I'm coming to realize this week that holidays (vacations) as I knew them are over. In the past, holidays with Dr. O'C have been leisurely affairs - sleeping late, consuming novels like candy, leisurely walks on the beach, wandering through the ancient cities of Europe, luxurious dinners. Well, with the introduction of a toddler terrorist into the equation things have changed. There is certainly no sleeping in together. We did take a walk on the beach yesterday, but there's a difference between leisurely and zigging and zagging in a generally backward direction after a toddler who's recently learned to run. [...]
Just a reminder of where we've been thus far: 10. The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive" 9. The Black Angels - "Directions To See A Ghost" 8. Sun Kil Moon - "April" 7. Frank Turner - "Love, Ire & Song" 6. Vampire Weekend - "Vampire Weekend" 5. Jon and Roy - "Another Noon" One of the toughest things about living in Britain was making friends. The English are notoriously reserved, tend [...]
Those of you who have been around for a while know that A Free Man originated as a site that was cleverly named after myself - my full name. I started to get a little nervous about internet pirates and also wanted to prevent coworkers or old high school acquaintances from finding the site. I wanted to be anonymous. To be able to say what I wanted without occasionally reckless or borderline libelous statements being attached to me forever. You never know, I may still make that run for president. For the most part, A Free Man works OK. If [...]
Australia is probably most famous, or infamous at least, for having more species of lethal critters per capita than any other place on earth. There are crocodiles, all manner of snakes and spiders, box jellyfish, blue-ringed octopi, and on and on. It was kind of an exciting idea - moving to this raw Southern Hemisphere wilderness with animals that are just itching to kill you around every bend. Dr. O'C comes home almost daily with some tale about encountering a 'killer spider'. I haven't seen any kind of spiders. In fact, I have yet to encounter any native fauna that [...]
Just a reminder of where we've been thus far: 10. The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive" 9. The Black Angels - "Directions To See A Ghost" 8. Sun Kil Moon - "April" Well I guess I should confess that I am starting to get old. All the latest music fads all passed me by and left me cold. All the kids are talking slang I won't pretend to understand. Frank Turner featured on my [...]
2007 was a damn good year for new music. It was propelled forward by some sort of momentous occasion in 2006 that seemed to save all of the genres. 2008 blew by quickly, though, and the albums put out were still burning the energy radiating from the year before. I don't know that many albums could argue they were radiating their own light. I have actually had a hell of a time putting together a Top Ten. A few of my favorites put out new albums this year, but those didn't change [...]
Just a reminder of where we've been thus far: 10. The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive" 9. The Black Angels - "Directions To See A Ghost" I was really struggling to come up with a way to write about the latest LP from Mark Kozelek (aka Sun Kil Moon ). I knew I loved it. I knew it was one of my favorite records of the year, but the words to describe "April" ( Caldo Verde ) were eluding me. Then the other day I [...]
It was Boy Z and Papa Party Day today which means that I am, as usual, brain dead. Lucky for me I already wrote a pretty thorough review of my choice for the ninth best album by an unsigned artist or an artist signed to a truly independent label. So, I'm going to take the easy way out and refer back to my review from earlier this year. "Directions to See a Ghost" ( Light In The Attic ) is the sophomore LP from Austin's The Black Angels . As you can probably guess from the name [...]
Salacious Sound wants to hear from YOU!! We are currently working out what we feel are the best of 2008, and we'd like to know what you think. So far I'm liking Sam Sparro, M83, and Portishead. What has had you moving all year? We're interested in all genres - the only stipulation is that it must be a full album (use your judgement!) So get to submitting !! Tags: Top 10 Albums of 2008
I know this is almost a whole month early, but there's all sorts of reasons for getting my list out early. December is the time when everyone begins to take stock of the year's achievements and gets all nostalgic about the blue remembered hills of the past twelve months, so there's a more receptive audience for this kind of post. Plus, when January comes around it'll be time to look forward to the bright and promising future, so nostalgia is officially banned. It's also nearly Christmas, and lists like this one are an easy way to decide on presents for [...]
1. THE STILLS - OCEANS WILL RISE Favorite Track: "Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard" 2. BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE PRESENTS: BRENDAN CANNING SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US Favorite Track: "Churches Under The Stairs" 3. ALBERT HAMMOND, JR. - CÓMO TE LLAMA? Favorite Track: "Spooky Couch" 4. CAT [...]
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Music Alliance Pact – February 2012
Listen: Usher x Diplo – Climax
Skrillex Uses Satanic and Homosexual Influence to Win Grammys
A-Trak - "Round of Applause" / "Where My Money At" (MP3 Download)
Music Alliance Pact. MAP. February 2012.
