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Michael MetivierAbout Michael Metivier Michael Metivier has lived and worked everywhere from New Orleans to Chicago to New York to Boston. He currently lives in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, with his bride-to-be and two hilarious guinea pigs. He records and performs original songs under the name “Oweihops”. Features
My MichaelAs an adult, I haven’t the foggiest idea of what a “King of Pop” is or does, but as a six-year-old, I was pretty sure Michael Jackson invented music. [6 July 2009] Pearl Jam’s “Ten”, Eighteen Years LaterOver the years, Sony Legacy has re-released countless albums, but rarely has it honored a record whose importance with regards to legacy has been debated since day one as Pearl Jam’s debut. [3 April 2009] The Lemonheads: It’s A Shame About Ray: Collector’s EditionThis 1992 classic, a commercial smash and artistic peak for the Lemonheads, wants another bit part in your life. A walk-on would be fine. [28 March 2008] Best Singer/Songwriter Albums of 2006Dry lyrical wit, verbal playfulness, and somber epiphanies for the reluctantly mature: they're all part of Michael Metivier's best singer/songwriter albums of the year. [20 December 2006] Trouser Snakes on a Tour Plane: A Long Journey with JourneyLove or loathe them, Journey's songs are etched into our collective subconscious, and deeper than most of us would like to admit. [30 August 2006] My Backyard: An Interview With Nora O’ConnorThe Chicago country singer explains the origins of her new record. [1 January 1995] Experience and Accident: A Conversation with Iron and Wine’s Sam BeamSam Beam talks about the songwriting process, even the unintentional side of it. The Flora and the Fauna: An Interview with the Fruit Bats’ Eric JohnsonWherein all manner of fish, beast, and song is discussed, including seals, Charles Grodin, nerds, and the beautiful new record Spelled in Bones. The Mysterious Production of Songs: An Interview with Andrew BirdThe songwriter gets into the songwriting process, the bigger crowds, and the need to suffer. All City, All the TimePeter Andreadis balances three heady roles while trying to turn his scene into a big celebration. Come on, you can uncross your arms and dance. Reviews
United Bible Studies: The JonahSometimes, the blend of trad and psych can seem either too precious or too studied, but overall, The Jonah rings true. [9 September 2009] 
16 Horsepower: Secret SouthReissue of 16 Horsepower's long-out-of-print third album. It's not their best, but certainly worthy. 
Cub Country: Stretch That Skull Cover and SmileJeremy Chatelain writes and sings some fine melodies, high and lonesome, calm and mellow, and there isn’t a moment on the album that rings hollow or false. [24 August 2009] 
The Dry Spells: Too Soon For FlowersMystical, ethereal Californian folk-rock in the vein to make Mama Nicks proud. [19 August 2009] 
Sarah Jarosz: Song Up In Her HeadA captivating and assured debut by an 18-year-old bluegrass soon-to-be star. [21 July 2009] 
The Jayhawks: Music From the North Country - The Jayhawks AnthologyWhether or not history validates the Jayhawks' legacy, this anthology puts forth a strong argument. [10 July 2009] 
Levon Helm: Electric DirtOverall, as delightful as Helm’s 2007 comeback was, Electric Dirt feels like even more cause for celebration. [8 July 2009] 
Various Artists: Leaves of LifeComposed of an embarrassment of riches of nearly 20 tracks by artists both as simpatico and diverse as Devendra Banhart, Alela Diane, Citay, and Magic Leaves, Leaves of Life is not only a sparkling representation of contemporary exploratory folk music, but it’s for a good cause. [5 July 2009] 
R.E.M.: Reckoning (Deluxe Edition)Reckoning was a clear-eyed document of a young band energized by the road and each other. [26 June 2009] 
Elephant Micah: Exiled MagiciansFeedback-laced rust-belt vignettes, foggy slow-core and Appalachia-derived folk, from a songwriting aesthetic as solid and fully developed as those of names exponentially more well-known. [17 June 2009] 
The Western States: Bye and ByeAptly recalls the heyday of ‘90s No Depression romanticism, but unfortunately Bye and Bye doesn’t dig very deep into that fertile soil. [14 June 2009] 
Red Heart the Ticker: Oh My! Mountains BelowThe single best word I can find to describe Red Heart the Ticker's second album is “sensual”, in that everything about their gorgeous country-folk songs feels inextricably tethered to the world of the five senses. [2 June 2009] 
