Melvins’ ‘Tarantula Heart’ Marks Their Strange Trip
Melvins are masters of their craft, still able to make songs that stand with their finest work precisely because they’re never trying to recapture that past.
rock
25 Years of Tom Waits’ ‘Mule Variations’
With Mule Variations, Tom Waits tamed his vaudevillian guises and showed that he was aging gracefully, while retaining his integrity towards his artistry.
10 Fresh Driving Songs for Hitting the Road
Does your cruising playlist sound a bit hoary these days? Here are ten fresh driving songs, rocking highway anthems to get your motor running.
The Who Release an Anemic Mix of a 1982 Historic Show
The third live album of the Who’s 1982 farewell tour improves little on the others. It’s hard to imagine that modern recording technology couldn’t have helped.
Erika Angell’s New LP Makes You Appreciate Her Excellence
Experimentalist Erika Angell has a deep track record of producing intriguing music, but here, under her own name, it feels like she’s created her masterwork.
The Eagles Were ‘On the Border’ of Greatness 50 Years Ago
The Eagles’ On the Border (1974) signified the crossing of a musical boundary, as they progressed from country to rock, ensuring future mainstream success.
The Church’s Companion Album to ‘The Hypnogogue’ Is Superb
The Church’s “companion piece” to The Hypnogogue is just as good. It didn’t take long for the veteran Aussie psych-rockers to break in their new lineup.
Built to Spill’s ‘Keep It Like a Secret’ Still Surprises at 25
Has any songwriter used the words “things” and “sounds” and made small matters seem more significant and full of possibility as much as Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch?
Elvis Costello’s ‘Armed Forces’ Remains a Potent Critique of Power
Forty-five years after Elvis Costello’s Armed Forces first arrived in record stores, its commentary on fascism is extremely relevant to today’s politics.
Elbow Stay “Guerilla”: An Interview with Guy Garvey
Weeks after his 50th birthday, Guy Garvey talks about Elbow’s electric new album, their wildest since their 2008 breakthrough The Seldom Seen Kid.
Kim Gordon’s ‘The Collective’ Is an Addictive Mix of Sounds
Who had Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon making a collection of trunk-rattling near hip-hop and industrial noise on their 2024 bingo card?
Ratboys Seize ‘The Window’ of Opportunity
After breaking through with a lockdown-inspired set of songs, the Ratboys’ “post-country” stylings find a new audience, opening for the Decemberists.