She is (if we must make a comparison) Regina Spektor meets Lady Gaga, maybe a little bit YACHT. Marina Lambrini Diamandis (Marina and the Diamonds) on her first album, The Family Jewels, offers an addicting take of social commentary with poppy hooks and a stunningly bold and orchestral voice. Maybe you’re familiar with tracks like “I Am Not A Robot” and “Hollywood,” but these don’t do the album justice. Because, while these songs give a fair synopsis of what Marina seems to be about (I have a big dream, I’m true to myself), they don’t cut in the way “Oh No” does or explore the enveloping quality of her art as in “Numb.” Read More…

A few months back I played one of my favorite songs of the year, “Rockabilly Party” off of the newest Quasi album on Sit or Spin. The song, a Neil Young style guitar rave up, is nothing revelatory or new but it’s a great SIMPLE rock song. Read More…