Venice is Sinking

Lucas Jensen

On their Red Alert-recommended new album Sand & Lines, Athens-based Venice is Sinking delivered what we called a "new classic in live session albums." Recorded with a mere two microphones, the album "revels in the lush harmony of a raw live quality and scaled back production and has that unquantifiable, buttery smoothness that makes it sound like a record in your collection for decades." There's some sadness to the story, too; the historic theatre that hosted the sessions (the Georgia Theatre) went up in flames last summer; proceeds from Sand & Lines are being dedicated to the rebuilding. We caught up recently with the self-proclaimed old man of Venice is Sinking, Lucas Jensen, to talk about Sand & Lines, shutting down bars in lives since passed, the kudzu, and a ¾ dirge whimsy that made one of the best “Jolene” covers of all time ... More

MP3 Downloads

Dark Dark Dark's "Bright Bright Bright" now qualifies as an oldie - the title track of the Minneapolis band's excellent last EP - but we're taking the occasion to revisit because they're coming to town (LA readers: August 2 at The Avenue 50 Mini-Museum) and they have a new album locked and loaded for the fall (readers everywhere: October 5) and it's never too early or too late to hop on a bandwagon. The Minneapolis band's curious knack for compelling chamber-drama has won them comparisons to the likes of Beirut and The Arcade Fire, while singer Nona Marie Invie shares some similarities to Regina Spektor, particularly on "Bright Bright Bright." Bear in mind that these are reference points, not templates; Dark Dark Dark have already carved out their own space, and hopefully October's introduction to their Wild Go will continue the expansion and evolution... More