Last month was the time of year for another SLUG romp-down to the huge music festival South by Southwest (SXSW) for its 28th year of taking over the Music Capital of the World: Austin, Texas. SLUG caught some prolific, emerging and downright obscure acts to bring back home to the Beehive State. Read further for the lowdown on the good (or bad) stuff that stood out for our audiophile ears! … read more
Book reviews for 27, Apathy For The Devil, Saltfront; SL,UT; Rocks Off, The Stone Roses and Vivatera. … read more
This month, I delighted in finding the connections within the gallery exhibits, artists, themes and methodology. As I tied them together, I felt looped in—I hope you will, too. … read more
Happy National Doodle Day, March 7! … read more
More than 10 years after the band’s inception, Pissed Jeans have gone from punk stardom to Sub Pop’s best-kept secret. A combination of hardcore punk and noise rock, with a smattering of dudeist cynicism, Pissed Jeans were a total gamble—a divergence from typical Sub Pop artists of the last decade like Fleet Foxes and The Shins. … read more
February 2014 National Music Reviews … read more
Founded in 2007, Sacred Bones Records has grown from a small, independent label based in Brooklyn into a diverse community of international artists—with a range that includes the avant-pop star Zola Jesus, the psych-kraut of Psychic Ills, the dismantled post-punk of Pop. 1280 and The Men, coldwave outfits VÅR and Lust for Youth, and industrial noise fright Pharmakon. Though difficult to categorize, Sacred Bones releases are hooked through with fervent, often unsettling dedication to the craft and communal life of music. … read more
DVD reviews for ’83 US Festival Days 1-3 and What Makes Me Tic. … read more
Opening any release from Death Waltz Recording Company is like opening a fantastic gift—soundtracks to films both cult and lost, with bespoke tip-on jackets, detailed liner notes, unique artwork, lithographs and colorful variants, all combined to form an immensely rewarding multisensory experience. These records aren’t like many others: They’re special, rather than a reissue cash grab—and obviously the work of someone who loves what he’s doing. I spoke with Spencer Hickman, owner of Death Waltz, via Skype at 3 a.m. here, to make up for the time difference between the Mountain West and the UK. The conversation moved quickly, comfortably, and focused on one of my favorite topics—records. … read more
February 2014 Local Music Reviews … read more