Panda Riot
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Panda Riot

Chicago, Illinois, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2010 | INDIE

Chicago, Illinois, United States | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2010
Band Pop Rock

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"AnotherDyingArtform.com BEST ALBUMS OF 2013 (SO FAR)"

best of list with various artists - Anotherdyingartform.com


"Best of Albums of the 2013..so far (Huffington Post UK)"


Kanye West, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Colleen Green, It Hugs Back, Julian Cope, Panda Riot, My Bloody Valentine, Music, Bleached, Fidlar,

It's been a brilliant start to 2013. Whether it's the controversial Kanye West album or the long-awaited new album from My Bloody Valentine, there's been a little something for everyone. Brilliant new records from UK bands like The Boxer Rebellion and It Hugs Back are just a few of the records that have made this critical list.

Take a listen to these (with links provided for those that would like to get to know the band's a bit better) albums and take the poll at the end of this article!
- Huffington Post UK


""Panda Riot - "Serious Radical Girls" - EARMILK"

On June 5th, Chicago based rock quartet Panda Riot will be releasing a 7" through the Saint Marie family. This record label has previously released one of our favorite electro-gaze albums, Always The Light from Brooklyn's Elika. Known for their selective picking of shoegaze artists, Panda Riot fits comfortably under that category. One of the tracks on the 7" is called "Serious Radical Girls." Simple electronic drums are later thickened, layered and sufficed with the help of Rebecca Scott's sultry voice. It's dreamy and has potential to soundtrack your next outing. - Earmilk


"Best Albums of the Year...so far"

Panda Riot's Northern Automatic Music included in this list with My Bloody Valentine, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and No Joy

- thedumbingofamerica.net


"inyourspeakers.com reviews new Panda Riot"

Inspired by the music they created together for a marine biology documentary in the early 2000s, guitarist Brian Cook and vocalist/keyboardist Rebecca Scott decided to collaborate and create music on their own. They founded shoegaze/dreampop project Panda Riot (not to be confused with the now-defunct Toronto band of the same name) and went on to develop their own watery, airy, ethereal sound with a self-described “blissful, swirl-pop, sing along sonar aesthetic.” 2007’s She Dares All Things, their first record, was the product of a number of bedroom sessions involving recently-acquired guitars and drum machines.

Since their founding and the recording of their first album, the former Philadelphians have added several new members (current lineup includes percussionist Jose Rodriguez and bassist Cory Osborne), re-located to Chicago, and dropped an EP in 2010 as well as a full-length album this past February (released on the 19th by Saint Marie Records). In this latest record, Northern Automatic Music, Panda Riot remains solid in the style that they developed early on, with lots of upbeat, sing-along-able vocals, fast-paced and fuzzily distorted guitar and keyboard tracks, and plenty of rhythmic energy. The flowing, airy, undersea-inspired vibe very much remains with this latest record, likely solidified by their experience as a band, and rounded out and strengthened by the addition of new members.

Scott’s clear, airy vocals direct the velvety flow of Northern Automatic Music, riding atop bright arrangements of Rodriguez’s drum machine rhythms (more adventurous this time around than steady beat-filled She Dares All Things) and clouded, watercolor-toned guitar and keyboard—the addition of new band members is evident: you can tell that each layer has its own flavor, creating a sound with more depth and fullness than Scott and Cook were able to make by themselves. Such fullbodied, rounded out sound is evident in dynamic, mosh-able “Black Pyramids,” bright, aerial and rhythmic “Amanda In The Clouds” and dissonant, slightly eerie “In The Forest (Some Kind Of Night Fills Your Head).” “Motown Glass,” originally appearing on 2010’s Far And Near EP, shows up on Northern Automatic Music as well, demonstrating a change (for the better, and in a more polished direction) in production quality. With the release Northern Automatic Music, it is safe to say that Panda Riot has most definitely matured.

