This 1997 LP was the first Mogwai record I owned, given to me by a friend who bought it for the cover and then couldn’t stand the music. Four years later it sounds just as moody, crisp, and vibrant as the first time I heard it. The now-classic
The Austin by way of Sussex (uh, right…) Prima Donnas—Otto Matik, Niki Holiday, and Julius Seizure—took our world by storm in the late nineties with their decidedly nouveau-New-Wave pop anthems. Alas, they are now defunct, but their music has inspired an entire movement in modern music—
Instrumental bombast, everlasting beauty: a truly unforgettable album from what will certainly be an unforgettable band. While Explosions in the Sky recreate a sound oft-explored by the likes of Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Mogwai, they choose to leave out all the soft-soft build-up—instead focusing on
Pure, precious pop: Alabama’s T-minus Band, consisting solely of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Troy T., offers a delightful slice of all the music you've ever liked: psychedelic, electro, glam, rap, goth, arena rock, trip-hop, country, mod pop…and the list goes on. If there’s a
This is delicate music—and perfect electronic/acoustic pop. A very direct comparison might be to Durutti Column, although Fridge create a more balanced, more far-reaching soundscape. Yet, somehow, it all comes across very simply; in fact, the song titles tell you exactly what to expect: e.g., ‘Melodica
Showing more maturity and self-assurance than the self-titled debut of last year, Plays & Sings Torch’d Songs… shows an overt sense of confidence: some tracks are multi-layered, with relaxed horns, vocal harmonies, extra keyboards or guitar; others are strong and simple, just bass, guitar and Lee&
This record is highly recommended—inspiring, heartfelt, profoundly intense. Fugazi’s pleas for social responsibility and the devotion with which they approach their cause ring loud and clear on every song. Favorite tracks: ‘Turnover,’ ‘Repeater,’ ‘Sieve-Fisted Find’
New Order make a triumphant return with Get Ready, their first record since 1993’s Republic. They’ve definitely tweaked their setup a bit (more guitar—a lot more), but they've retained their distinctive sound and, in many ways, have improved upon it—especially in ‘Primitive Notion,’ which
Do I hate to make another Faint album the album of the week so soon? No—not when it’s this good. Intricate, engaging songs make the follow-up to their strong Blank-Wave Arcade a thoroughly good listen, over and over again. Goth? Pish-posh. And so well-thought-
Tribal, synth-laden—oh, and you better believe it’s avant-garde—this 1981 release from PiL is a head-trip of violence and beauty. John Lydon’s lovely sing-song lyrics carelessly riding atop the stark instrumentation only add to the fun (?). Definitely not for everyone, but certainly a
