Abercrombie’s Gateway Drug

It was quite a few years ago that I’d first heard John Abercrombie in Gateway. “Back-Woods Song” just randomly came up while I sat at my desk listening to the jazz channel on internet radio. I was floored. Groove till the cows came home, with the rhythm section of Dave Holland on bass and Jack […]

Ask Him Why He Killed My Brother

It’s Friday night. It’s the beginning of a three-day weekend. It’s time to sit back and chill out, if only for an evening…or three. Labor Day weekend is fast becoming my favorite three-day weekend. It used to be Memorial Day weekend, but things have changed. Things were said…feelings were hurt. Listen, we had some good […]

“A companion, unobtrusive”

As an impressionable 15-year old I was learning guitar theory, the ups and downs of high school girls, and learning to drive in a 1977 Chevy Nova my dad bought for me a whole two years before I’d get to drive it legally. Another thing that was happening was that I was expanding my musical […]

Beach House : Depression Cherry

Did you ever hear an album that feels like an emotional punch in the gut? Something that squeezes your innards until you want to collapse into a puddle of overwrought, bawling mess on the floor? Sure you have. Nick Drake, Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley, and The Zombies have all done it to me in the […]

Thom’s Diner

Thom Yorke’s Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes seemed to have been greeted with a lot of “meh” and “whatever” back when it magically appeared online as a download last year with little to no fanfare. It rose from the ether of the internet and got a whole lot of flack, really. “Sounds like The Eraser”, “Boring”, “More […]

Yo La Tengo : Stuff Like That There

In the scheme of things, I have to be honest and say I’d prefer a new Yo La Tengo album filled with original songs. That’s just how I feel. Sorry Ira, James, and Georgia. I’d much rather hear newly-penned, original tunes coming out of the YLT camp any day of the week over covers. But […]

The Guest

Nothing worse than a summer cold. It’s sunny and warm out and you’re feeling like there’s gauze shoved up into your sinus cavity and sandpaper is lining your throat. It’s truly miserable. I mean, at least when you’re sick in the dead of winter you really have no reason to be outside anyways. No lawn […]

constants are changing

As I walked outside this morning to leave for work in the black of 5:40am Eastern time I was greeted by something quite wonderful: cool air. Yes, as the garage door lifted for me to walk around and get in my car there was, dare I say, a briskness in the air. Coming from merely […]

Deerhunter’s “Snakeskin”

Last year when I’d heard Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox was hit by a car and put into the hospital I was worried. Not only for the guy’s health, but for the future of Deerhunter. Cox is one of those artists that always seems to be working and putting out music. Whether it’s Deerhunter, Atlas Sound, or […]

Saturday Feelies

Not much to report. Hot today. Very hot, really. Three and a half mile walk/jog, with some yard work and gardening thrown in for fun. Having a Black and Blue by Dogfish Head Brewery this evening. A pint and a half of blackberry/blueberry Belgian-style ale. Tasty. And strong. Kids back in school this week. Lots […]