Track List
1. Amanda In The Clouds
2. In The Forest (Some Kind Of Night Fills Your Head)
3. Serious Radical Girls
4. Northern Automatic Music
5. Golden Age
6. Mtwn Glass
7. Black Pyramids
8. Someday, Someone Will Wake You From This Nightmare
9. Good Night, Rich Kids
10. Encrypted Wilderness
11. Camden Line

- inyourspeakers.com


"Panda Riot - "Amanda in the Clouds" (MP3) (PopMatters Premiere)"

There’s no reason to wait another two decades for the next My Bloody Valentine opus to get a satisfying fix of shoegazing harmonies, not after you give up-and-comers Panda Riot a listen.
There’s no reason to wait another two decades for the next My Bloody Valentine opus to get a satisfying fix of shoegazing harmonies, not after you give up-and-comers Panda Riot a listen. PopMatters is premiering Panda Riot’s “Amanda in the Clouds”, a syrupy sweet, densely melodic soundscape that’ll have you flashing back to forgotten Amerindie dream-pop favorites like Velocity Girl and the Swirlies. The opening track off Panda Riot’s first full-length Northern Automatic Music (Saint Marie), “Amanda in the Clouds” sets you up in the right mindset for the head rush of an album that follows.

Northern Automatic Music is out on February 19. - popmatters.com


"All Music Guide - Panda Riot Review"

One listen to the first song ("Amanda in the Clouds") on Chicago shoegaze combo Panda Riot's debut album, Northern Automatic Music, is enough to see that they studied their My Bloody Valentine records very closely, with time thrown in to absorb some lessons from the Cocteau Twins as well. From the Valentines they took the glide guitars and basic songwriting techniques, from the Twins they took glittering atmospheres. Though the template is well worn and many bands have used it to make really lousy records, the quartet does a fine job of creating a wall of sound that is impressively enveloping, but also bolstered by dynamic shifts and livened up by the occasional surprise (like piano dropping in here and there). They show an impressive level of craft and imagination within the tight shoegaze format, never allowing themselves to sound stale or merely nostalgic. Songs like "Black Pyramids" and "Mtwn Glass" have a surging beauty that a band just looking to rip off a sound couldn't easily knock off. The one place the record stumbles a little is in the vocal department, not that Rebecca Scott's vocals are bad; the opposite is true. She sounds perfectly fine, but she needs to be buried deeper in the mix. Otherwise, it's terribly hard to be swept away by the undulating guitars and woozy tempos when you can hear exactly what Scott is saying. Fix this on the next record and everything will be better, maybe even great. As it is, Northern Automatic Music is a fine debut that fans of shoegaze music should find quite enjoyable. - allmusic.com


"Northern Automatic Music Review - Big Takeover"

I have listened to this album a lot over the past few weeks, trying to get my head around it. Some might say their sound qualifies for shoegaze status, but that is too facile. They might even remark about a certain superficial resemblance between Rebecca Cook’s lovely voice and Miki Berenyi of Lush. But that is too easy, I think. Recorded in an old Chicago warehouse, this releases features an expanded lineup (drummer José Rodriguez) and focuses less on artificial beats than previous outings. It is all expertly recorded, and could be the perfect sonic tapestry for night owls

Truthfully, Panda Riot, whose origins come from film-making, have a unique sound. It can drip with gentle piano when you expect sonic bombast, or meander into the liquid notes of the lovely instrumental “Encrypted Wilderness”, which was too short for my tastes. And then there’s the slow burn of “Camden Line”, which remains my favorite track on the album. I just love the way it fades out with music box keyboards dominating the mix. And what about the beautiful “Golden Age”, which swirls magically through and around you? It’s another great instrumental, and you start to see where their cinematic experience comes into play.

When asked about their influences in a recent interview from When the Sun Hits, the band say that art, philosophy, and film hold greater weight than music. That could explain why “spot the influence” is a pointless game when absorbing Panda Riot’s music. I suggest kicking back with a good set of headphones and letting the music settle around you like a velvety cloak. Look for the album at the usual venues on February 19th. - www.bigtakeover.com


"Louder than War Panda Riot Review"

Panda Riot ‘Northern Automatic Music’ (Saint Marie Records)
CD/Vinyl/DL
Available now

Panda Riot define their sound as “dreampop from Chicago” – for once a PR strap-line perfectly sets the tone.

Ethereal, swirling, iridescent, gossamer clouds, cinematic…just some of the words used to describe the musical genre affectionately known as shoe-gazing, and after reading Steve Fanning’s review of the post M83 out Team Ghost’s ‘Rituals’ (LTW Review) it would seem we are witnessing a revival of sorts…

‘Northern Automatic Music’ is the first full length release from the Chicago based four piece, a welcome follow up to 2011’s ‘Far And Near’ EP and a clear indication of their continuing evolution down in part to the inclusion of drummer Jose Rodriguez who brings welcome vitality to their previous drum machine induced beats; even the song titles fit snuggly into the blissed out fuzzy noise – opener ‘Amanda In the Clouds’ is awash with humming guitars that offer a sense of urgency and floating over of this the fragile almost lullaby voice of Rebecca Scott, her voice is particularly strong during ‘In The Forest (Some Kind Of Night Fills Your Head)’ which eases off on the fuzzed-out guitar effects and demonstrates that Panda Riot have a strong sense of melody and understand the craft of song-writing all of which draws you into the mist.



