Andrew Gilstrap is a freelance writer living in South Carolina, where he’s able to endure the few weeks each year that it’s actually freezing (swearing a vow that if he ever moves, it’ll be even further south). Aging into a fine curmudgeon whose idea of heaven is 40 tree-covered acres away from the world, he increasingly wishes he were part of a pair of twins, just so he could try being the kinda evil one on for size. Musically, he’s always scouring records for that one moment that makes him feel like he’s never heard music before, but he long ago realized he needs to keep his copies of John Prine, Crowded House, the Replacements, Kate Bush, and Tom Waits within easy reach.
Features
Thursday, December 16 2010
The Best Fantastical Music of 2010
The more you look, the more examples of the fantastic you find in music this year.
Thursday, December 18 2008
The Best Americana Music of 2008
It did seem -- perhaps because of the genre's traditional real-world concerns -- like a lot of the year's best Americana releases sensed the storm clouds gathering.
Tuesday, December 18 2007
The Best Americana of 2007
If 2007 didn't invite any gripping controversies, it was certainly filled with competitive comparisons -- between young and old, past and present, and among splintered factions -- and both surprising hits and disappointing misses. All in all, a dynamic and at times resurgent year for the broad scope of Americana.
Wednesday, August 22 2007
The Film Crew: Deep Think
Hollywood After Dark, Killers from Space, and a conversation with Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumni and The Film Crew member, Kevin Murphy, about RiffTrax and other stuff.
Friday, March 11 2005
So I Get This Disc
Protecting an artist's copyrighted work is one thing; using invasive software is another.
Best of 2004 [28.Dec.04]
Best Music of 2003 | Andrew Gilstrap [19.Dec.03]
Best Music of 2002: Andrew Gilstrap [16.Dec.02]
Best of 2001: Andrew Gilstrap [17.Dec.01]
Columns
Thursday, February 2 2012
Tower Songs: Townes Van Zandt
I'll Be There in the Morning offers an affectionate but hardly rose-colored view of Townes Van Zandt and his influence on other songwriters.
Tuesday, January 3 2012
Kicked in the Teeth by Art
For a full day, it seemed like I got pummeled by unflinching art. And I feel like I'm better for it.
Thursday, September 29 2011
The Future of Music Looks Like a Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland
I can just imagine some kind of electromagnetic pulse taking out all of the world's computers, leaving us with little more than the Ferrante and Teicher albums that litter every thrift store in the country.
Thursday, August 11 2011
The Return of 120 Minutes
120 Minutes returns to guide us through the alternative/indie/hip-hop/whatever-else universe. But what's a show to do when nothing's as hard to find as it used to be?
Thursday, June 2 2011
Beware the Urge to Serve Two Masters, Especially One So 'Primitive' as the Blues
They say Bluesman Robert Johnson went to a crossroads one night and sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his guitar prowess -- but no one ever accused him of serving two masters.
Record Store Day: The Cost in the Grooves [15.Apr.11]
Souvenirs: The Enduring Appeal of John Prine [24.May.10]
Sinnin' and Sin-Eatin' Southern Rock [31.Mar.10]
Barrelhouse Words: A Blues Dialect Dictionary [25.Jan.10]
Rock ‘n’ Roll Does Middle-age Awfully Well [30.Nov.09]
Truck Drivin' Songwritin' Man [30.Sep.09]
Blood Meridian: The Last of the True [8.Jun.09]
Heaven Can Wait ‘Til I Finish This Remix [25.Mar.09]
Art Imitates Death [30.Jan.09]
Vinyl: Got to Get You Into My Life [24.Jul.08]
Righteous Paths [9.Jun.08]
Anger With Stoic Dignity [21.Mar.08]
Young Upstarts and Wily Veterans [10.Dec.07]
The Cradle Will Rock [21.Sep.07]
Resurrections [23.Jul.07]
Collective Impulses [4.May.07]
2006, Through Roots-Colored Glasses [20.Dec.06]
Wild Abandon [25.Sep.06]
Reviews
Tuesday, January 17 2012
The Gourds: Old Mad Joy
The Gourds still seem to be enjoying themselves, and getting better in the process.
