God bless reissue labels. Case in point, the Dragons’ BFI—a West coast surf/psych romp resurrected in 2007 via London’s Ninja Tune Records. It’s one of those quintessential crate-digger finds, seemingly forgotten, only to gain a new audience 30+ years after it original release. The story goes (and there is always a story) that several years [...]
A one of a kind record from a talent so deep it kills you to learn… this is all there is. Straight out of Austin, TX this may be the best of the whole Armadillo/outlaw scene, though Willis never wanted a part of it in the first place. Country fans and foes alike should grab [...]
Heads up, Los Angeles. On March 27th Aquarium Drunkard, in conjunction with the Echo, is holding its first ever all ages festival here in L.A. in Echo Park. Dubbed WAVED OUT, after my favorite Robert Pollard solo album, this is the first of what will be a recurring event featuring emerging national, local and international [...]
Will Oldham’s next long player (with the Cairo Gang) is out March 23rd on Drag City. He and Emmett Kelly have dubbed this one The Wonder Show of the World. I have yet to hear a note of it, but the pair did issue this non-album teaser—a stark, bare bones, reworking of Conway Twitty’s “Play, [...]
Latest offering from Matthew Houck (Phosphorescent). Look for the new LP, Here’s To Taking It Easy, out May 11th via Dead Oceans. MP3: Phosphorescent :: It’s Hard to Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama) ——————— + Download Phosphorescent via eMusic’s 25 free MP3 no risk trial offer ____________________________________________________________________________________
In 2005 I dubbed White Foliage’s six song EP, Zurich, “ethereal dream pop.” Five years later, revisiting the EP’s high point, “Drug Song,” the description still hold true. Since the release of Zurich, White Foliage have regrouped, dubbing themselves Secret Cities, emerging “with a cocktail of Spector-esque doe-eyed romanticism.” Austin based label Western Vinyl will [...]
Truly great soundtracks don’t come easy. This is what makes the companion to Trainspotting so unusual. Not only does it manage to nail the cultural moment the film portrays (and aurally recreate the film’s story in its running order), but it also escapes the film entirely becoming its own album. It plays out like a [...]
When I wasn’t busy blasting my eardrums out with the Creation and 4AD catalogs Slumberland Records was the essential go-to label for all things noise-pop. Almost every artist paid tribute to My Bloody Valentine, Ride and Pale Saints in some form, but Black Tambourine had a bubblegum pop quality to their music that the Shogaze/C86 [...]
If it seems the late Fela Kuti is everywhere these days it’s because he is. He’s on Broadway with the Jay-Z/Will Smith produced musical Fela!, his entire (immense) discography is being reissued in grand fashion, and most recently Now Again Records have released Black Man’s Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti. Available as both a [...]
Like a ghost ship hovering somewhere off the coast, broadcasting crackly pirate-radio blasts into the ether, Ponytone is as mysterious as it is unrivaled. And by that I mean it is an aural treasure. Welcome to the second installment of an irregular series in which I highlight some of my favorite voices online (and beyond). [...]
