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Ron HartAbout Ron Hart Ron Hart is currently enjoying his 11th year as a professional music journalist. In addition to PopMatters, he has also written for such publications as CMJ, Billboard.com, SPIN.com, The Village Voice, Gear, Paper, SHOUT NY, Paperthinwalls.com, Blender, Yellow Rat Bastard, Good Times, Paste, and Barnesandnoble.com among others. He is also the editor and publisher of the Interboro Rock Tribune, a free NYC music zine now in its 6th year in print. Please give us traffic on our website at [url=http://www.irtmag.com]http://www.irtmag.com[/url]. Features
Wide-Eyed Wonder: An Interview with Ben Chasny of Six Organs of AdmittanceSix Organs of Admittance/Comets on Fire frontman Ben Chasny has a lot on his mind. Sitting down with PopMatters, he lets it all out, spilling a couple unique secrets in the process ... [1 September 2009] “Once You Saw Them Live, You Were Hooked Forever”: An Interview With Don LettsWith the 30th Anniversary release of the seminal Clash documentary Revolution Rock, director Don Letts reflects on the sheer power of seeing the Only Band That Mattered in a live setting, the possibility of a Big Audio Dynamite reissue, and his unabashed love... for Curb Your Enthusiasm. [15 July 2008] The Best Music DVDs of 2007The last few years have seen some mind-blowing DVD repackaging of a wide variety of musically projects. 2007 is the best yet. [25 January 2008] Reviews
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground: Kay Kay and His Weathered UndergroundIf ever there was a male response to Aimee Mann’s Bachelor No. 2, it would be the debut full-length from Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground. [24 November 2009] 
Masha Qrella: Speak Low: Loewe and Weill in ExileGerman indie-pop chanteuse Masha Qrella creates a quiet storm from Broadway bombast on her excellent tribute to two titans of musical theater. [19 November 2009] 
Joakim: Milky WaysFrance's clown prince of the disco continues to make hard left turns into the darker realms of his love for outsider rock on his finest album to date. [18 November 2009] 
Cause Co-Motion!:Because Because BecauseCelebrated Brooklyn trio teams up with Gary Olson from the Ladybug Transistor to create its most impressive set of crash-pop tunes yet. [17 November 2009] 
William Fowler Collins: Perdition Hill RadioBlack metal and dark ambient come together to create a wholly unique element of sonic fright on the laptop of William Fowler Collins. [12 November 2009] 
Kings of Belgium: Unchained MelodiesFinally, a band who actually does something right with the influence of Mr. Bungle. [11 November 2009] 
The Scene Is Now: Total JiveThe second album from one of the great lost acts of the NYC rock underground makes its CD debut 23 years after its initial release. [3 November 2009] 
Music Go Music: ExpressionsThese West Coast indie rockers moonlighting as the last great disco act of the 1970s might catch you off guard at first, but soon enough they will become your new favorite guilty pleasure. [16 October 2009] 
Skeletonbreath: Eagle’s Nest, Devil’s CaveThis largely instrumental project should not conjure up images of black cats and goblins. Instead, it should bring to mind a dusty, Americana version of the Dirty Three. [15 October 2009] 
Hopewell: Good Good DesperationHudson Valley psych heroes return with its most out-there recording to date. [12 October 2009] 
Hill Country Revue: Make a MoveCody Dickinson of the North Mississippi All-Stars concentrates on his own act. [4 October 2009] 
Milk and Honey Band: Dog Earned MoonlightFew bands can make rock sound so epic on such a small economy quite like England’s Milk and Honey Band. [1 October 2009] 
10 ft. Ganja Plant: Bush RockThe celebrated dub-wise side project of upstate New York reggae heroes John Brown’s Body returns with its first release in five years. [30 September 2009] 
Caroline Weeks: Songs for EdnaBat for Lashes multi-instrumentalist takes her former group’s sound to a whole new level of ambient sophistication on her downright lovely solo debut. 
