I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this tour. Four of the original architects of The Pharcyde’s debut record, performing the entire album live onstage, twenty years later. I was trying to keep my expectations tempered with a healthy…
Category: Music
Album Reviews: Pillowfight, Karthala 72
Pillowfight – s/t (Bulk Recordings, 2013) We open with a creepy organ line that could be scavenged from some forgotten low budget horror film. A strutting beat kicks in over the top. A voice joins, purring a decisive kiss-off in…
Shuggie Otis: Live at The Highline Ballroom, 1/10/2013
In 1974, 21 year-old blues guitarist and session musician Shuggie Otis released his third solo record, titled Inspiration Information. It consisted of 9 tunes: dreamy hazy psychedelic soul ballads, downtempo funk driven by primitive drum machines, ethereal wisps of song…
X and The Reverend Horton Heat: Live at Irving Plaza, 11/30/12 and 12/1/12
It’s always cause for excitement when X come to town. And this time around, with The Reverend Horton Heat sharing the bill, the atmosphere in Irving Plaza pushed past simple enthusiasm over seeing a concert, and into the realm of…
Public Enemy and the Hip-Hop Gods Tour: Live at Irving Plaza, 11/29/2012
The Hip-Hop Gods tour rolled through New York City on November 29th, hitting Irving Plaza with a three-hour review of classic rap music. Johnny ‘Juice’ Rosado was the DJ for the evening, and set the tone for an amazing variety…
Album Reviews: Madness, Viv Albertine
Madness – Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da (Lucky 7 Records, 2012) Three years after an acclaimed comeback LP and following this summer’s triumphant appearance at the London Olympic closing ceremony, Madness have returned with a new record…
In-depth: a conversation with Future Of The Left
Future Of The Left create a distinct and individual brand of punk rock: sarcastic, humorous, joyously aggressive, full of vehement absurdism. Lead singer/songwriter Andy “Falco” Falkous and drummer Jack Egglestone were once 2/3 of the revered group Mclusky. When Mclusky…
Album Reviews: Dinosaur Jr., Rubblebucket, The Soft Pack
Dinosaur Jr.- I Bet On Sky (Jagjaguwar, 2012) The opening notes threw me a bit off-balance. I’ve grown to expect Dinosaur Jr. records to open with giant washes of guitar, going full-throttle from the very first second, but this is…
Album Reviews: Public Enemy, Kendra Morris, Beetnix, Arrested Development
Public Enemy- Most Of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear On No Stamp (Enemy Reords/Spit Digital 2012) Public Enemy. Musical innovators, political provocateurs, Hip-Hop icons. This is the first of two new albums they have slated for release before the year…
Mission Of Burma- Unsound (Fire Records, 2012)
Ten years and four albums into the second act of their career, Mission Of Burma continue to work exponential wonders. Their new release, Unsound, is as visceral and immediate as any album I’ve heard this year (and possibly this lifetime)…