A Magazine for Craftmakers

I WAS THERE: The Gutter Twins @ Bowery Ballroom, 2.14.08

[L to R: Greg Dulli, Mark Lanegan] Words/Photos by Andrew Parks I once caught this film critic from Philly closing his eyes and singing along to every word at a Neko Case show. Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal–or even remotely noticeable–but there were only about 50 people in attendance to catch Case and […]
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Split Decision: OM vs. High On Fire

HIGH ON FIRE: Dude, where’s our bong? OM Pilgrimage (Southern Lord) VS. High on Fire Death Is This Communion (Relapse) By Robbie Mackey Sleep still casts a mighty shadow more than a decade after the doom-mongers’ immaculate stoner metal opus Dopesmoker–the hour-plus track that landed the group in the back alley behind London Records, sans […]
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THE SELF-TITLED INTERVIEW: Destroyer

Words by Michael Tedder Perhaps the only thing more shocking than the quality of Dan Bejar’s melodically nimble songwriting is how many of his songs there are to be shocked by. Not only does his main project, Destroyer, dependably release an album every two years, but he also keeps himself busy with side projects including […]
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1MM: Yelle @ Knitting Factory, 2.19.08

Words/Photos by Andrew Parks So Yelle‘s apparently a major pop star back home in Paris, a fact backed by the considerable Frenchie quotient at New York’s Knitting Factory Tuesday night. Billed as the singer’s U.S. debut, the show was exactly what one would expect given the feel-good electro vibe of Yelle’s import-only debut, Pop Up. […]
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Cat Power, Radiohead Among Confirmed All Points West Acts

CAT POWER and DEVANDRA BANHART do the twist Tickets for the much-hyped All Points West Music & Arts Festival go on sale next Friday at noon EST through Ticketmaster. Surprisingly, given the relatively small lineup of around 40 acts over three days, single day passes are $89 and three-day tickets are $258. As rumored, the […]
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RAY OF LIGHT: Bat For Lashes

Story by Rebecca Wiener Photos by Travis Huggett Everything about Natasha Khan, it seems, is a delicate balance of opposites. “My writing relies on equal parts civilization and wilderness,” says the 27-year-old musician as we sit in a slender triangle of green space at the center of a busy SoHo intersection in Manhattan. Casually gorgeous […]
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Maxim Blasts the Black Crowes (On Principle)

THE BLACK CROWES: Scarier than ‘The Birds’ The Black Crowes have lashed out at Maxim for publishing a two-and-a-half star review of Warpaint, their first studio record in seven years. Not because they simply didn’t like it; because they only heard one song (“Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution”). According to a press release from the […]
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Atlas Sound @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 2.24.08

BRADFORD COX: Screaming life Text/Photos by Andrew Parks “When you’re almost pushing 40,” said Honey Owens, Atlas Sound‘s bassist and the wounded bird behind Valet, “You kinda have to let it all hang out sometimes.” No kidding. Much to the delight of a modest Music Hall of Williamsburg crowd Sunday night, Bradford Cox‘s solo band […]
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BUY IT, BURN IT, SKIP IT: Erykah Badu, Goldfrapp, Beach House

ERYKAH BADU: Steve Jobs’ new homegirl By Aaron Richter As you all certainly know by now, new releases hit record-store shelves and digital-download services each Tuesday. So every week self-titled presents a new release you’d be stupid not to own (Buy It), one worth checking out if you’re the curious type (Burn It) and something […]
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Jamie Lidell Introduces Exclusive ‘Jim’ Mix

As is always the case with new Jamie Lidell albums, we’re still trying to wrap our heads around the glitch-free soul of Jim. Due out through Warp at the tail end of April, this could be the album that brings Lidell a blue-eyed audience that doesn’t know the first thing about Squarepusher or Aphex Twin, […]
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THE S/T INTERVIEW: Dan the Automator and Mike Patton, AKA Crudo

By Andrew Parks Mike Patton‘s only been in New York City for four days, yet he’s already written and recorded an entire album with avant-jazz architect John Zorn and his former Mr. Bungle bandmate Trevor Dunn. “It’s a three-act rock opera with a mystical alchemy vibe,” says Patton of Six Litanies for Heliogabalus, which is […]
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