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Ancestor – Phase I: Silence (The Seventh Media)
3 May 2008Part of a trilogy, this is darkwave ambient music, quiet but with serrated edges on its drones. There’s nothing new agey about this ambient, which makes for uneasy listening with its buzzing and clanking amid the drones and a glacial pace of movement that oozes foreboding.
M83 – Saturdays=Youth (Mute)
22 April 2008Yeah, the chiming guitars and chord progression of “Graveyard Girl” keep threatening to turn into “Money Changes Everything,” but that fits well with the ‘80s love on display throughout – usually much more synthpop, of course.
Genjo, Chromatron and Zero-Bass: Exploring Electronica on Newgrounds
17 April 2008My neurotic downloading compulsion began with electronic music, so in the interests of linear chronology, it is only fitting that I begin with the artists that led me down this path of chronic gigabyte consumption.
Nada Surf - Lucky (Barsuk)
13 April 2008In a sense Lucky is an album of love songs. But refreshingly these are love songs that aren’t narrow in scope and don’t rely on clichés.
PJ Harvey III (of III)
23 March 2008Ultimately, this groundbreaking song (which is nonetheless deeply rooted in traditions) helps rewrite the mystery of love (and the more than love that is really part of love).
Black 47 - Iraq (United for Opportunity)
23 March 2008LARRY KIRWAN, the leader of Black 47, is no Toby Keith – he’s his diametrical opposite on the political spectrum – so this is no rah-rah “support our troops” tripe.
Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (Island)
17 March 2008For the past week, I’ve been listening to this record almost obsessively, so I feel compelled to give it the full review treatment.
Bobby Hebb –That's All I Wanna Know (Tuition)
9 March 2008Hebb’s soft voice is as warm and charming as it was on “Sunny” back in ‘66, and the tasteful arrangements are smoothly authentic.
Dengue Fever - Venus on Earth (M80)
7 March 2008After listening to their great Escape from Dragon House practically every day for most of last summer, I wasn’t sure whether a new album could captivate as strongly, but after two plays this had its hooks in me.
Times New Viking with Pony Pants and Shooting Spires - Danger Danger Gallery (Philadelphia, PA) - February 27, 2008
4 March 2008The sound wasn’t the greatest, but playing in divey places fits their brand of scuzzy, lo-fi noise rock.
Jack Rabid’s Top 10
Week of May 4
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For Against – Shade Side, Sunny Side (Words on Music)
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Sloan – _Parallel Play _ (Yep Roc)
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The Replacements – deluxe reissues of their first four LPs (Twin/Tone/Ryko/Rhino)
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Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
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Willie Nelson – One Hell of a Ride box set (Legacy/SonyBMG)
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Black Watch – Icing the Snow Queen (Eskimo)
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The Effigies – Reside (Criminal IQ)
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Secret Shine – All of the Stars (Clairecords/Tonevendor)
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The Libertines – Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (Libertines Music)
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The Wedding Present – El Rey (Manifesto)