To celebrate Gary Numan's 30th year in music, Beggars Banguet has just re-issued Tubeway Army's 1979 synth masterpiece Replicas as Gary Numan & Tubeway Army – Replicas Redux. What's more, Gary Numan has set off on a 15-date UK tour through March where he'll be performing the album in its entirety. I can only hope he'll throw in some US dates, like NYC, because I'd be so there. Here are a couple of my favorites off the original Replicas. But apparently there's extra stuff on the re-issue, so a great time to snag this incredible album if [...]
I discovered Hefner in the late 90's, and was immediate drawn to the offbeat vocal style of Darren Hayman. After putting out a many EPs and a couple full-length records, they released Boxing Hefner in 2000, which was a compilation of all kinds of stuff from across their catalogue, including new song called "The Science Fiction." I lost some interest with the band's last couple releases, and missed out on Darren's solo projects and The French. But, I'm back on board now after picking up his latest, Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern , a [...]
I can hardly forgive myself for missing The Clean when they played NYC last summer. I have great affection for the New Zealand bands that recorded with Flying Nun throughout the 1980's, e.g., the Verlaines, Chris Knox, the Chills, the Bats, etc. And of course the Clean, who really were at the heart of it all. They just put out fiercely original music that went on to inspire countless bands (and still do). I recently watched Heavenly Pop Hits: the Flying Nun Story on You Tube, which is a great documentary about [...]
Handsome Furs are a Vancouver-based duo consisting of Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner and his fiancée, Alexei Perry. Their debut, Plague Park , was released in mid-2007. And although the sound is stripped down with just guitars and a drum machine, it's incredibly full and textured. The effect is dark, dusty, and raucous in the all right places. Dead + Rural Cannot Get, Started
At just 22 years of age, Dev Hynes has already reinvented himself from a former dance-punker in Test Icicles, into a precious, folkster dubbed Lightspeed Champion. The sound is definitely in the realm of Patrick Wolf, whom he toured with, and he's also connected to the whole Saddle Creek collective in Nebraska. What can you say… it works. The album is something special from a unique talent. Tell Me What It's Worth
These guys have definitely never gotten the recognition they deserve. They put out their debut This is My Drug Hell back in 1996, which yielded a modest college radio hit with "Girl at the Bus Stop." For an amazing record that was, in my opinion, one of the best of that year, they should have gotten a whole lot more attention. Fast forward to 2008, and finally there is a follow-up due sometime this year – supposedly called My Drug Hell 2 – released by a rinky-dink label called Forthesakeofthesong. I've heard about [...]
Stephin Merritt returns after four years with Distortion , yet another "concept" album. Funny that it seems more of a return to the early days of The Wayward Bus/Distant Plastic Trees ... and that's a good thing. I was one of the few that thought his 1999 breakthrough, 69 Love Songs , was completely overwrought and would have worked better as 34.5 love songs, but alas, the "concept" was born. Distortion works well with shared vocals by Merritt and Shirley Simms. It gets the songwriting balance right between sincerity and comedy. [...]
After what I consider to be a bit of a misstep with Pretty in Black , The Raveonettes are back with Lust Lust Lust . This latest effort is a candy-coated confection of sex and guitar fuzz, which is precisely what I've always found most appealing about them. Solid Solid Solid is the verdict for their fourth outing. Dead Sound
As is always the case, I got into a few albums during the last weeks of 2007 that finally made it onto my iPod and into my brain. These gems would probably make it onto the top 15 list, or I would've had to make it 20. Shocking Pinks Shocking Pinks Think My Bloody Valentine and New Order, updated with a thoroughly modern sound. [...]
So blogging has apparently not set my world aflame, since it's been about a year since my last post (ahh... but what a post it was). Since it's the end of a great year in music, I may as well put out my top picks for the year. How about 15 to make up for the lack of content, and to outdo last year. Good stuff all so take a listen and enjoy! 1. Jarvis Cocker Jarvis [...]
