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Hunter FeltFeatures
The Selling of a Red Sox NationWhy have so many people, many of whom have never even followed baseball before, joined the already crowded bandwagon? [13 July 2005] Farewell, My Namesake: Dr. Hunter S. Thompson 1937-2005Hunter S. Thompson, was, in many ways, the embodiment of the true American Spirit: a gun-toting, drug-ingesting, beyond blue-and-red, sane lunatic. [21 February 2005] Reviews
The Witnesses: Black Eyes and White LiesThere are thousands of no-frills rock bands in the New York City area, but the Witnesses might be the only ones you should care about. [21 March 2006] 
The Society of Rockets: Where the Grass Grows BlackThe Society of Rockets' progression since its debut album Sunset Homes is impressive and, honestly, more than a little scary. [21 February 2006] 
The Electric Six: Senor SmokeWith Senor Smoke, the Electric Six establish themselves as serious pop craftsmen on this surprisingly moving -- nah, I'm just messing with you, it's another collection of jokey sleaze rock. [3 February 2006] 
Friends of Dean Martinez: Live at Club 7The Friends of Dean Martinez bring on the noise for this live gig, just daring anybody, anybody, to label them "lounge music" ever again. [23 January 2006] 
The Coffin Lids: ‘Round MidnightThe garage rocking Coffin Lids finally show their serious side, but don't worry, they are mainly serious about having fun. [17 January 2006] 
Guitar Wolf: Golden BlackThis compilation begs the question: Is Guitar Wolf the loudest band on Earth?" [19 December 2005] 
Ticonderoga: The Heilig-Levine LPDon't be fooled, on occasion Ticonderoga sounds like a rock band, but it's not. I don't know quite what it is, but it's not a rock band. [1 December 2005] 
Defunkt: Defunkt + / Thermonuclear Sweat +In the beginning, Defunkt was a mad scientist of a band, attempting to splice together jazz and funk in ways no other band had ever attempted. Think of this two disc set as its little mutant baby. [8 November 2005] 
Various Artists: Hurry Home Early: The Songs of Warren ZevonA bevy of relatively unknown artists take on the works of Warren Zevon in this collection for Zevon fans who want a tribute album that doesn't include Adam Sandler. [21 October 2005] 
New Order: Item [DVD]This new two-DVD set from New Order reveals a band comfortably situated between art and commerce. [4 October 2005] 
Electric Light Orchestra: All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light OrchestraThis new collection of Electric Light Orchestra hits (and a few confounding misses), reveals Jeff Lynne's lifelong obsession with becoming the fifth Beatle. [3 October 2005] 
The Human League: Hysteria [reissue]Although disappointing at the time, the Human League's sequel to the genre-defining Dare has aged far more gracefully than its synth-pop peers. [30 September 2005] 
The Committee (1968)Yes, its soundtrack contains unreleased music by Pink Floyd, but this short '60s art film is worth watching on its own peculiar merits. [29 September 2005] 
Her Space Holiday: The Past Presents the FutureHer Space Holiday's latest album is filled with orchestral, electro-pop songs so beautiful that it will take you a few listens to realize how depressing they are. [27 September 2005] 
The Bevis Frond: London StoneBevis Frond's follow-up to their classic New River Head finally arrives in America, and its blend of indie and classic rock could not have come at a better time. [16 September 2005] 
The Slits: Live at the Gibus ClubThis live set shows that the Slits, during their initial run, may have been the most explosive and vicious act in the early British punk scene. [15 September 2005] 
The High Dials: War of the Wakening PhantomsThis is the sound of a psychedelic pop band wrapping itself into a cocoon, changing, hopefully, into something prettier and more distinctive. [11 August 2005] 
Moonbabies: War on SoundMoonbabies' swirling, intoxicating brand of leftfield pop music is almost good enough to get you to throw out your old Cocteau Twins cassettes. [9 August 2005] 
Pearls Before Swine: The Complete ESP-Disk RecordingsThis new compilation pairs up the legendary psych-folk band Pearls Before Swine's fascinating debut, and its somber and inferior sequel. [5 August 2005] 
The Fleshtones: BeachheadEvery once and a while, when the mood strikes them, the Fleshtones release an album of primal garage rock to remind the youngsters how it's really done. [2 August 2005] 
