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Joe TacopinoAbout Joe Tacopino Features
Flight of the Dodos: An Interview with the DodosWith prog-metal meeting West Africa, Meric Long and Logan Kroeber disguise a world of influences in their surprisingly complex sound. [7 August 2008] Southern Comfort: An Interview with Band of Horses’ Ben BridwellBand of Horses' reluctant frontman talks about moving back South to record his new album, the fading playoff hopes of the New York Yankees, and indie rock's most influential beards. [8 November 2007] Saving Humanity: An Interview with John Vanderslice"I am in general very anti-government." John Vanderslice brings his political and economic sides to the fore in taking on the world's crazies. [25 July 2007] Reviews
The Horse’s Ha: Of the Cathmawr YardsA comfort record, sincere in intention and almost flawless in execution. [11 October 2009] 
Paragraph: ParagraphMusic that fits both dance floors and make-out-party soundtracks. [26 August 2009] 
Joan of Arc: FlowersOver ten years and countless releases, Tim Kinsella is still experimenting with this project. The question is, should he be? [10 August 2009] 
Clint Michigan: Hawthorne to HennepinClint Michigan plays the kind of soft-spoken folk songs that make an immediate impact and a leave a lasting impression. [28 July 2009] 
Dan Zimmerman: Cosmic PatriotDan Zimmerman transcends the modern ephemera to make something once referred to as 'folk music.' [8 July 2009] 
Kevin Devine: Brother’s BloodForget Ingrid Michaelson. This guy is the best singer-songwriter out of Staten Island -- at least for now. [8 May 2009] 
Pterodactyl: WorldwildBrooklyn noise rockers take a strange, psychedelic trip into the ether on their second album. [5 May 2009] 
Manchester Orchestra: Mean Everything to NothingAtlanta power-poppers try to meet major-label expectations. [21 April 2009] 
Mi Ami: WatersportsA wild and unpredictable album that navigates styles and time-periods like a patient veering in and out of consciousness. [6 April 2009] 
Broken Spindles: Kiss/KickThe guitarist from the Faint takes the leap to singer-songwriter with an album of lazy synth-pop. [16 February 2009] 
Peasant: On the GroundIt’s difficult to talk about Peasant without mentioning Elliot Smith. [15 February 2009] 
Gang Gang Dance: Saint DymphnaIt might be comforting, or maybe disquieting, to learn that Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of mental illness. [27 October 2008] 
Ray LaMontagne: Gossip in the GrainNot quite a social butterfly, but LaMontagne shows he's more than a drug-addled, half-baked songwriter. [16 October 2008] 
Pleasureboaters: ¡Gross!There is certainly no lack of temerity throughout the 12 tracks on the Pleasureboaters debut album. [7 October 2008] 
Sic Alps: U.S. EZEven though the band sullies their instruments with fuzzy-psych flavors it’s the tight-knit vocal harmonies that make Sic Alps both palatable and reminiscent of the glory days of '60s psych-folk. [19 August 2008] 
G. Love and Special Sauce: Superhero BrotherHold the Sauce! G. Love returns with his backing band to record an album full of hokey lyrics and feel-good hippie nonsense. [4 August 2008] 
