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 […]

MG : MG

MG is actually Martin Gore. Martin Gore is actually that guy that pretty much makes Depeche Mode Depeche Mode. Songwriter, guitarist, keys, angelic backing vocals…that’s Martin Gore. MG is what he’s going by this time around on a new solo LP. This solo LP is all instrumental and filled with analog synth buzzes and whizzes. […]

Carlton Melton : Out To Sea

I’ve been living with the new Carlton Melton long player Out To Sea for a while now. Just letting things soak in a bit. Letting my brain float in that psychedelic brine, if you will. After careful listening -and enjoying a few beers along the way- I think it’s safe to say this is the […]

Ufomammut : Ecate

In literary terms, Ufomammut’s new long player titled Ecate feels not like a mere 45 minute album, but the aural equivalent of Homer’s Odyssey. It’s a punishing trip into some desolate, dystopian world. Think Frank Herbert’s Dune melded with William Gibson’s Neuromancer and you might have an idea of where this music roams. Musically speaking, […]

Joe Satriani : Shockwave Supernova

I’ll admit it, I love Joe Satriani. In all seriousness, he was the driving force that pushed me to play guitar as an awkward Midwestern teenager. I’d been playing for two years prior to hearing Joe, but once I heard Surfing With The Alien when I was 14 years old I felt like I’d been […]

Tame Impala : Currents

Okay, so I’ve listened to Tame Impala’s excellent new album Currents several times now. Like everyday, twice a day, since last Friday. I can say very confidently that it’s a masterpiece. Kevin Parker has finally decided he no longer has to make albums that sound like they’re being performed by a crusty crew of long-haired, […]

Wilco : ‘Star Wars’ First Impression

I realize we’re magnetized – Jeff Tweedy Lying half asleep in bed at 10pm last night I was leafing through my Chromebook for one more swipe through those social networks and whatnot when I get a message from my friend Mark. “Go to wilcoworld.net right now. Weird new surprise Wilco album, free download”, the […]

High on Fire : Luminiferous

I think it’s safe to say that Matt Pike is the king of metal right now. In fact, I think he’s had the King of Metal crown since High on Fire’s Surrounded By Thieves in 2002. From that album, High of Fire solidified that Slayer-meets-Sabbath wall of deep, dark sludge. There’s no mistaking Pike’s masterful, gritty […]

The Space Jack Hummer

I’m not entirely sure what drew me to Ben Zimmerman’s The Baltika Years. It may have been the album cover, which was all white with what looked like confetti all over it. Maybe it was the fact that one of my new favorite record labels, Software, was putting it out. Or maybe it was the […]

No Joy : More Faithful

I can’t remember the first time I heard No Joy. I know it was sometime in 2013 when they had just put out their excellent Wait To Pleasure. Something about that album was immediate and in-the-moment so I was compelled to have it. The guitar and vocal interplay between Jasamine White-Gluz and Laura Lloyd has a […]