Wednesday, January 4 2012
13Ghosts: Garland of Bottle Flies
Dark and sweeping, Garland of Bottle Flies takes 13Ghosts to places they've never been.
Friday, December 2 2011
Buck Owens: Bound for Bakersfield 53-56: The Complete Pre-Capitol Collection
A fun trip through a country legend's formative years.
Thursday, December 1 2011
'Harakiri': Masaki Kobayashi's Challenge to Japan's Idealized Notions of Its Feudal Past
This anti-samurai samurai film loses none of its power over the years as a fierce tale of individual honor in the face of systemic corruption.
Haven: The Complete First Season [1.Jul.11]
Kate Bush: Director's Cut [20.Jun.11]
Malcolm Holcombe: To Drink the Rain [10.May.11]
Southeast Engine: Canary [25.Apr.11]
Hot Club of Cowtown: What Makes Bob Holler [18.Apr.11]
Calexico: Hot Rail / Feast of Wire [15.Apr.11]
'Zombie Spaceship Wasteland' Gives the Game of Pop Culture Referencing a Little Extra Zing [7.Apr.11]
Jeff Beck: Rock 'n' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul [24.Mar.11]
Shemekia Copeland: Deluxe Edition [18.Mar.11]
Kasey Anderson and the Honkies: Heart of a Dog [15.Mar.11]
Shannon McNally: Western Ballad [24.Feb.11]
Gurf Morlix: Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream [17.Feb.11]
Howlies:Stunned EP [6.Dec.10]
'The Unwritten, Volume 2: Inside Man' Tells a Complex, Literature-based Secret History of the World [26.Sep.10]
Leonard Cohen: Songs from the Road [24.Sep.10]
Jimmie Vaughan: Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites [12.Sep.10]
Eels: Tomorrow Morning [1.Sep.10]
Los Lobos: Tin Can Trust [3.Aug.10]
The Cat Empire: Cinema [22.Jul.10]
Tift Merritt: See You on the Moon [9.Jul.10]
The Gaslight Anthem: American Slang [18.Jun.10]
The Living Dead by Various Authors [17.Mar.10]
Kasey Anderson: Nowhere Nights [17.Mar.10]
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live [2.Mar.10]
Joe Pug: Messenger [19.Feb.10]
Matthew Ryan: Dear Lover [17.Feb.10]
Barton Carroll: Together You and I [28.Jan.10]
Bonerama:Hard Times [22.Jan.10]
Mystery Science Theater 3000: XVI [10.Dec.09]
Colin Hay:American Sunshine [19.Nov.09]
Squirrel Nut Zippers: Lost at Sea [12.Nov.09]
Lucero:1372 Overton Park [23.Oct.09]
Chris Knight: Trailer II [22.Oct.09]
Frank Turner: Poetry of the Deed [10.Sep.09]
Joe Henry: Blood from Stars [18.Aug.09]
Soulsavers: Broken [17.Aug.09]
Among the Oak & Ash: Among the Oak & Ash [13.Aug.09]
Michelle Malone: Debris [8.Jul.09]
Jesse Harris: Watching the Sky [18.Jun.09]
David Sedaris [11.May.09]
The Venture Brothers: Season Three [30.Apr.09]
Ira Glass [6.Apr.09]
Clem Snide: Hungry Bird [27.Feb.09]
This American Life: Season Two [16.Feb.09]
Calexico: Live from Austin TX [DVD] [1.Feb.09]
Various Artists: Awake, My Soul/Help Me to Sing [30.Jan.09]
Otis Gibbs: Grandpa Walked a Picketline [18.Jan.09]
The Avett Brothers [5.Dec.08]
Buddy Miller: The Best of the Hightone Years [3.Dec.08]
U2: Live at Red Rocks [6.Nov.08]
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour: Season 3 [24.Oct.08]
Todd Snider: Peace Queer [24.Oct.08]
30 Rock: Season 2 [9.Oct.08]