Eat Skull : Sick to DeathIf Times New Viking lowered the bar for the current lo-fi movement Eat Skull has taken that bar, mangled it, and buried it in the ground with the rotting carcass of Guided by Voices and some old Lou Barlow 7-inches. [18 July 2008] 
Dr. Dog: FateAmerica's favorite nostalgia rock act is back with more '60s pop revivalism. [17 July 2008] 
Matt Bartram: ArundelMatt Bartram’s guitars coalesce like colors on the canvas of a magnificent, yet bleak, landscape. [14 July 2008] 
Au: VerbsThe second album for this experimental collective is the most surprisingly pleasant left-field pop gem of 2008. [2 July 2008] 
Hammock: Maybe They Will Sing for Us TomorrowHammock's music is so surprisingly serene it might inspire you to voluntarily listen to the way your refrigerator hums. [27 June 2008] 
Nathan Moomaw: twenty-sixThese days it’s hard to find an artist who is as utterly naïve as Nathan Moomaw. [3 June 2008] 
Extra Life: Secular WorksCharlie Looker dwells heavily into his Wesleyan education with Secular Works, an album heavily influenced by the art of Gregorian Chant and something called “monophonic song”. [16 May 2008] 
Leerone: Imaginary BiographiesLeerone's docile piano pop manages to capture some of the more desirable characteristics of today's female singer/songwriters while discarding their annoying eccentricities. [30 April 2008] 
Aaron Robinson: We Are Racing GhostsWe Are Racing Ghosts is full of inspirational, well-intentioned pop songs of the singer-songwriter variety. [18 April 2008] 
BIg Bang: Wild BirdWild Bird is just too bland and uninspiring to compete with the multitude of acts coming out of L.A. these days. [17 April 2008] 
Lima Charlie: It’s So Easy to be CreepyLima Charlie is like the band Phish with goofier lyrics. [16 April 2008] 
Ken Hyland: Self PortraitNew Jersey native hopes some record exec douchebag will make him the next Jack Johnson or something. [15 April 2008] 
Lick Lick: Lick LickJust when you thought all the last holdouts from quirky '90s power-pop were gone along comes Lick Lick. [11 April 2008] 
The Rest: Atlantis, Oh Our SaviourOne of the biggest indie rock sleepers from the past couple of years. [10 April 2008] 
Gran Ronde: On and OnWith these angular guitars and pseudo-Robert Smith vocals, it's no surprise that Gran Ronde's "Retrace" was featured on MTV's highest-rated teen drama, The Hills. [8 April 2008] 
Vernon Elliott Ensemble: Ivor the Engine& Pogles WoodAnachronistic children's music from the Brits. [7 April 2008] Elijah Ebenezer Wyman: Butterfly NeedlesThere is a sense of desperate isolation and intense longing which rings throughout every track on Elijah Ebenezer Wyman’s new effort. 
Aster: Some Things Seldom Heard OfAster's hazy dream pop sits somewhere in between the lush sounds of Stars and the more defined hues of Deerhunter. [31 March 2008] 
Adam Green: Sixes and SevensAdam Green's first post-Juno effort features 20 quirky pop songs, each bearing its own unique personality. [24 March 2008] 
Ulaan Khol: IThe feedback, hiss, buzz, and delay effects on Steven R. Smith's psychedelic soundscapes seem to peacefully coexist completely independent of one another. [17 March 2008] 
Shortstack: The CoversShortstack seasons these five cover tunes with their unapologetically traditional country sound. 
