Music
The Revolution Starts Now: The Mynabirds’ Generals
When the hypnotic, big beats and power guitar riffs of the Mynabirds’ “Generals”—the first single and also, incidentally, the title track of Laura Burhenn’s sophomore effort—were introduced in February, I was immediately excited by the possibility of a promised new sound. … read more
National Music Reviews – June 2012
New releases from Allah-Lahs, Andre Williams & The Sadies, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Burzum, Dntel, Gossip, Here We Go Magic, Hot Water Music, Jack White, Marduk, The Melvins, Sleep, Ty Segall & White Fence, and many, many more are reviewed. … read more
National Music Reviews – May 2012
New and recent releases from Ane Brun, fIREHOSE, Gift of Gab, Mean Jeans, Saint Vitus, Sleepy Sun, Torche, Zammuto and many more are reviewed. … read more
The Opiates – Hollywood Cuts: The Remixes Review
There’s always something to be said of a great remix and what it can do to transform a song—from reverent ballad to tits-out club stomper—and how it can revitalize or even reinvent a release. One of my favorite albums of last year was easily Hollywood Under the Knife, released under dance diva extraordinaire Billie Ray Martin’s great Opiates moniker. I was excited by the notion of a new full-length remix album, but didn’t expect to be so blown away by it. … read more
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Music Reviews
New releases from Black Breath, Busdriver, Craig Finn, Damien Jurado, Dirty Three, Graf Orlock, Lee Fields, Mark Stewart, Miike Snow, Poor Moon, Spectral Tombs and many more are reviewed this month. … read more
National Music Reviews – March 2012
This month we have reviews of new and recent releases from A Place to Bury Strangers, Andre Williams, Anti-Flag, Cate le Bon, Classics of Love, Every Time I Die, Hunx, Lindstrom, Meshuggah, Nada Surf, Pontiak, Spielgusher and many, many more. … read more
Farther, Creepier: Spoek Mathambo and South African House
Before the idea of moving to Africa was even a thing, my love affair with Johannesburg musician/rapper Spoek Mathambo was moving beyond crush-level. There was something about Spoek’s 2010 debut, Mshini Wam, that seethed with an unplaceable “Otherness” that we Westerners can only associate with Africa. Like a funhouse mirror, the distortions of Western musical output came back to us only to highlight our deep-seated insecurities. … read more
Music Reviews
New and recent releases from Barry Adamson, Damon & Naomi, Earth, John K. Samson, Napalm Death, Sharon Van Etten, Skrillex, Yuksek and many more are reviewed. … read more
National CD Reviews – January 2012
New and recent releases from The Cure, The Devil’s Blood, Errors, Kepi Ghoulie, Laura Gibson, Majestic Downfall, Mickey Moonlight, The Slackers, Tim “Love” Lee and many more are reviewed. … read more
Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow review
Performing one of the year’s greatest musical achievements—releasing not one but two varied and nearly perfect records—would be daunting for any artist, but when that artist is Kate Bush the announcement of a second release within six months seemed nearly to good to be true. But as the details of 50 Words for Snow were tantalizingly revealed, this dream notion was very much a reality. … read more