This American Life: Season 1 [3.Oct.08]
Pushing Daisies: The Complete First Season [26.Sep.08]
Grayson Capps & the Stumpknockers: Rott 'N' Roll [23.Sep.08]
Son of Rambow [8.Sep.08]
The Hold Steady [25.Aug.08]
Pretty in Pink [25.Aug.08]
The Cat Empire: So Many Nights [18.Aug.08]
Ben Weaver: The Ax in the Oak [14.Aug.08]
Sarah McLachlan: Fumbling Towards Ecstacy [11.Aug.08]
Amelia: A Long, Lovely List of Repairs [24.Jul.08]
Stray Cats: Blast Off [14.Jul.08]
Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself [10.Jul.08]
The Backsliders: You're Welcome [7.Jul.08]
Tab Benoit: Night Train to Nashville [30.Jun.08]
King Corn [26.Jun.08]
His Name is Alive: Firefly Dragonfly EP [24.Jun.08]
Midnight Oil: Diesel and Dust [20.Jun.08]
Be Kind Rewind [19.Jun.08]
Eef Barzelay: Lose Big [18.Jun.08]
The Animation Show: Vol. 3 [17.Jun.08]
The Dexateens: Lost and Found [27.May.08]
Matthew Ryan: Matthew Ryan Vs. the Silver State [14.Apr.08]
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Street Survivors [9.Apr.08]
Bo Ramsey: Fragile [8.Apr.08]
Kid Rock [21.Mar.08]
Highlander: The Source [20.Mar.08]
The Bodeans: Still [7.Mar.08]
Jim White: Transnormal Skiperoo [3.Mar.08]
The Blind Boys of Alabama: Down in New Orleans [29.Feb.08]
The Selmanaires: The Air Salesmen [25.Feb.08]
Various Artists: Sowing the Seeds [22.Feb.08]
Damien Rice: Live from the Union Chapel [18.Feb.08]
Eels: Useless Trinkets [8.Jan.08]
Puerto Muerto: Heaven & Dirt [19.Dec.07]
Scrubs: The Complete Sixth Season [4.Dec.07]
Mindy Smith: My Holiday [30.Nov.07]
Ricky Skaggs and the Whites: Salt of the Earth [21.Nov.07]
Stevie Ray Vaughan: Pride and Joy [DVD] [5.Nov.07]
Ryan Bingham: Mescalito [26.Oct.07]
The Simpsons: Testify [18.Oct.07]
J.J. Cale: Rewind [9.Oct.07]
David Dondero: Simple Love [9.Oct.07]
The Office: Season Three [8.Oct.07]
Mark Knopfler: Kill to Get Crimson [27.Sep.07]
Knocked Up [26.Sep.07]
Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers: Swampblood [20.Sep.07]
Various Artists: Vee-Jay [6.Sep.07]
Paul Reddick: Revue [31.Aug.07]
Sly and the Family Stone: Greatest Hits [27.Aug.07]
Paul Simon: The Essential Paul Simon [17.Aug.07]
Shivaree: Tainted Love [16.Aug.07]
Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers: Solid Ice [15.Aug.07]
Cake: B-Sides and Rarities [14.Aug.07]
Kung Fu Hustle [31.Jul.07]
Block: The Last Single Guy [25.Jul.07]
Abra Moore: On the Way [20.Jul.07]
Ever Since the World Ended (2001) [11.Jul.07]
Scrubs - The Complete Fifth Season [5.Jul.07]
Van Morrison: The Best of Van Morrison [27.Jun.07]
Highlander - The Search for Vengeance (2007) [22.Jun.07]
Colin Hay: Are You Lookin at Me? [21.Jun.07]
Wintersleep: Untitled [18.Jun.07]
Poison: Poisond [5.Jun.07]
Todd Snider: Peace, Love and Anarchy [6.Apr.07]
The Emperors Naked Army Marches On (1988) [5.Apr.07]
Saturday Night Live: Best of Steve Martin [23.Mar.07]
Gomez: Five Men in a Hut [DVD] [4.Mar.07]
Patty Griffin: Children Running Through [26.Feb.07]
Dolorean: You Cant Win [26.Feb.07]
Slayer (2006) [20.Feb.07]
Half-Cocked: Half-Cocked [DVD] [12.Feb.07]