Baumer: Were It Not for YouBaumer, like their cinematic namesake, do not seem to live up whatever expectations one may have of them. [4 March 2008] 
Kerowack: The First EPElectronic music usually has two ends of the spectrum: obscure electronica and straight-up dance. Kerowack does a decent of straddling both of these extremes. [29 February 2008] 
HIJK: The Pen and the LetterHIJK which urges you to stop buying mediocre Modest Mouse albums and start listening to something new. [28 February 2008] 
Brian Dewan: Words of WisdomBrian Dewan’s recent album is comprised of 16 cover songs which embody a lost American art form. [25 February 2008] 
Aarktica: Matchless YearsMatchless Years has more of a traditional approach compared to Aarktica’s previous experiments in post-rock. [19 February 2008] 
Amateur Radio Operator: Sirens of TitanAmateur Radio Operator’s slack jawed alt-country sound is perfect for a lazy Sunday morning. [18 February 2008] 
Rings: Black HabitThe band doesn’t quite capture the pop eccentricities and cascading vocal harmonies of their sibling label mates, but on this -- their first album as an entity -- they come surprisingly close. [14 February 2008] 
Tirra Lirra: Breathe BodiesTirra Lirra consistently shows a penchant for mixing the experimental with the traditional. [22 January 2008] 
Junk Science: Gran’Dad’s Nerve TonicThe label who brought us both the rhymes and production skills of El-P as well as the rhythmic flow of Aesop Rock, has yet another witty rhyme-slinger to add to its roster. [18 January 2008] 
We Tigers: RivalsWe Tiger's experimental pop inevitably wanders into slacker rock territory. [20 December 2007] 
Arthur Yoria: Handshake SmilesYoria's laissez-faire minimalism has the folksy appeal of your local bearded coffeehouse troubadour. [19 December 2007] 
Gultskra Artikler: Kasha Iz ToporaAlthough some of the more time-consuming pieces appear to wander aimlessly through unchartered territory, you get the slight inclination that a burgeoning genius is a work. [13 December 2007] 
Sylvain Chauveau: S.Parisian artist Sylvain Chauveau prefers to enshroud his compositions with intermittent bursts of deafening silence. [7 December 2007] 
Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts: Face à LestThis first full-length as a solo artist brings Guillaume Coutu Dumont's jazz and classical training into the realm of beats and funk-inflected house music. [28 November 2007] 
The Owls: Daughters and SunsThe Owls create slices of melancholy pop with dainty three-part harmonies and adorable lyrics. [15 November 2007] 
Mixtapes and Cellmates: Mixtapes and CellmatesThe Swedish synth-pop band's debut album is rife with post-Postal Service laptop pop. [9 November 2007] 
The Yellow Swans: DescensionDescension continues the duo's sonic exploration, this time wallowing in the bowels of noise rock. [7 November 2007] 
Feu Thérèse: Ça Va CognerThose of you pining for the reunion of obscure Canadian post-rock group Fly Pan Am can take solace in the new release for Feu Thérèse, Ça Va Cogner. [26 October 2007] 
The Sadies: New SeasonsIndie rock's all-star backing band follows up last year's stellar live album with an effort which I must, regretfully, label alt-country. [11 October 2007] 
Matt Pond PA: Last LightMatt Pond releases yet another record of milquetoast power pop. [26 September 2007] 
Goon Moon: Lickers Last LegFormer Marilyn Manson member teams up with Zach Hill and the "Godfather of Desert Rock" to record a headscratchin' goofball rock album. [25 September 2007] 
Sleeping States: There the Open SpacesMarkland Starkie attempts to redefine the "singer/songwriter" genre by combining his humble, boyish voice with the dissonance of detuned electric guitars. [20 September 2007] 
Odeath: Head HomeBlog favs O'Death re-release their debut album chock full of Appalachian nostalgia. [31 August 2007] 
Mobile: Tomorrow Starts TodayMobile's polished brand of emotional rock music received accolades in their homeland of Canada, but now the band is stepping onto the international stage. [22 August 2007] 
Michael Fakesch: DosThe first proper solo effort from the Funkstörung veteran mixes the pop accessibility of Justin Timberlake with the uncanny electro-vicissitudes of Mathew Herbert. [17 August 2007] 