Otis Waygood: Ten Light Claps and a ScreamOne of the lost treasures of EMI-Parlophone’s heavy rock catalog, the third LP from South Africa’s Otis Waygood has been given a lovingly careful remaster thanks to the fine folks at Shadoks Music. [27 September 2009] 
To Trips: Guitarra 66For his solo debut, Portuguese experimental noise luminary Tó Trips records with a lone acoustic guitar. [24 September 2009] 
Heath Brothers: EnduranceThe Heath Brothers of Philadelphia are walking pillars of jazz history, and with Endurance, they've created a comeback for the ages. [23 September 2009] 
In the Country: WhiteoutNorwegian jazz greats team up with Ninja Tune experimentalist, member of Jaga Jazzist for its best album yet. [22 September 2009] 
What’s Up: Content ImaginationNo, this is not the 4 Non Blondes cover band its name might imply. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. [20 September 2009] 
Dave Bixby: Ode to Quetzalcoatl / Harbinger: Second ComingTwo lost treasures of downer folk are made available again to the delight of record collectors everywhere. [30 August 2009] 
Various Artists: Inglourious BasterdsFew motion picture soundtracks offer up such an enriching and vibrant education into the sidebars of popular music quite like those of Quentin Tarantino’s. [27 August 2009] 
Wolfgang Riechmann: WunderbarWolfgang Riechmann’s 'Wunderbar' is in every way one of the great lost treasures of Germany’s robust electronic/krautrock boom. [26 August 2009] 
The Strange Boys: The Strange Boys and Girls ClubAustin, Texas' the Strange Boys toss its hat in the new school of garage rock ring and gives the likes of Black Lips and King Khan and the Shrines a serious run for its money. 
On: Your Naked Ghost Comes Back at NightA dark, ambient masterpiece is made available once again with the release of Your Naked Ghost Comes Back at Night by the Franco-American electronic duo On. [23 August 2009] 
The Minus 5 / Young Fresh Fellows: Killingsworth / I Think This IsScott McCaughey's twin engines of pop genius are on full blast with a fresh new Minus 5 and Young Fresh Fellows albums that stand as both groups' finest works to date. [23 July 2009] 
Various Artists: Strike 100Celebrated German electronic label gets the anthology it deserves. [14 July 2009] 
Medeski, Martin and Wood: Radiolarians IINYC's intrepid trio revert back to the adventurousness of their first three years on Blue Note with the second installment of their acclaimed Radiolarians series. [8 July 2009] 
Oddateee: Halfway HomelessUnion City, NJ's finest MC releases an album of Hot 97 jams for the blotter acid set. [7 July 2009] Vanna: A New HopeBoston post-hardcore band offer little hope for innovation on Epitaph debut. [15 June 2009] 
Or, the Whale: Light Poles and PinesMusic Row meets Haight-Ashbury on San Fransisco alt-country troupe's colorful debut. [10 June 2009] 
Yusuf Islam: Roadsinger (To Warm You Through the Night)On his second secular album since converting to the Muslim faith, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens finds his classic voice once again. [5 June 2009] 
Rancid: Let the Dominoes FallRancid return to their old homebase to deliver their finest album since Life Won't Wait. [2 June 2009] 
The Vaselines: Enter the VaselinesOne of the great crown jewels of Sub Pop's post-grunge catalog gets the deluxe treatment it deserves, even if it is for diehard fans only. [12 May 2009] 
Jane’s Addiction: A Cabinet of CuriositiesThis elaborate, limited-edition box set is essential for any Jane's Addiction fan, as it gathers all the rarities you scored as a kid on the black market and puts them in one beautiful and totally legitimate compendium. [24 April 2009] 
Peter Walker: Long Lost Tapes 1970Thirty-nine years after its initial recording, this lost Woodstock session from unsung raga guitar hero Peter Walker finally sees the light of day in all of its transcendent glory. 
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem: In Person at Carnegie Hall: The Complete 1963 ConcertThat most essential of Irish folk albums becomes even more vital as a Legacy Edition. [10 April 2009] 
Diagonals: Valley of the CyclopsWhoa, is that the eighth grader from Dazed and Confused spacing out on those keys? [1 March 2009] 
Moon & Moon: VII Acts of An Iron KingFamous friends help Brooklyn horn man accomplish perhaps the loftiest prog rock album Brooklyn has seen since the hipsters took over. [26 February 2009] 
Matisyahu: Shattered EPThis four-track taster for the Hallie of Hasidim's forthcoming full-length leaves much to be desired. [25 February 2009] 
Holy Sons: Decline of the WestEnter the four-track mind of Om/Grails percussionist Emil Amos with an expanded edition of his latest release as Holy Sons. [15 February 2009] 
Praveen and Benoit: Songs Spun SimlaA hidden gem in the 2008 electronica dustbin. [11 February 2009] 
Bronx River Parkway: San Sebastian 152Recorded in a 200-year-old ballet school in Puerto Rico owned by reggaeton superstar Tego Calderon, this impromptu group of session musicians create one of the funkiest Latino soul jams since the heyday of Fania. [10 February 2009] 
Telefon Tel Aviv: Immolate YourselfReleased in the U.S. days after the unexpected death of chief member Charles Cooper, Telefon Tel Aviv’s long-awaited third album might leave some fans scratching their heads instead of shuffling their feet. 