The Twilight Singers: A Stitch in Time [9.Feb.07]
Crowded House: Farewell to the World [2.Feb.07]
Rosemary Clooney: Come On-a My House [11.Jan.07]
Tab Benoit: Best of the Bayou Blues [6.Dec.06]
Jeff Beck: Truth and Beck-Ola [29.Nov.06]
Joan Osborne: Pretty Little Stranger [27.Nov.06]
Gomez: Five Men in a Hut [13.Nov.06]
Alice in Chains: The Essential Alice in Chains [13.Nov.06]
Neko Case: Live from Austin TX [DVD] [5.Nov.06]
Los Lobos: The Town and the City [28.Sep.06]
Richard Buckner: Meadow [11.Sep.06]
Tom Waits [1.Aug.06]
Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash: 16 Biggest Hits [30.Jun.06]
Johnny Cash: American V: A Hundred Highways [30.Jun.06]
Alejandro Escovedo: The Boxing Mirror [26.Jun.06]
Matthew Sweet: Girlfriend [15.Jun.06]
Scott Miller & the Commonwealth: Citation [18.Apr.06]
Spoon + The Rosebuds + The Specs [14.Apr.06]
Calexico: Garden Ruin [12.Apr.06]
Eef Barzelay: Bitter Honey [28.Mar.06]
ZZ Top: 2006 Reissues [28.Feb.06]
Eels: Eels with Strings: Live at Town Hall [DVD] [17.Feb.06]
Various Artists: Dream Brother [25.Jan.06]
Fleetwood Mac: Men of the World: The Early Years [29.Nov.05]
Kate Bush: Aerial [17.Nov.05]
Wilco [28.Oct.05]
Magnolia Electric Co.: Hard to Love a Man EP [11.Oct.05]
B.B. King: Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums [1.Aug.05]
Sinead O'Connor: Collaborations [8.Jul.05]
The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan [20.Jun.05]
Los Super Seven: Heard It on the X [4.Apr.05]
Tab Benoit: Fever for the Bayou [18.Mar.05]
Paul Simon: The Paul Simon Songbook [27.Jan.05]
The Comas: Conductor [22.Nov.04]
Jason Ringenberg: Empire Builders [9.Sep.04]
Bob Schneider: I'm Good Now [21.May.04]
Patty Griffin: Impossible Dream [5.May.04]
Aldo Nova: self-titled [15.Apr.04]
Gingersol: Eastern [14.Apr.04]
Butterfly Boucher: Flutterby [30.Mar.04]
Calexico: Convict Pool [29.Mar.04]
Indigo Girls: All That We Let In [26.Mar.04]
Cheap Trick: The Essential Cheap Trick [24.Mar.04]
James McMurtry: Live in Aught-Three [19.Mar.04]
Eisley: Marvelous Things [12.Mar.04]
Ben Harper: Live at the Hollywood Bowl [DVD] [10.Feb.04]
Garageland: Last Exit to Garageland [27.Jan.04]
Firewater: Songs We Should Have Written [11.Jan.04]
Greg Trooper: Floating [20.Nov.03]
Grandpaboy: Dead Man Shake [14.Nov.03]
Paul Westerberg: Come Feel Me Tremble [13.Nov.03]
Various Artists: Maybe This Christmas, Too [12.Nov.03]
The Gourds: Growin' a Beard [24.Oct.03]
Joe Ely: Streets of Sin [29.Sep.03]
The Mavericks: self-titled [26.Sep.03]
South: With the Tides [24.Sep.03]
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Thyrty [22.Sep.03]
Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart: Must Be Live [15.Sep.03]
You Am I: Deliverance [5.Sep.03]
Jeff Buckley: Live at Sin-é [Deluxe Edition] [29.Aug.03]
B.B. King: Blues Kingpins [26.Aug.03]
The Del McCoury Band: It's Just the Night [22.Aug.03]
Firewater: The Man on the Burning Tightrope [20.Aug.03]
Denison Witmer: Recovered [6.Aug.03]
The Notwist: 12 [1.Aug.03]
Wanda Jackson: Live & Still Kickin' [29.Jul.03]
Guster: Keep It Together [10.Jul.03]
16 Horsepower: Olden [9.Jul.03]
