WHO: Aesop Rock WHAT: Black Hole Superette WHY: Because, despite being big Aesop Rock fans, we slept on his previous record ITS. Fool me once. Black Hole Superette has the same slick production and personal elements Aes is known for. Full of personality, serious topics, humor, and slice of life stories (who is John-something?), this album just further proves that the best rap music happens not in the mean stream. I didn’t even know they were called “superettes.” Listen to...
Lambrini Girls Who Let the Dogs Out? I’ve been holding off on reviewing this record because I’ve been thinking about it a lot the past couple months. There’s a lot of buzz around this band right now and rightfully so. Their music has the best elements of punk rock: it’s socially and politically conscious and has a sense of urgency to it. It’s also confrontational and has guts, which I love. People love comparisons, and why not? Why not try...
The Brian Jonestown Massacre “Makes Me Great” b/w “Out Of Body” 10” (A Records) A deeper look at the grooves pressed into the “Makes Me Great” b/w “Out Of Body” 10” single by The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Since beginning to self-release their records twenty years ago, Brian Jonestown Massacre has unilaterally chosen to not only take control of their output, they’ve occasionally proven that they’re not above getting very, very self indulgent in service of their muse. That often means...
The Peawees One Ride LP (Wild Honey/Spaghetty Town Records) A deeper look at the grooves pressed into the One Ride LP by The Peawees. While it would be difficult to call what The Peawees do on their debut album particularly unique or innovative (from front to back, the band makes the most of its own barroom rock aesthetic, and seasons in horns to make the standout cuts on the album sparkle and shine), actually listening to One Ride can win...
Jon SpencerSick of Being Sick A long time ago Steve Albini was on the Marc Maron podcast and was asked who his favorite people were to produce. Albini mentioned Jon Spencer and said something like “he knows exactly what he wants.” If you don’t know who Jon Spencer is, or don’t like his music, doesn’t that at least command some form of respect? Of all the people Albini has worked with, and been underwhelmed by, Spencer stands out. Luckily for...
A deeper look at the grooves pressed into the Nuisance EP by Clean Lines. At this point, the city of Seattle has become synonymous with grunge – but on their Nuisance EP, Clean Lines prove that there are other, greater musical possibilities which also come from the Evergreen State. Within just four cuts’ time, Clean Lines don’t just crib some ideas from The Briefs and call it a day – rather, they ambitiously utilize recognizable sounds and rethink some well-tread...
David Bowie TOY:Box (6 X 10” box set) (ISO Records/Parlophone) A deeper look at the grooves pressed into the David Bowie TOY:Box (6 X 10” box set) After David Bowie’s death in 2016, the singer proved to still be able to make news with the series of releases that he had intended to see come out – and were actually followed through upon...
A deeper look at the grooves pressed into the Here Comes Our Wave LP by The Black Pacific. Now six years after the release of Never Gonna Die, it really doesn’t seem like Pennywise plans on putting out a new album anytime soon – which is a terrible shame. Since they started in 1988, Pennywise was often regarded as the hard-grinding skate punk band seated comfortably at the punk rock head table alongside NOFX, Offspring, Green Day and Bad Religion...
X Smoke & Fiction (Fat Possum Records)Smoke & Fiction was one of the most important records of 2024. How? Let me count the ways. For one it was, just plainly on the surface, a record that did many things and did them well. Compared to both rock and punk music it sounded fresh, yet undeniably familiar. It also managed to be both fun and urgent, and musically it was catchy as hell. Blame that on guitarist Billy Zoom’s rockabilly tendencies...
The Hilken Mancini Band I wasn’t expecting to have drinks with Hilken Mancini two days before Thanksgiving, but there we were. I’m not name-dropping, it happens. We were there because she insisted on meeting me in person to give me a copy of her excellent new record by the Hilken Mancini Band. She’s still looking for a better name, by the way, if you happen to have one. And she was giving me a copy because I needed to review...