‘Serious Radical Girls’ has a gorgeous chorus that drops away to allow subtle keys to glisten; the instrumental ‘Golden Age’ with its twinkling tones instantly evokes images of a fragile sun breaking through the darkness, whereas ‘Black Pyramids’ has a more aggressive strident tone, briefly dropping away before the layers of guitar build to an apex, it’s all fluttering rhythms and enchanting jangly guitar effects on the instrumental ‘Someday, Someone Will Wake You From This Nightmare’.

‘Good Night, Rich Kids’ instantly reminds me of Ladytron, in fact Ladytron crossed with a toned down My Bloody Valentine is an ideal reference point, though it must be emphasised that Panda Riot have been able to craft their own distinctive sound, and have created an album that seems to adapt to your own mood, be it exaltation or melancholy ‘Northern Automatic Music’ will reward.

- See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/panda-riot-northern-automatic-music-album-review/#sthash.NAN37hlp.dpuf - louderthanwar.com


"Panda Riot - She Dares All Things"

Merge the entrancing swoon of The Cocteau Twins with the angelic singing of Lush and the chainsaw guitars of My Bloody Valentine and Panda Riot's She Dares All Things might be the result. Don't be fooled though: strip away the axe-generated beehive drenching every song and you've got the sunniest pop this side of Morr Music. Formed in 2005 by aspiring film-makers Rebecca Scott and Brian Cook, Panda Riot pairs her soaring soprano with his churning guitar, bass, and drum machine roar. The album's more than a monochromatic shoegaze collection: “The Jesus Demeanor” is distinguished by the hint of hip-hop that animates its grungy wave of fuzz while “Plateau” shape-shifts between passages of woozy psychedelia and clear-eyed buoyancy before flaming out in an epic climax. The duo briefly turns down the amps on the celestial “Olivia on the Downbeat,” laying bare Panda Riot's folkier side (not to mention what sounds like a mellotron at song's end). The duo contends that “you don't need fancy equipment or tons of cash to create outstanding music” and truer words were never spoken. Accurate too is the album subtitle “a collection of singles recorded in our bedroom” as the songs are as concise and hook-laden as the best singles. “Suspense Kiss,” for example, rides the album out on a heavenly guitar wave that's so immense it well nigh buries the singing—until the closing seconds when the guitars recede and the vocals stand alone. Thirty-seven minutes never vanished so quickly.

February 2008 - TEXTURA


"Panda Riot - She Dares All Things"

Merge the entrancing swoon of The Cocteau Twins with the angelic singing of Lush and the chainsaw guitars of My Bloody Valentine and Panda Riot's She Dares All Things might be the result. Don't be fooled though: strip away the axe-generated beehive drenching every song and you've got the sunniest pop this side of Morr Music. Formed in 2005 by aspiring film-makers Rebecca Scott and Brian Cook, Panda Riot pairs her soaring soprano with his churning guitar, bass, and drum machine roar. The album's more than a monochromatic shoegaze collection: “The Jesus Demeanor” is distinguished by the hint of hip-hop that animates its grungy wave of fuzz while “Plateau” shape-shifts between passages of woozy psychedelia and clear-eyed buoyancy before flaming out in an epic climax. The duo briefly turns down the amps on the celestial “Olivia on the Downbeat,” laying bare Panda Riot's folkier side (not to mention what sounds like a mellotron at song's end). The duo contends that “you don't need fancy equipment or tons of cash to create outstanding music” and truer words were never spoken. Accurate too is the album subtitle “a collection of singles recorded in our bedroom” as the songs are as concise and hook-laden as the best singles. “Suspense Kiss,” for example, rides the album out on a heavenly guitar wave that's so immense it well nigh buries the singing—until the closing seconds when the guitars recede and the vocals stand alone. Thirty-seven minutes never vanished so quickly.

