he announced his wishes to “retire” the Bright Eyes moniker in 2009, and after a small solo detour, the eternal Read more...

Chase & Status - No More Idols

Posted 4:14am Monday 21st March 2011

Drum and Bass heads mainstream. Mixed results. (3/5) Giving its eternal affinity with the singles format, the “dance” album can be an interesting concept. Of course, many crossovers have been made with an elite few artists successfully making the transition from the club to the couch. Read more...

Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys

Posted 1:20am Tuesday 15th March 2011

Two years after the release of the Mercury Prize-winning The Seldom Seen Kid, British orchestral-guitar four-piece Elbow return to action with Build a Rocket Boys! Once eloquently described as “prog without the solos”, Elbow’s emotionally laden, grandiose formula is evident in full effect here. Read more...