Of Love and Loss, the new record from NYC-based Bipolar Explorer is something of a departure from their previous work, it is at once quieter and more far-reaching. It is eclectic and spare, and altogether haunting. The band, it turns out, was already staking out new ground before they recorded the first wave of songs for what would become this record. Having pared down to a drummerless core of two guitars, bass and vocals, BPX’s new sound was emerging as...
Listening to The Baptist Generals' new album, it seems like it should be important to take a quick look at the history of the label which put it out (Sub Pop) to really understand the release's importance. Founded in Seattle in the mid-Eighties, Sub Pop's original mission was to try and get some of the band's which were springing up around the Pacific Northwest a bit of exposure but, when grunge exploded and bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney suddenly...
After so many years spent as one of the most popular rock acts in Canada, it might be hard for fans to remember where Sloan started musically and what really contributed to the band's sound. Really, no one can be faulted for that; most of Sloan's popular notice came when they were writing smart alt-pop songs like “The Good In Everyone,” “The Lines You Amend,” “She Says What She Means,” “Money City Maniacs” and “Losing California” – after they had...
If American listeners have any broad familiarity with Charli XCX, it’s most likely thanks to her work on Swedish dance pop duo Icona Pop’s “I Love It” – XCX co-wrote and lent her vocals to the rousing dance anthem. With the release of True Romance the British singer is working, for the most part, on her own (Brooke Candy appears on the track “Cloud Aura”), and in greyer shades than the black and white of “I Love It.” Born in...
Heyheyhey junky, Awright, I know I usually take a bitta time ta talk some trash right off da top o' my SWAG Reports, but dis week I'm gonna skippit cuz I got somethin' ta talk about. "Whatever might you have to discuss with us Donnie," ya ask? New Black Flag! At's right, ya heard me, ya punk, new moogerfoogin' Black Flag! I guess Greg Ginn put tagetha a buncha guys ta call Black Flag (Greg Moore's playin' drums, Dave Klin's...
It took a couple of formative years and releases to really get settled and established, but Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine has found its rhythm and released a new, instantly classic album in White People and the Damage Done. Those readers who have heard about this album but haven't actually heard any of the music yet may be skeptical, but one listen will prove that this is Biafra's best release in a quarter-century. There will be no...
While there's no denying that Heroes (Willie Nelson's first album back on Sony Music) and Let's Face The Music and Dance are very entertaining records, one has to wonder how long it will be before Willie Nelson – arguably one of the greatest, most celebrated and prolific songwriters in American music history – picks up a pen and starts writing again. The first criticism which could be made of Let's Face The Music and Dance, in fact, is that there...
If the measure of a songwriter's talent and influence can be found in the list of performers who agree to appear on a tribute album to him, then it's possible that John Denver might be the dark horse winner for being the most influential songwriter of his generation. The proof of possibility can be found on The Music Is You; not at all scavenging for talent (contributors include Evan Dando, My Morning Jacket, Dave Matthews, Lucinda Williams and J Mascis...
On Mosquito, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs seemed determined to tap into our deepest fears. Just a glance down the song titles reads like a list of phobias: “Sacrilege,” “Subway,” “Mosquito,” “Slave,” “Buried Alive,” “Despair.” You are already uneasy before you even hit play. "Sacrilege," a punk rock song with a gospel chorus, kicks things off right away by putting the fear of god into you, without ever letting you know just what (in the band's collective mind)...
I'm not much of a hip hop-head. Maybe I haven't given it enough of a shot, but most of it just doesn't connect with me. I'm not going to try to debate or explain that here, I just bring it up to point out that, while the name Dan the Automator does ring a bell, it doesn't mean a lot to me. In my mind, he's just another producer. On the other hand, I've been following Emily Wells since I...