February 2008 - TEXTURA


"Remix Magazine Review"

Chicago's Panda Riot honors its shoegaze roots with a gauzy and energetic debut à la Asobi
Seksu. She Dares All Things teeters on high-end overload at the jump, as treble-rich guitars
flood opener “White Elephants” before vocalist Rebecca Scott delivers an unexpectedly
chipper performance. After the twinkling “Like Flowers at Night” beat machine-steadied intro,
Panda Riot's most satisfying effort breaks into several shifts, with more insanely bright
guitars, a beach-pop melody and an urgency that was once only attributed to rioting pandas.
Jesus, those things can get really hostile.
— Dominic Umile

- Remix Magazine


"BiBaBiDi review"

BiBaBiDi
Panda Riot (MySpace) is this absolutely wonderful shoegaze outfit from Chicago. It's shoegaze with a little less distortion and a little more pop twists smeared all over. The hooks are cleaner, the vocals less distorted, the guitars less fuzzy and atmospheric, but this is definitely shoegaze at its core.
If you were down with Asobi Seksu, then I'd say Panda Riot is right up your alley. Contagious melodies, beautiful singing, a great rhythm section -- an overall super collective and tight band. And like I said, there's just enough distortion and wall-of-sound noise in there to get the My Bloody Valentine juices flowing.
Click on the homepage picture and you'll be directed to a page with a plethora of ordering options for the new album, She Dares All Things (which, while I've not heard in its entirety, I'm assuming is fantastic, so check out a couple tunes below to get the gist of the whole).
- BiBaBiDi


"Organ Magazine Review"

PANDA RIOT – She Dares All Things (self release) - Well they don’t really sound much like you’d expect a panda riot to sound, more like a slowly drifting creamy shoegazer band. A fine band with a warm inviting sweet-voiced left-field lo-fi alt.rock edge. Positively lo-fi that is, Panda Riot are a creative treat of a band from Chicago and this is a rather pleasant and sometimes very beautiful album. Lo-fi in this case does not mean poor quality - the production, packaging and everything about this album is just right, Panda Riot are a band with their heads in the right places. Creative beauty, delightful gentle textures, inviting fuzz and Rebecca Scott has a rather soothing welcoming voice – swirling, creamy, melodic and a quiet gentle inviting maelstrom of warm sounds, refined guitars, gentle keyboards, caressed drums, angelic celestial sounds – a delightful album from a very positive rewarding recommended band – www.pandariot.com - Organ Magazine


"skatterbrain review"


I've seen Panda Riot around on the interwebs for quite some time now, but to
be quite honest, I'd never checked them out until just recently because, well,
their name doesn't exactly scream really beautiful shoegaze pop. But another
lesson learned about judging a book by it's cover, because I'm now completely
obsessed with Panda Riot's new-ish record She Dares All Things. Panda Riot
takes all the best things I love about MBV's Loveless and Slowdive's Souvlaki and
molds and shapes those particular things into dreamy and dancey, yet
occasionally roaring, pop songs. A large portion of She Dares All Things sounds
like a buffet of varied interpretations of the Loveless closer "Soon" and, being
like a buffet of varied interpretations of the Loveless closer "Soon" and, being
that that song makes me brilliantly happy everytime I hear it, I think that's why
I love this record so much. The particularly "Soon"-ish song "She Dares All
Things" is probably my favorite right now, but I'm also pretty in love with "Like
Flowers At Night." The whole record is pretty outstanding though, definitely best
shoegaze I've heard since, oh, well, I don't know I guess. I walked around the
city all day today with this on and I can now guarantee that it is very good music
for walking around on a slightly snowy and VERY cold day. It's also a good thing
to remember that banks and libraries are not open on Martin Luther King Day
before you walk two miles to get to them - skatterbrain.org


"Friction NYC review"