The Cape May: Glass Mountain RoadsThe Cape May's layered mood rock grows on you just about as slowly as its down-tempo selections trod on throughout this album. [13 August 2007] 
Greg Palast: Live from the Armed MadhouseInvestigative reporter and author Greg Palast gives a spoken word performance on the evils of the oil industry and the Republican party -- what a surprise. [6 August 2007] 
Los Campesinos!: Sticking Fingers Into SocketsA group of exuberant Cardiff college students pay homage to Lesley Gore, cover a Pavement song and "find the perfect match between pretentious and pop" -- all in just 16 minutes. [2 August 2007] 
Lay Low: Please Dont Hate MeThe dainty chanteuse plays a stripped-down blues/folk that has the acoustic appeal of Cat Power and, at times, approaches the adorably squeamish tendencies of Joanna Newsome. [26 July 2007] 
Two Gallants: The Scenery Of FarewellComing off their infamous taser-inducing performance last year in Austin Texas, the Delta Blues folk duo Two Gallants release a stellar EP of raspy, no frills redneck blues from the Dirty South. [20 July 2007] B for Brontosaurus: A Thousand Times YesB is for Brontosaurus, and O is definitely for obnoxious. [17 July 2007] 
Tied & Tickled Trio: AelitaAelita has the free-form feel of a jazz composition while at the same time possessing the spatial dreamscapes of atmospheric pop. [5 July 2007] 
Shapes and Sizes: Split Lips, Winning Hips, A ShinerShapes and Sizes reel in a number of disaparate styles and influences to create a complicated, yet cohesive, album rife with themes of despondency and abuse. [21 June 2007] 
Alsace Lorraine: Dark OneA delicate display of windswept dream pop -- though maybe a bit too delicate. [15 June 2007] 
Coffinberry: God Damn DogsCoffinberry's power pop makes me wish it 1996... maybe a little too much. [7 June 2007] 
Parts & Labor: MapmakerParts & Labor combine electronic noise and traditional punk with deft precision, creating beautiful, yet jarring, rock anthems. [25 May 2007] 
The Chrysler: Cold War ClassicThere is an endearing quality to the Chrysler's quiet folk rock. Sort of like a diet caffeine free version of Peter, Bjorn and John. [10 May 2007] 
Pterodactyl: PterodactylAbrasive and explosive, Pterodactyl soars in with their debut release. Think contemporary noise rock meets early Modest Mouse. [25 April 2007] 
Alex Delivery: Star DestroyerAlex Delivery's sonic melodies and space-age beats offer plenty of surprises and pleasant digressions; sort of like a more coherent Fiery Furnaces. [19 April 2007] 
Elvis Perkins: Ash WednesdayElvis Perkins catches melancholia in a bottle and carves out his own place among the upper tiers of our contemporary folk artists. [9 April 2007] 
Chris Garneau: Music For TouristsChris Garneau attempts to emulate Elliot Smith with a debut album of dreary piano pop. [3 April 2007] 
Robert Gomez: Brand New TownsMove over, Midlake. The drowsy relationship rock of Robert Gomez is supposed to be the next big thing out of Denton, Texas. [2 April 2007] 
Memphis: A Little Place in the WildernessTorquil Campbell, the lead singer of the Canadian pop group Stars, fails to replicate the band’s dreamy soundscapes on the second effort from his fledgling side project. [27 March 2007] 
Im from Barcelona: Let Me Introduce My FriendsDespite the annoying twee-pop shtick, Let Me Introduce My Friends is a delightful album full of childhood imagery and infectious hooks. [22 March 2007] 
Illinois: What the Hell Do I Know?Light-hearted indie rock that is both versatile and utterly enjoyable. [20 March 2007] 
Partyline: Zombie TerroristPartyline’s florescent spunk rock is annoyingly repetitive and uses juvenile, rebellious lyrics to tackle overdone themes. [4 March 2007] 
The Detachment Kit: +This self-released EP includes the best fist-pumping guitar anthems you've never heard. [28 February 2007] 
Dr. Dog: We All BelongPhiladelphia's psych-pop darlings issue a more polished version of their '60s-influenced sunshine pop. [27 February 2007] 
Cezanne: Breaking Bats for JesusCezanne's John Daugherity took the DIY ethic to the max with his latest release. [13 February 2007] 
The Green Pajamas: The Night Races Into AnnaA collection of lethargic naptime music from Seattle's paisley popsters. [7 February 2007] 
