Wolfmen Of Mars : The Obsolete Illusion

I think the first time I’d ever heard Wolfmen of Mars was on a compilation called SNDTRK, which came out back in 2016 on the now long dead Disco Cinematic Recordings. There was a who’s who of heavy synth artists on that album including Slasher Film Festival Strategy, Xander Harris, Repeated Viewing and an East […]

SML, Jeff Tweedy, Tortoise, Makaya McCraven Incoming : Year In Music Not Done Yet

So I’ve gotta say, 2025 has been an amazing year for music. While most other aspects of this year have been, well, less than stellar, music has been that one shining glimpse of hope that the world is moving on. I’ve been pretty happy with movies as well this year, but music has been what’s […]

Free Speech Warriors…Hello?? Is This Thing On??

Remember when the Right was all about free speech? Back when trolls like Alex Jones and that Milo whatever his name was were banned from Twitter for their hate speech? All these camouflaged, bearded weekend warriors on the far Right were screaming about silencing voices? Well now those same couch potato pundits are laughing at […]

“Tell Your Friends”(for Otto)

Whenever I hear Dr. Dog’s “Tell Your Friends” I’m reminded of my wife and I’s trip to Colorado last summer. We were there to see Dr. Dog play at Red Rocks, that was the main point of our journey out west. The week in Denver leading up to the Thursday evening concert was not a […]

I Think This Is Winning

Man, it’s been a hell of a few weeks. We started out the beginning of July with a sick kid that was in and out of the ER/hospital for two weeks. Juggling schedules, taking vacation days, sitting around in hospital rooms waiting on docs and nurses to administer meds, taking care of the dog, and […]

The Garden Gate : Canyon Of Blood

The musical world of The Garden Gate has always evoked the feeling of listening to one of those old story records. “When you hear the beep, turn the page” kind of thing. Except instead of listening to a Disney story, it’s something like Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived In The Castle, or Joyce Carol […]

So Damn Hot

With each passing year I’m of the opinion that we as a planet are cruising for a bruising, in the form of overwhelming heat. I had my share of super hot days as a kid in the 80s, sure. We had upper 80s and 90s, and there were a few trips to Kings Island and […]

Brian Wilson : 1942-2025

I grew up thinking the Beach Boys were pretty weak. My parents didn’t spin Beach Boys records, they spun The White Album, Sgt. Pepper, and lots of Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, and AC/DC. The Beach Boys were way too much sunny beaches, hot rods, and surfer girls for me to a. relate to, and b. really […]

Japanese Breakfast : For Melancholy Brunettes(& Sad Women)

Michelle Zauner has had a pretty busy decade. Releasing her debut album Psychopomp with Japanese Breakfast(which also includes Craig Hendrix, Deven Craige, and Peter Bradley) in 2016. Then a gradual climb into indie rock royalty with follow-up albums Soft Sounds From Another Planet(2017) and Jubilee(2021), Zauner and Japanese Breakfast became a band to watch and […]

Fir Cone Children Returns With ‘Gearshifting’, Out 4/18; Listen To Dreamy New Single “Perfect Trade”

It is always reason to celebrate when a new Fir Cone Children album is imminent. The dreampunk/shoegaze/post-punk project from Vlimmer mastermind and Blackjack Illuminist Records founder Alexander Donat has all the bite and angst of his main gig in Darkwave Vlimmer, but there’s a palpable joy in Fir Cone Children. Even the fastest, heaviest songs […]