Chalk this up to an album (and band) that I completely overlooked last
year. Originally based out of Philadelphia with concentrated live plays
in New York and Philly, I missed the (now Chicago-based) “swirl-pop”
outfit, Panda Riot, along with their debut album She Dares All Things.
With a sound right up my alley and consistently playing in the two
cities where I see the most live music (esp Philly), I’m not sure how
this band slipped through the cracks for so long.
On She Dares All Things the trio of Rebecca Scott, Brian Cook, and
Justin Cheng maintain a sound that combines creative shoegaze and
indie pop. Throughout the album, charming, hooky melodies and pop
twists are blended with raucous walls of noise. Rebecca Scott’s delicate
breathy vocals add further sweetness to the slabs of noise, making for a
solid collection of fuzzed out shoegaze tracks. The only issue that one
may find with the record (as a friend pointed out) is the lack of live
drums (Panda Riot employs a drum machine to kick out their beats),
which at times can be weak. It doesn’t take anything away from the
band’s sound, but live percussion could be a solid addition on future
work.
Fans of Swirlies, Curve, and swirling dreamy shoegaze will find She
Dares nine tracks more than satisfying. Certainly an overlooked gem of
2007. The self-released record is out now and available digitally from
iTunes and Amazon. If it’s a physical copy of the album you’re looking
for, order it over at the band’s website. Check out “Art School Girls of
Doom” along with a video for the album’s title track below. Love how
the drone-y guitars kick in on the chorus of “Art School Girls of
Doom.” More songs on MySpace.
- Friction NYC


"Panda Riot"

As Philly's fledgling Panda Riot, Brian Cook and Rebecca Scott aren't out to reinvent the wheel. They're content to program a drum machine, plug in a few pedals, don guitars and bliss out. Throw in Scott's translucent singing, and the results fall between the Swirlies and early Spinanes, without the proper drumming.

- Philadelphia City Paper


"Philadelphia Weekly"

..... Philly’s Panda Riot are a band to watch, churning out masses of guitar fuzz over machine-made beats and topping the murk with angelic female vocals..... - Panda Riot


"Panda Riot"

As Philly's fledgling Panda Riot, Brian Cook and Rebecca Scott aren't out to reinvent the wheel. They're content to program a drum machine, plug in a few pedals, don guitars and bliss out. Throw in Scott's translucent singing, and the results fall between the Swirlies and early Spinanes, without the proper drumming.

- Philadelphia City Paper


"Bands to Watch"

Yeah, this blissful, bashful Philly pop duo will probably make you think of My Bloody Valentine, but don't be suprised if you here some HollAnd in there too. Rebecca scott's hot, ghostly vocals are pressed up against a wall of guitar, keyboards and drum machine, creating something pretty and catchy. How you gonna gaze at your shoes if you're dancing. can't wait fot the full-length... - Philadelphia Weekly


"Indie Pages - Demo of the Week"

Here's another band I found out about during the New England Popfest, and although I can't say I was blown
away by their live set (the sound wasn't that great, unfortunately), I am definitely pleased by their demo cd
I picked up. Very MBV/Swirlies-ish dreamy pop that I wouldn't be surprised to see pop up on a label like
Clairecords.
- Indie Pages


"Bands to Watch"

Yeah, this blissful, bashful Philly pop duo will probably make you think of My Bloody Valentine, but don't be suprised if you here some HollAnd in there too. Rebecca scott's hot, ghostly vocals are pressed up against a wall of guitar, keyboards and drum machine, creating something pretty and catchy. How you gonna gaze at your shoes if you're dancing. can't wait fot the full-length... - Philadelphia Weekly


Discography

Panda Riot - Northern Automatic Music (2013)
Panda Riot - Amanda in the Clouds Flexi (2013)
Panda Riot - Serious Radical Girls 7" (2012)
Panda Riot - Far and Near ep (2010)
Panda Riot - She Dares All Things (2008)

Photos

Bio

Recorded in an old factory in Chicago, Northern Automatic Music marks a new development in Panda Riot’s sound. With the addition of drummer, José Rodriguez, the dance-laden drum machine beats of their previous recordings have a new weight and power. While maintaining a melodic focus, this record creates a darker vibe that is simultaneously haunting and euphoric. A collage of ghostly vocals, dance-y drums, dub-y bass lines and blurry guitars, the record evokes nighttime, UFOs, and pyramids in the sky.

Panda Riot formed in Philadelphia while Brian Cook and Rebecca Scott were working on short films. Soundtracks turned into songs and Panda Riot was born. After moving to Chicago, they expanded the band and in 2011 dropped the Far and Near EP. They recently released their new full length record in 2013, Northern Automatic Music on Saint Marie Records (US), Vinyl Junkie (Japan) and White Wabbit (Taiwan).

Current members:
Brian Cook (guitar, drum machine)
Rebecca Scott (keyboards & voice)
Cory Osborne (bass)
José Alejandro Rodriguez (drums)

Have played...

NYC Popfest 2011
New England Popfest 2010
Athens Popfest 2009

Have played with School of Seven Bells, Spectrum/Sonic Boom (spacemen 3) and Friends (NYC)

Band Members