20 Minute Loop: Yawn + House = ExplosionOn 20 Minute Loop's new album, the band imagines what it would be like if the New Pornographers combined forces with Boston. [28 July 2005] 
Wakefield: Which Side Are You On?Wakefield may create empty pop songs cynically designed to reach modern rock radio, but don't hold that (entirely) against them. [27 July 2005] 
The Free Design: The Now Sound RedesignedThis remix album uses remixers such as Madlib, Sterolab, and Danger Mouse in order to seduce listeners into the sonically rich world of '60s sunshine pop greats, the Free Design. [26 July 2005] 
The Tremeloes: Here Comes My Baby: The Ultimate CollectionWhen they say that this is the ultimate collection for these relics from the British Invasion, they really do mean ultimate. [20 July 2005] 
The Peppermints: Jesus ChrystThis Animal Collective sponsored spazz-rock band goes out of its way to make the Collective seem downright mundane. [12 July 2005] 
Smashing Orange: 1991Unsurprisingly, the work by this forgotten shoegaze band is, well, extremely forgettable. [30 June 2005] 
Dropkick Murphys: The Warrior’s CodeFrom straight-up punk rock to surprisingly delicate folk ballads, Dropkick Murphys show no signs of slowing down after 10 years on the punk rock circuit. [21 June 2005] 
Viva Voce: Lovers Lead the Way! [reissue]After the revelation of The Heat Can Melt Your Brain, Minty Fresh has reissued Viva Voce's ramshackle full-length debut, for good or for ill. [16 June 2005] 
KaS Product: Try Out [Remastered]Meet KaS Product, an obscure French new wave band of the '80s that combined cocktail jazz and bargain basement electronica. No, it doesn't make much more sense 20 years later. [14 June 2005] 
Belle & Sebastian: Push Barman to Open Old WoundsBelle and Sebastian's classic Jeepster/Matador EP's are now available on a compact two-disc collection. Now there's no excuse for not purchasing them. [3 June 2005] 
The Konks: self-titledTrue garage rockers that they are, the Konks more than live up to the standards of Bomp! Records, and the legacy of its founder, the late Greg Shaw. [25 May 2005] 
Various Artists: Made in Sheffield [DVD]Music fans would be surprised to know that the frequently dismissed town of Sheffield gave the world such bands as the Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, ABC, and, ahem, Def Leppard. [23 May 2005] 
Kid Loco: The Graffiti Artist (Original Soundtrack)Kid Loco's new release attempts to prove the worth of original score albums, and, inevitably, fails at its doomed mission. [19 May 2005] 
Gong: Angel’s Egg (Remastered)This remastered version of Gong's classic album is a perfect example of a band finding the ideal balance between sense and nonsense, structure and improvisation, and spirituality and satire. 
Adolescents: The Complete Demos 1980-1986This collection of early demos from the seminal California punk band only really will appeal to diehard fans, but who else would even think of buying a collection of punk rock demos?" [17 May 2005] 
Gibby Haynes and His Problem: self-titledButthole Surfer Gibby Haynes's Problem? His shtick doesn't work quite as well without Paul Leary's guitars. [12 May 2005] 
Clare Quilty: Face the StrangeClare Quilty makes trip-hop fun again, if you define a danceable indictment of human alienation as 'fun'. [10 May 2005] 
American Hi-Fi: Hearts on ParadeAmerican Hi-Fi's new album breaks absolutely no new ground, sounds exactly like countless other acts everybody's heard before, but somehow is impossible to completely dismiss. [9 May 2005] 
Ticonderoga: self-titledPost-rockers Ticonderoga... no wait, anti-folk experimentalists Ticonderoga... scratch that, Pavement inspired psych-country troubadours Ticonderoga... Oh forget it, Ticonderoga is just Ticonderoga. [3 May 2005] 
Be-Bop Deluxe: Sunburst Finish [reissue]Today, Bill Nelson is a cult figure known for his often oblique solo albums and his indifference to the musical mainstream. Once upon a time, however, his band had a hit song on the radio and an album full of sing-a-long pop moments. [29 April 2005] 
Be-Bop Deluxe: Axe Victim [reissue]Bill Nelson has been many things in his long musical career. On his first band's debut album, for instance, he was David Bowie with a guitar solo fetish. [25 April 2005] 
Robert Wyatt: Nothing Can Stop Us [remastered]What do a Chic song, a barbershop quartet tune about Joseph Stalin, and a Bengali protest anthem have in common? I mean, besides the fact that they all make great make-out music. That's right, they're all on this reissue of Robert Wyatt's classic, politically charged covers album. [14 April 2005] 