Sly and Robbie with Amp Fiddler: Inspiration InformationDetroit and Kingston, Jamaica finally come together under the soulful guidance of this exceptional collaboration between three titans of modern black music. [3 February 2009] 
Lake: Oh, The Places We’ll GoTwee it up with Olympia, Washington's Lake on their long-awaited K Records debut. [2 February 2009] 
Hot Chip: Hot Chip with Robert Wyatt and Geese EPHot Chip move from the dance floor to the chill-out room with a bonafide Brit rock legend on this pleasant surprise of an EP. [25 January 2009] 
Ghostface Killah: GhostDeini the GreatThe Wu-Tang Clan’s most consistent member looks back at a magical solo career on this fun yet uneven collection of hits, remixes and rarities. [7 January 2009] 
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: Music from the FilmA sonic compendium to director Alex Gibney’s new documentary, this wild ride through the record collection of Hunter S. Thompson yields surprising and enjoyable results. [6 January 2009] 
The Fireman: Electric ArgumentsIt's no McCartney III, but Paul’s first album after unveiling himself as the Fireman is as freewheeling as anything he has done in nearly 30 years. [9 December 2008] 
My Education: Bad VibrationsThese guys aren’t as interested in the money shot as they are the build-up of their instrumental epics. [3 December 2008] 
Steve Brodsky: The Blue Ribbon AwardBrodsky returns (somewhat) to the melodic post-hardcore sound of Cave-In’s brilliant 1999 magnum opus Jupiter. [2 December 2008] 
School of Seven Bells: AlpinismsLuminaries from the early '00s New York City rock boom convene to create something unlike anything you have ever quite heard come out of the five boroughs. [1 December 2008] 
Suicide Note: Decline of the WestA most welcome breath of fresh air for a new generation of heads in dire need of an alternative. [25 November 2008] 
Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80: Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80A showcase of Seun’s unmistakable resemblance to his father, both as a musician and a social commentator. [20 November 2008] 
John Mayall: Live at the Marquee 1969Overblown reissue doesn't compete with the truly authoritative Mayall live albums. [19 November 2008]
Holy Sons: Decline of the WestHoly Sons possess a sense of melody and structure unfounded in anything else Emil Amos is a part of. [18 November 2008] 
Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison Legacy EditionThe legendary Man in Black's most iconic live album finally gets the reissue it deserves in this beautiful box set showcasing both performances that went down behind the walls of the prison that scored him his first hit record. [13 October 2008] 
Lindsey Buckingham: Gift of ScrewsSummary: Fleetwood Mac’s unsung wunderkind returns to the rock with his fourth and finest solo album, the long-in-the-works Gift of Screws. [10 October 2008] 
David Gilmour: Live in GdańskThis set showcases the immense talents of Gilmour’s longtime Pink Floyd bandmate and touring partner Rick Wright, whose unexpected death has since punctuated this release. [3 October 2008] 
Puscifier: V Is for ViagraThis remix collection's sonic reconstructions benefits from concentrating more on the music. [17 September 2008] 
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: Déjà Vu LiveCSNY’s unremarkable sonic chronicle of their 2006 Freedom of Speech tour gives fans little reason to part with their copies of Four Way Street. [5 September 2008] 
Extreme: Saudades de RockTo everyone’s surprise, Boston’s greatest funk-metal outfit emerges from a decade-plus-long hiatus with the best album of their careers. [29 August 2008] 
Duchess Says: Anthologie des 3 PerchoirsCaustic, confrontational alt-punk in the grand tradition of SST-era Black Flag. [27 August 2008] 
Jex Thoth: Jex ThothIf you're expecting some Vashti Bunyan-style freak-folk quietness, you are in for quite a surprise. [20 August 2008] 
The VSS: Nervous CircuitsThis reissue still takes the competition to task over a decade later. [19 August 2008] 
Randy Newman: Harps and AngelsThe bard of piano pop makes a triumphant return to songwriting with a scathingly political album that makes the new Nas album sound like a campaign PSA for John McCain. [5 August 2008] 
Joe Strummer: The Future Is UnwrittenThe director of Earth Girls Are Easy finally sees his masterful cinematic character study on the late "punk rock warlord" Joe Strummer released on DVD, with minimal extras. [11 July 2008] 
Walter Becker: Circus MoneyDonald Fagen’s other half returns as a solo act with a breezy new album, laced with the kind of reggae grooves you’d expect more from Sly and Robbie than Steely Dan. [9 July 2008] 
Various Artists: Basic ReplayAny serious fan of dub and reggae music would be wise to seek this set out. [8 July 2008] 
Steel An’ Skin: Reggae Is Here AgainA steel band album you won’t feel like a total sell-out blasting out the speakers at your next BBQ. [7 July 2008] 