Damien Rice: O [2.Jul.03]
The Police: Every Breath You Take: The DVD [23.Jun.03]
Local H: The No Fun EP [27.May.03]
The Jayhawks: Blue Earth [23.May.03]
Songs: Ohia: The Magnolia Electric Co. [22.Apr.03]
Howe Gelb: The Listener [27.Mar.03]
Townes Van Zandt: For the Sake of the Song [25.Mar.03]
Kathleen Edwards: Failer [28.Feb.03]
Chris Thomas King: A Young Man's Blues [10.Feb.03]
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones: Live at the Quick [20.Dec.02]
The The: Dusk [Original Recording Remastered] [17.Dec.02]
Bob Marley and the Wailers: Legend [Original Recording Remastered] [Extra Tracks] (1984) [14.Dec.02]
Radney Foster: Another Way to Go [29.Nov.02]
The Replacements: Don't Tell a Soul [7.Nov.02]
Grey DeLisle: Homewrecker [17.Oct.02]
Various Artists: Sounds Eclectic Too [1.Oct.02]
Songs: Ohia: Didn't It Rain [13.Sep.02]
Los Lobos: Good Morning Aztlán [2.Aug.02]
Down from the Mountain [31.Jul.02]
Dolly Parton: Halos and Horns [31.Jul.02]
Drive-By Truckers: Southern Rock Opera [26.Jul.02]
Steve Earle: Sidetracks [18.Jun.02]
Buffy the Vampire Slayer [10.Jun.02]
My Morning Jacket / Songs: Ohia: Split EP [5.Jun.02]
Clem Snide: Moment in the Sun [22.May.02]
Lonesome Bob: Things Change [10.May.02]
The Bottle Rockets: Songs of Sahm [24.Apr.02]
Local H: Here Comes the Zoo [4.Mar.02]
Lambchop: Is a Woman [19.Feb.02]
Various Artists: From Hell to Breakfast: A Taste of Sugar Hill's Texas Singer-Songwriters [4.Feb.02]
Nine Inch Nails: And All That Could Have Been [21.Jan.02]
Willie Nelson: The Great Divide [14.Jan.02]
Hadacol: All in Your Head [26.Nov.01]
Sarah Dougher: The Bluff [19.Nov.01]
Raul Malo: Today [22.Oct.01]
Suzanne Vega: Songs in Red and Gray [24.Sep.01]
The Verve Pipe: Underneath [24.Sep.01]
Matthew Ryan: Concussion [24.Sep.01]
Ryan Adams: Gold [11.Sep.01]
Ben Folds: Rockin' the Suburbs [10.Sep.01]
The Yayhoos: Fear Not the Obvious [6.Aug.01]
Neil Diamond: Three Chord Opera [23.Jul.01]
The Del McCoury Band: Del and the Boys [10.Jul.01]
The Gourds: Shinebox [9.Jul.01]
The Beta Band: Hot Shots II [25.Jun.01]
Brian Setzer '68 Comeback Special: Ignition [11.Jun.01]
Calexico: Even My Sure Things Fall Through [21.May.01]
Whiskeytown: Pneumonia [21.May.01]
Various Artists: Sounds Eclectic [2.Apr.01]
Hesher: Self-Titled Debut [12.Mar.01]
Los Super Seven: Canto [12.Mar.01]
Delbert McClinton: Nothing Personal [5.Mar.01]
The Reverend Billy C. Wirtz: The Best of the Wirtz: 15 Years on the Road with a 77-Inch Pian [19.Feb.01]
Johnny Dowd: Temporary Shelter [12.Feb.01]
The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius [1.Jan.95]
Promethea: Book One [1.Jan.95]
Odds Off [1.Jan.95]
Portraits from Life [1.Jan.95]
Alice in Chains: Greatest Hits [1.Jan.95]
Garageland: Do What You Want [1.Jan.95]
Gordon Downie: Coke Machine Glow [1.Jan.95]
The Morells: self-titled [1.Jan.95]
Willard Grant Conspiracy: Everything's Fine [1.Jan.95]
Blogs
Tuesday, December 15 2009
Slipped Disc: Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day
Albums that missed our Top 60 Albums list, but at least one of our writers loves.
