My Favorite Albums of 2014 So Far…

Hi. I’m currently staying indoors as nature is most certainly trying to kill me. Cottonwood falling like snow in January, mold spores at an all-time high, the sky raining cats…okay, no cats. But all that other crap is real. Trust me. So instead of boo-hooing about my lack of allergen-fighting chromosomes I thought I’d look […]

Alex Calder :: Strange Dreams

The title of Alex Calder’s newest album couldn’t be more accurate. Listening to Strange Dreams is indeed like having a strange dream. The music wobbles and shimmers. It hops along like a hurt animal doped up on narcotics. It’s hallucinogenic demeanor oozes out of the speakers as if some symbiotic creature wanting to meld into […]

There Are Teens In My Living Room….Help!

Hello folks. It’s Friday night. There are four 14 year old girls giggling uncontrollably in the living room and I’m delegated to my bedroom to type this. Why can’t I go out there and take my seat back? Am I afraid of their laughing and somewhat distressing way of communication(quiet, loud, quiet…they’re like the Pixies.) […]

“D” Is For Denver….”H” Is For Home

Despite the fact that as I sit and type this my house is filled with a hazy smoke emanating from my oven, I’m very happy to be here. Yes, last night’s dinner dripped onto the bottom of the oven and as this morning’s cinnamon rolls cook, those drippings burn into a black sludge and fill […]

Wye Oak :: Shriek

So what do I know about Wye Oak? Well, I know Jenn Wasner has one of those voices you want to hear sing just about anything. It’s a dark and breathy kind of voice. It’s the kind of voice you want to crawl into and take a nap in. There’s an all-knowing maturity in her […]

Jim O’Rourke Made Me Love Sonic Youth

When I was in high school Sonic Youth were this mythical band. They were one of those 120 Minutes bands that I couldn’t relate to at all. In fact, there weren’t too many 120 Minutes bands I could relate to. Sonic Youth, Pixies, Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and other bands of that […]

Another Nightmare About A Dirty Toilet

I’m not sure what happened to me as a child that had something to do with a filthy public restroom, but whatever that repressed memory is it must be a doozy. As far back as I can recall I’ve had nightmares about dirty public restrooms. I don’t know, maybe they’re more anxiety dreams than nightmares. […]

Friday In The Land of Plenty

No vegemite sandwiches tonight. Just some New Belgium Trippel and some Boards of Canada. So, how’s everybody’s week been? I have to say that this week was a hell of a week. Every night I’ve come home I’ve felt beaten up. Work was crazy, so Friday is a welcomed thing for me. It always is, […]

Stranded Dreams and Beautiful Chaos

Back in December I bought an album by Body/Head. It’s the post-Sonic Youth break-up album that Kim Gordon did with fellow guitarist Bill Nace. It’s essentially Gordon and Nace in a studio,each with a guitar and amp. Gordon has a mic that she improvises words. It’s not singing. It’s like psycho therapy through spoken word […]

Mac Demarco :: Salad Days

When I first heard Mac Demarco on Rock And Roll Night Club I felt kind of queasy. It was an uncomfortable feeling, really. Even the album cover with Demarco putting on lipstick put me in mind of Jame Gumb from Silence of the Lambs doing the same thing. You know, right before the tuck and […]