Robert Wyatt: Dondestan (Revisited) [remastered]One of the more overlooked albums in an overlooked artist's discography, this reissue features Robert Wyatt in a semi-successful collaboration with his poet wife. Plus: a Sesame Street style children's song about Palestine. [13 April 2005] 
Yes: House of Yes: Live from the House of Blues [DVD]If you can ignore Yes's somewhat ridiculous stage habits, and the confetti, you'll find that this semi-recent live DVD shows that progressive rock, at its best, can atone for its sins. [7 April 2005] 
Marbles: ExpoFormer Apples in Stereo leader Robert Schneider follows the cultural zeitgeist and ditches the '60s for the '80s. Surprisingly, it mostly works. [1 April 2005] 
Kylie Minogue: The Ultimate KylieThe only woman who managed to be a one-hit wonder in America on two separate occasions finally gets a compilation that should finally justify her greatness, despite including 'The Loco-Motion'. [22 March 2005] 
Stephanie Says: Sex, Socialism, and the SeasideIn her latest project, Stephanie Winter, formerly of the Legendary Jim Ruiz Group, captures the essence of a melancholy stroll by an English seaside. [16 March 2005] 
Harris Newman: Accidents with Nature and Each OtherWith his innovative folk influenced instrumentals, Harris Newman is going to make the lapsteel guitar a far cooler instrument than a boring old electric guitar. [8 March 2005] 
The Residents: Animal LoverThe Residents claim that their latest album was inspired by animal mating patterns. It isn't very sexy though. [4 March 2005] 
Jennifer Gentle: ValendeJennifer Gentle is not a woman, it is a band consisting of two Italian men who clearly love confounding listener expectations. Why else would they follow-up the rock and roll rave-up of the year with a series of strange folk sketches and noise collages?" [24 February 2005] 
Miss TK and the Revenge: XOXOIf they could stop trying to be Le Tigre, and wait until they have enough actual songs before releasing their next album, Miss TK and the Revenge could bring fluffy feel-good '80s pop back to the masses. [23 February 2005] 
Marianne Faithfull: Before the PoisonMarianne Faithfull, in collaboration with kindred spirits PJ Harvey and Nick Cave, has created a bleak masterpiece on par with Johnny Cash's final albums. [31 January 2005] 
The Icicles: A Hundred Patterns!The Icicles produce nearly perfect pop music, full of big choruses and occasionally heart-tugging lyrics. But is that enough?" [27 January 2005] 
The Police: Every Breath You Take—The Classics (Remastered)At their best the Police were an adventurous pop act, but this remastered and reissued compilation makes them seem as bland as Sting's solo career. [26 January 2005] 
Her Space Holiday: The Young Machines RemixedFor a Sunday afternoon mope, what could be better than an album of melancholy electro-pop? How about that same album remixed by the likes of Super Furry Animals, Stereolab, and Dntel?" [10 January 2005] 
Handsome Boy Modeling School: White PeopleDespite the album's numerous missteps, there are moments of genius here that the band would not have discovered without its willingness to fail. On what other album could you hear Cat Power reborn as a sultry trip-hop chanteuse, hear the lead singer of the Deftones (of all people) hold his own with El-P, or, best yet, hear Mike Patton sing a song that was genuinely pretty. [1 December 2004] 
Yuka Honda: EucademixTaking her cues from label head John Zorn, Yuka Honda follows the free-for-all Tzadik ethos and produces a collection of mostly instrumentals that seem both tossed off yet somehow satisfying at the same time. [12 November 2004] 
The Blackouts: History in ReverseHistory in Reverse is a pretty good collection from an unjustly forgotten band that contains a handful of really killer tracks. [1 November 2004] 
The Blue Nile: HighThe Blue Nile has managed to build an unassailable career by being selective about what they record, and even more selective about what they eventually release. [29 October 2004] 
Gold Chains & Sue Cie: When the World Was Our FriendSan Francisco producer and glitch-hop innovator Gold Chains takes on a new partner in crime and a new, softer image on this underwhelming transitional effort. [11 October 2004] |
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