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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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