Thursday, December 10 2009
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour: Season 3
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour: Season 3 - Time Life Entertainment [$49.98]
Monday, March 23 2009
Music Day 4: Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
Photos: James Edward Crittendon
Music Day 4: Solange (Notes from the Road) [23.Mar.09]
Music Day 4: Dexter Romweber Duo (Notes from the Road) [23.Mar.09]
Music Day 4: Ha Ha Tonka (Notes from the Road) [23.Mar.09]
Music Day 4: Earlimart (Notes from the Road) [23.Mar.09]
Music Day 4: Dead Confederate (Notes from the Road) [23.Mar.09]
Music Day 4: 13ghosts (Notes from the Road) [23.Mar.09]
Music Day 3: Jail Guitar Doors Showcase (Notes from the Road) [22.Mar.09]
Music Day 3: Alela Diane (Notes from the Road) [22.Mar.09]
Music Day 3: Southeast Engine (Notes from the Road) [22.Mar.09]
Music Day 4: The Rosebuds (Notes from the Road) [22.Mar.09]
Music Day 3: Six Degrees of Memphis Party (Notes from the Road) [21.Mar.09]
Music Day 3: The Thermals (Notes from the Road) [21.Mar.09]
Music Day 2: The Avett Brothers (Notes from the Road) [21.Mar.09]
Music Day 2: The Wrens (Notes from the Road) [20.Mar.09]
Music Day 2: Daniel Johnston and the Hymns (Notes from the Road) [20.Mar.09]
Music Day 2: The Heavenly States (Notes from the Road) [20.Mar.09]
Music Day 2: The Donkeys (Notes from the Road) [20.Mar.09]
Music Day 2: Oh Susanna (Notes from the Road) [20.Mar.09]
Music Day 2: Primal Scream (Notes from the Road) [20.Mar.09]
Music Day 2: 43 Songs For 43 U.S. Presidencies (Notes from the Road) [20.Mar.09]
Music Day 1: NPR Showcase (Notes from the Road) [19.Mar.09]
Music Day 1: Grant Hart (Notes from the Road) [19.Mar.09]
Music Day 1: Joe Pug (Notes from the Road) [19.Mar.09]
Music Day 1: Ezra Furman (Notes from the Road) [19.Mar.09]
Music Day 1: Glossary (Notes from the Road) [19.Mar.09]
Paul Westerberg's 49:00 (Sound Affects) [22.Jul.08]
Various Artists: Vee-Jay: The Definitive Collection [$59.98] (Consuming Consumables) [11.Dec.07]
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs: Best of the Flatt & Scruggs TV Show, Vols 1 and 2 [$19.99 each] (Consuming Consumables) [11.Dec.07]
Various Artists: Rockin' Bones: 1950s Punk & Rockabilly [$69.98] (Consuming Consumables) [12.Dec.06]
