Blog Grid
Inspired by the magazine layout, Grid makes neat and clean appearance. It is always a good layout to start with.
COACHELLA ’09 REVEALED: The Good, the Bad and the Meh
Start planning your trip to Indio (or thinking of excuses to stay home). Every year the fine folks at Goldenvoice plop out some big names (The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Morrissey, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), a few surprises (Leonard Cohen, Amy Winehouse, Public Enemy), discouraging letdowns (where’s Blur?) and a couple pure duds (Paul McCartney). So […]
PEEP SHOW: Man Man’s Animation ‘Debut’
[Photo by J. Bennett] While we’re always happy to hear from Honus Honus of Man Man infamy, the following clips have us more worried about his delicate state of mind than usual. Carefully constructed with the anyone-can-do-it software at Xtra Normal, both videos have a “what does it all mean?” vibe that’s probably just him […]
FROM THE STACKS: The Coathangers
By Aaron Richter We get a lot of crap CDs at the self-titled offices. But once in a while, a pleasant surprise slips into our promo stack. Here’s a recent delivery that knocked the S/T staff on its collective ass.
FLOOR PUNCH: The View From the Pit of Kylesa’s First Basement Show in Forever
[Photos by Andrew Parks; slideshow available here] Token heckler statement: “Why don’t you play some more Drive Like Jehu covers, you emo pussies!” To be clear, Tournament are not weak-willed descendants of Dashboard Confessional. Unfortunately, they’re also not Kylesa, the sludge-slinging, crust-punk-catering Savannah band that made a rare back-to-basics appearance in the Charleston‘s basement last […]
I’LL PAY FOR YOU (ANYTIME): 10 Signs Lady Sovereign Might Be More Emo Than Bloc Party
By Aaron Richter Kele Okereke might hold down the current title of “British Singer Most Likely to Dab His Tears With a Morrissey Poster,” but Lady Sovereign‘s return could leave the Bloc Party frontman sounding as cheery and optimistic as a motivational speaker. On her second album, Jigsaw, the saddest midget in the game lets […]
FREE ASSOCIATION: Franz Ferdinand’s Track-By-Track Breakdown of “Tonight”
By Aimee Rawlins Franz Ferdinand is a singles band: Count five for the group’s eponymous debut, four for You Could Have It So Much Better. Whether it’s with “Michael†and “Take Me Out†or “The Fallen†and “Do You Want To,†the Scottish foursome’s standout tracks are unmatched pop brilliance. On its third and latest […]
1MM: ESG @ Le Poisson Rouge, 1.24.09
[Photos by Andrew Parks, slideshow version available here] A wicked wind, frigid temperatures and a late one last night meant we really didn’t want to leave the office on Saturday. What got in the way of some much-needed rest, however, was a rare hometown set by the post-punk goddesses in ESG. Appearing onstage to a […]
I WAS THERE: Hockey, Mercury Lounge, 1.23.09
Words and Photos by Aaron Richter Music this good must be easy to sell. Even with the record industry struggling, a band like Portland, Oregon’s Hockey is a golden nugget for any label savvy enough to snatch ’em up (in this case, Capitol–lucky bastards). Hockey’s appeal is broad, and the songs are satisfying. The band […]