Here they are... the albums I enjoyed most this past year. Actually putting them in sequential order is always a tricky endeavor, as day to day my opinion shifts. For example, the past week I've been listening to the Black Angels record quite a bit, and am tempted to slide it up a couple notches. At some point you've just gotta call it, and say it's done - whether it's a silly list such as this or something more life affecting. Anyhoo, the 10 songs below make quite a playlist, so enjoy! [...]
I was reminded of how much I like this band this past weekend. I won't get into a full-fledged bio as a quick visit to AMG will tell you what you need to know, but at the heart of Songs: Ohia is prolific singer/songwriter Jason Molina. And yes, his high, fragile voice does have an uncanny resemblance to Neil Young in both tenor and lyricism (I'd say that's a compliment). Take a listen to two of my favorite tracks: "Captain Badass" off 1999's Axxess & Ace, and "Farewell Transmission" from 2003's Magnolia Electric Co, which is also the moniker he [...]
Here's a quick post just to drop an amazing song on you that appears on Nick Cave's latest release Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus. It's a double CD, and posted below is "Breathless," which appears on the Lyre disc. It's probably one of the most accessible songs he's ever written—acoustic, sweet, tuneful—just a beautifully crafted love song with of a hint of darkness buried underneath it all. It's AAC encoded, so you'll need iTunes to listen. Enjoy, it's a terrific song for the Summer. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Breathless
As I make my way to work each morning down Madison Avenue, I often stop in my corner Starbucks for a nice Americano. Well a couple months ago, I began to notice a strange, wild-eyed woman becoming a fixture in the corner window seat. As the days and weeks passed by, I couldn't help but become fascinated. Each day she wears the same ratty fur jacket and Ugg-like boots, regardless of the spiking heat and humidity, and sits with her shabby personal belongings strewn about. Her hair is a long, witchy salt and black pepper—with the proper [...]
Somehow, Black Mountain slipped past my radar, and I came upon Stephen Mcbean's Pink Mountaintops recently. Needless to say, I'm smitten with the stoner ease of "Axis Of Evol"... all buzzy and hazy. Made me reverse engineer, and pick up the first, self-titled Pink Mountaintops effort, which is terrific, as well the Black Mountain record. Check out the track below, and thank me later. Pink Mountaintops - Lord, Let Us Shine
Here's our dog Wally. He has many aliases depending on his mood: Wallace, Wallito, Mr. Mushnick, Dr. Barkenstein, The Wallinator, Dark Shadows, etc. He's a Smooth Tri-Color Collie. I think they look so much different than the rough (Lassie) variety. We've had him for about nine months. He's the best...great disposition, cute as all get out. His vices? He likes to bark, although not obsessively. And he likes to chew paper products, like napkins, tissues, even wood, which in the end is a hell of a lot better than a nice pair of shoes (my wife would concur).
This San Diego band has a new album out called "The Spell," which is really great. In fact, their last two records (Amore Del Tropico precedes) have both been completely solid. Basically all tracks are winners. However, If you're unfamiliar with the band, I'd recommend you fall in love with them the way I did, with a track called "A Light So Dim" off their second LP simply titled 2. This album is more stripped down and a bit uneven compared to the recent releases, but this song is just stunningly beautiful, emotive, and grim at the same instance. [...]
So... funny how it's taken me so long to get a blog up, seeing as how I'm a writer and all. But that's probably why. It's like being a professional chef. After slaving over a hot stove for hours on end (or a hot laptop in this case), usually the last thing you want to do is cook for the fun of it. But I guess there have been enough times that I've read blogs from losers that have nothing to say. So pehaps I could be one of those losers. Really though, I dig music. Mostly [...]
butch slap
[LISTEN] Gotye (Passion Pit Remix)
Big Boi & Theophilus London (feat. TRE LUCE) - 'She Said OK'
