It’s no secret Yo La Tengo’s front man Ira Kaplan has quite an affinity for the New York Metropolitans – we previously reported on the connection to the origin of
No, that headline isn’t an April Fools Day joke. The folks at Pitchfork have indeed heaped some praise on Dave Matthews after news surfaced yesterday that his label ATO Records
For most of 2008, Howlin Rain’s sophomore release Magnificent Fiend has completely dominated my listening. For those of you who don’t know, Howlin Rain is Ethan Miller of Comets on Fire’s other band. The record came out at the beginning of March, but I’d received an advance copy early in the year and took to it immediately.
Howlin Rain’s 2006 eponymous debut was damn good, but in retrospect laid the groundwork that was undeniably built upon with this release. Where the debut was cautiously and deceptively unadorned, MF is full of vintage goodness, sounding like a lost gem from the golden era of album-rock. It brings us back to an age when organic chemistry and clever arrangements lead to an album sounding like a complete, cohesive thought. Ethan Miller’s marathon vocals lie atop a rich tapestry of organs, pianos, horns, and overdriven guitars set against a rock-solid rhythm section. Long story short – Magnificent Fiend kicks serious ass.
After 2+ months of immersing in the record, I was ready to see those tunes live. I finally got my chance March 27 at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. I’d spent so much time with the studio output that I’d conveniently forgotten about how the songs might play out differently live. From the opening moments of Death Prayer in Heaven’s Orchard off the debut, I was quickly reminded that Howlin Rain is a living, breathing organism just beginning to find its legs and navigate through life. Throughout the course of their hour set (which was WAY too short), there were moments of absolute brilliance and moments where the whole thing was hanging on by a thread. The biggest thing I noticed watching Ethan and company navigate through the set was how real it all was. Read on for more…
It’s been 15 years since the release of the groundbreaking Exile in Guyville – and Liz Phair is marking the occasion by returning to her roots. Phair recently signed with
With their highly anticipated new record nearing completion, the punk rock veterans Rancid are turning their attention towards a new project – a summer tour that will mark their first
UK grime innovator Dizzee Rascal and Brooklyn indie rap icon, El-P each provided incendiary sets that were enthusiastically received by those lucky enough to get in. Dizzee and El are
Following one of the most well-received 16 minutes of music in recent history (2006’s A Lesson In Crime EP), Newmarket, Ontario’s Tokyo Police Club confirms the release of its debut
American alternative rock giants Rage Against The Machine, Metallica and the Killers are the headliners for this summer’s Reading and Leeds Festivals. The bill for the three-day event alternates between
The Raconteurs have announced the dates of an extensive North American tour that kicks next month. Jack White and company are set to hit the road on April 20 in
Five albums into her career as a singer-songwriter, Allison Moorer wasn’t sure what to do when number six came-a-callin’. The final decision—an attempt at a cover album, one that focused solely on female singer-songwriters. The result is Mockingbird, which is pure magic.