The Broken West: I Cant Go On, Ill Go OnThe artists formerly known as the Brokedown release a debut album which draws heavily on Brian Wilson-era psych pop with hints of '90s alt-rock. [25 January 2007] 
Tom Brosseau: Grand ForksTen years later, Tom Brosseau pens an awe-inspiring tribute to the flood that devastated his home town of Grand Forks, North Dakota. [23 January 2007] 
Beatnik Filmstars: Barking (A Collection of Oddities)The self-proclaimed British version of Guided by Voices releases a 31-track compilation of rarities and abnormalities. [9 January 2007] 
Julie Loyd: All That You Ask ForAlthough there is an aspect of dorm room naiveté to her lyrics, there are moments of honesty that are both genuine and revealing. [5 January 2007] 
Librarians: Alright Easy Candy StrangerMiddle of the road dance pop that never quite rises above. [18 December 2006] 
The Heart Attacks: Hellbound and HeartlessWhile bands such as the Darkness and Wolfmother are cashing in on the neo-glam resurgence, Hellcat found a bunch of childish pseudo-criminals from Atlanta to continue this ill-fated trend. [15 December 2006] 
This Moment in Black History: It Takes a Nation of Assholes to Hold Us BackTMIBH succeed at making the old-school sound new again, without deviating too much from the original formula. [14 December 2006] 
Fear Before the March of Flames: The Always Open MouthThe Always Open Mouth is, more or less, an amalgam of separate ideas, none of which seem to pan out. [21 November 2006] 
Cold War Kids: Robber & CowardsMore than just being an impressive debut, Robbers & Cowards may be a harbinger of things to come from these Reagan baby blues rockers. [19 October 2006] BlogsMixed Media: Black Mold - “Tetra Pack Heads” (MP3) [10 July 2009]Mixed Media: Julie Doiron - “Consolation Prize” (video) [9 July 2009]Mixed Media: Toro Y Moi - “Blessa” (Stream)Mixed Media: Christopher R. Weingarten - The 140 Characters Conference (video) [17 June 2009]Mixed Media: Woods - “To Clean” (video) [16 June 2009]Mixed Media: Sonic Youth - “Sacred Trickster” (video)Mixed Media: John Vanderslice - “Too Much Time” (video) [11 June 2009]Mixed Media: Mastodon - “Oblivion” (video)Mixed Media: Sonic Youth - “Sacred Trickster” (Live) (video) [10 June 2009]Mixed Media: Kevin Devine - “I Could Be with Anyone” (Video) [8 June 2009]Mixed Media: Allen Ginsberg’s Birthday (video) [3 June 2009]Mixed Media: Sonic Youth - The Eternal (stream)Mixed Media: Pearl Jam - “Get Some” (Live on Tonight Show) (video) [2 June 2009]Mixed Media: Grizzly Bear - “Two Weeks” (Live) (video)Mixed Media: Dan Deacon - Bromst (Album Stream) [4 March 2009]Mixed Media: Caroline Weeks - “Elegy” (MP3) [24 February 2009]Mixed Media: The Strange Boys - “Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up” (MP3) [17 February 2009]Mixed Media: Broken Spindles - “Introvert” (video) [16 February 2009]Mixed Media: Chairlift - “Evident Utensil” (video) [11 February 2009]Mixed Media: Wavves - “So Bored” (MP3)Mixed Media: The Black Lips - “Short Fuse” (MP3) [10 February 2009]Mixed Media: Matt & Kim - “Daylight” (video) [2 February 2009]Sources Say: Shouting Incoherently in a Crowded Theater [20 September 2007]Sources Say: Rudy Giuliani’s 2001 Pro-Immigration Stance [17 September 2007]Sources Say: The Press and General Petraeus [11 September 2007]Sources Say: 50 Cent Endorses Hillary [5 September 2007]Sources Say: YouTube Strikes Again [26 August 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #11 [7 August 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #10 [24 July 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #9 [10 July 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #8 [25 June 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #7 [11 June 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #6 [11 May 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #5 [3 May 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #4 [26 April 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #3 [19 April 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #2 [12 April 2007]Sources Say: Boys on the Bus #1 [4 April 2007] |
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