Lou Reed’s Pre-Fame Quest to Create a National Dance Craze
Lou Reed and John Cale met while touring a novelty act trying to make a hit on a discount record label. A new compilation highlights Reed’s wild pre-fame journey.
surf rock
Loud Quiet Loud: The Top 15 Pixies Songs
These are the best songs from Pixies’ original lineup. There are sounds here you didn’t think a guitar could make, and screaming that sounds close to inhuman.
Pixies’ New LP Is a Fine Addition to Their Second Act
Pixies’ latest LP, featuring new bass player Emma Richardson, is another solid but not earth-shattering effort. It’s clever, if not cute, with a charming theme.
The Many Happy Lives of The Turtles’ Mark Volman
From working with Frank Zappa and T. Rex to singing the soundtrack to kiddie series like Strawberry Shortcake, Mark Volman’s memoir Happy Forever is a joyful read.
Khruangbin Are Still Easygoing and Effortlessly Cool
A LA SALA delivers on what Khruangbin are known for: chill, mostly easygoing guitar melodies backed by a deep rhythm section groove.
From Busan, With Love: Say Sue Me’s ‘The Last Thing Left’
Whether Say Sue Me are surf-rock, shoegaze, or dream-pop, none of these categories seem to matter when listening to the delightful The Last Thing Left.
Phương Tâm’s Vintage Rock and Roll Still Enchants on ‘Magical Nights’
Magical Nights is the sonic portrait of a paragon of rock and roll, Phương Tâm sounding like some kind of ideal of a youth music icon.
Scott Helland’s Guitarmy of One ‘The Spy Detective Collective’
The Spy Detective Collective from Scott Helland’s Guitarmy of One will strike a chord with those schooled in ’60s-era surf-rock and Henry Mancini themes.
Good Bison’s ‘Scattered Storms’ Is Positively Sun-Splashed
With touches of reggae upstrokes and even Tropicalia, Good Bison's debut EP is positively sun-splashed, lending Pablo Alvarez's various crises and neuroses a slight touch of irony, even satire.
Between the Grooves: The Beach Boys – ‘The Beach Boys Today!’
The Beach Boys Today! is an often overlooked gem in the band's catalog. We dive into each track and discover how they fit into the Beach Boys' musical growth, while also examining the recording process and release history.
In the Tempest’s Eye: An Interview with Surfer Blood
Surfer Blood's 2010 debut put them on the map, but their critical sizzle soon faded. After a 2017 comeback of sorts, the group's new record finds them expanding their sonic by revisiting their hometown with a surprising degree of reverence.
Counterbalance No. 1: The Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds’
Ten years ago, we began presenting the beloved Counterbalance series that ran through 2016. Jason Mendelsohn and Eric Klinger debate the merits of some of the most critically-acclaimed albums of all time. We are re-running the entire series beginning today with a new entry each Monday. Enjoy.