Amidst the holly and ivy, head colds and lay-a-way lines of this most wonderful time of the year, music critics of all thoughts and tastes cozy up beside the fire and begin making a list. Was the newest Bruce Springsteen record naughty? Was the Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible nice? Checked over twice or more, he […]

[Read more →]

As a longtime Magnetic Fields fan, I am, of course, anticipating the new album, Distortion, which comes out next week on Nonesuch. I’m, perhaps, even more intrigued than usual given the wildly differing takes on Stephin Merritt’s new production fetishes. I’ve heard “Three Way”, a surfed-up haze of feedback instrumental, save for some ecstatic shouts […]

[Read more →]

The Guardian conducts an all-too-brief interview with Echo & The Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch, who has only slightly tamed his once-notoriously bloated ego. His quotations have always been golden, bordering on parody:  Are you fashionable?I am fashion. Right. But I am with him 100% here: What’s the greatest threat to music today?People thinking that songs […]

[Read more →]

I know it pays the bills and everything to sell the remains of your dignity to soulless corporations, but would you really want a classic song off your defining early LP associated with Grade D beef that’s barely fit for human consumption? It’s probably a clever marketing ploy, since Joe Jackson has a new record […]

[Read more →]

music is art has a nice post regarding the Springsteen classic “I’m on fire” which includes some amazing cover versions from Electrelane, Bat for Lashes, as well as Tori Amos. (via Hype Machine)

[Read more →]

Great post over at Metafilter with links to the Flying Nun Documentary in 9 parts (on youtube) covering the ’80s and ’90s Flying Nun / Neusyland sound. The post also includes a treasure trove of You Tubery for fans of kiwi music, including The Clean, Straitjacket Fits, Toy Love, Chris Knox, The Verlaines, The Bats, […]

[Read more →]

I’m not a fan of mashups (so sue me!), but for those out there that like their Interpol with a bit of M.I.A. or perhaps their Soulja Boy with some Belinda Carlisle, do check out A Plus D. Mammoth Boys

[Read more →]