Scott Kelly: The WakeScott Kelly returns to the solo stage with a second album of sparse acoustic-based songs. [3 July 2008] 
Adele: 19Young heartache never sounded as beautiful as it does through the sounds of England's latest R&B export's gorgeous debut LP. [1 July 2008] 
Willie Nelson: Stardust (Legacy Edition)In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Willie Nelson’s classic 1978 interpretation of the Great American Songbook receives a double-disc makeover. [30 June 2008] 
Jethro Tull: This Was (Collector’s Edition)Jethro Tull’s essential, yet underrated 1968 debut finally gets the deluxe treatment it deserves in commemoration of its 40th anniversary. [27 June 2008] 
Jakob Dylan: Seeing ThingsAt last, Jakob Dylan admits he’s his father’s son. Well, in song, at least. [10 June 2008] 
Mudcrutch: MudcrutchA grand old slice of classic country rock that serves as Tom Petty’s finest work in almost a decade. [30 May 2008] 
The Rolling Stones: Shine a Light: Original SoundtrackThe Oldest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World proves why they are also still the Greatest on the explosive live soundtrack to their acclaimed Martin Scorsese concert film. [12 May 2008] 
Jim Carroll: Praying MantisThe grimy, dirty middle-century New York City of legend made real. [9 May 2008] 
Jacob Miller and Friends: Jacob Miller Lives OnJacob Miller Lives On a wonderful testament to this late vocal great. [8 May 2008] 
Colin Stetson: New History Warfare: Volume 1Attention John Zorn: you may have met your match this time, pal. [6 May 2008] 
The OaKs: Songs for WaitingChalk up Songs For Waiting as an early contender for debut of the year. [2 May 2008] 
Brad Mehldau Trio: LiveThe young king of modern piano does Godfather Bill Evans proud once again with another winning live album at the “Carnegie Hall of jazz". [30 April 2008] 
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!On his 14th studio album, Australia’s crown prince of goth manifests into its unheralded king of rock. [14 April 2008] 
The Breeders: Mountain BattlesKim Deal cures her Pixies reunion hangover with another challenging classic from her long-standing side project. [7 April 2008] 
Del tha Funkee Homosapien: Eleventh HourDel is still reluctant to show off the "Homosapien" side of his earlier work on his underwhelming, belated new solo album. [17 March 2008] 
Gutter Twins: SaturnaliaTwo alt-rock titans return to their roots to create an album that rivals the best in each of their respective canons. [5 March 2008] 
DJ Le Spam: Fania Live: 02 from MiamiFor fervent crate diggers and distinguished connoisseurs of Spanish music, the NYC-born and bred Fania label is by far and away the quintessential label for rare and classic Latino grooves. 
The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting: An Oral History by Jim WalshA veritable talking book of everything you wanted to know about the Replacements but were afraid to ask: great tales and a wealth of visual treats. [15 February 2008] 
Vampire Weekend: Vampire WeekendFour more rich boys from NYC who think they can rock? But don’t have a stroke, they really do! [31 January 2008] 
Daedelus: Fair Weather FriendsWho on earth told Daedelus that it was a good idea to temporarily set aside his unique approach to left-field beat crafting in favor of booty music? [14 January 2008] 
Stevie Ray Vaughan: Solos, Sessions & EncoresThe late, great Texas guitar god’s collaborative efforts with a diverse array of friends, family, and admirers are finally compiled together, with decent results. [8 January 2008] 
Bottomless Pit: Hammer of the GodsThe surviving members of Silkworm rise up anew from tragedy. [14 December 2007] 
Robin Trower: Bridge of SighsEMI releases a quintessential guitar rock classic for the hardcore AOR fan. [27 November 2007] 
Various Artists: I’m Not ThereAn expert supply of mutual appreciation for the artistry of the artist formerly known as Zimmerman makes I'm Not There impossible to ignore. [20 November 2007] 
Miles Davis: The Complete On the Corner SessionsColumbia/Legacy completes their acclaimed metal box series championing the career of Miles Davis with a deep examination of the album that turned the jazz world on its ear hole. [7 November 2007] 
The Cave Singers: Invitation SongsThese are young, modern guys who used to do post-punk attempting to sound all old-timey and Guthrie-esque -- albeit played quite well, mind you. [25 October 2007] 
Ween: La CucarachaNew Hope, PA's finest sons rediscover the funny on their most genre-bending release in well over a decade. [24 October 2007] 
Various Artists: The WarYou want real emo? Try the soundtrack to Ken Burns' WWII epic on for size. [3 October 2007] 
Culture: Two Sevens Clash: 30th Anniversary EditionCertified reggae classic celebrates 30th Anniversary inna deluxe style. [21 September 2007] BlogsConsuming Consumables: Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition [24 November 2008] |
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