Arborea: House of SticksThe Maine husband/wife duo of Buck and Shanti Curran create elemental soundscapes that ignore fashion and strive for natural beauty. [25 May 2009] 
Bob Dylan: Together Through LifeIf older artists have a tendency to look backward and most young ‘uns to aim grasp at the future, Dylan’s gift has been to make hay of those distinctions and set himself apart from either generational trend. [27 April 2009] 
Bill Callahan: Sometimes I Wish We Were an EagleAs if in an attempt to gain the attributes of the album’s namesake bird, the songs on Eagle feel like they’re rising on thermals, shifting and soaring effortlessly where the wind takes them. And occasionally they dive right for your throat. [17 April 2009] 
Neil Young: Fork in the Road"Light a Candle" distills Neil Young's efforts to promote and pursue zero-emissions fuel technology into something haunting and beautiful. Unfortunately, Fork in the Road features nine other songs. [7 April 2009] 
Julie Doiron: I Can Wonder What You Did With Your DayThough more immediately joyous and happy than her last pair of albums, Doiron's latest remains so disarmingly tender and honest as to almost defy belief. [12 March 2009] 
The Bitter Tears: Jam Tarts in the JakehouseChicago's finest country/ rock /cabaret /miscellaneous outfit grows in musical and songwriting prowess without losing its mischievous spark. [6 March 2009] 
Azita: How Will You?Balances Azita's distinct brand of quirkiness with spartan, classic arrangements, casting her songs in a warmer, more inviting light than in the past. [26 February 2009] 
Modern Skirts: All of Us in Our NightA fine, confident, occasionally overeager album of catchy modern pop rock. [19 February 2009] 
Six Organs of Admittance: RTZAn involved (and involving) collection of mostly previously-released long-form folk explorations. [13 February 2009] 
The Bird & the Bee: Ray Guns Are Not Just the FutureMore super-smart, -sexy, and -fun pop music for thinking people. [29 January 2009] 
Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power, & the Amorphous Strums: Dark DevelopmentsA winningly catchy and bizarre collaboration between Athens Georgia musical heavyweights, sure to appeal to bootblacks, butchers, and aubergine-eyed boys and girls everywhere. [23 January 2009] 
Scott Weiland: Happy in GaloshesPerhaps doomed to remain unfairly ignored by hipsters and to confound torch-carrying grunge fans, the most winning aspect of Happy in Galoshes is that it sounds like the work of an artist who’s doing it for nobody but himself. [17 December 2008] 
Charlie Louvin: Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster SongsLouvin's voice possesses the wisdom of a life that has seen enough tragedy to understand that it remains both mysterious and inevitable, and endlessly fascinating to singing about. [12 December 2008] 
Linda Perhacs: ParallelogramsThis second reissue of an obscure folk classic from 1970, still the only Perhacs album to date, should hopefully win more ears primed by younger artists who've been influenced by it. [11 December 2008] 
Oh Captain My Captain: Recklessly She Split the SeaTuneful and concise prog-rock, but not enough poetry. [13 November 2008] 
All City Affairs: Identity TheftChicago's All City Affairs drops more knowledge about modern life and love via inspired mash-up collages of rock, pop, funk, and soul. [3 November 2008] 
Golden Smog: Stay Golden, Smog: The Best of Golden SmogThough the contents of this alt-country supergroup's compilation are fine and dandy, its mere presence is kind of unnecessary. [31 October 2008] 
Jonatha Brooke: The WorksBrooke's collection of unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics set to her own original music isn't Mermaid Avenue III. But it never had to be. [21 October 2008] 
Drew Hickum & the Colonels: Drew Hickum & the ColonelsA sure-fire pleaser for fans of catchy, straight-up country tunes. [16 October 2008] 
Jolie Holland: The Living and the DeadHolland demonstrates as convincingly as ever her playful yet solid command of Americana past and present as music to be lived in rather than just visited on a lark. [10 October 2008] 
Mark Erelli: DeliveredStrong writing and singing abounds, but there’s a sense that a real breakthrough could involve just a hair less control and perfectionism. [26 September 2008] 
Haunt: The Deep NorthYet for all of its forcefulness and punch, The Deep North is lean and melodic. [11 September 2008] 
Belleisle: LongstandingThe revolving door and bandmate swapping of Montreal’s Ships at Night imprint is ever-fruitful. [14 August 2008] 
The Thin Man: SpectresThe influences of Chicago's the Thin Man are intact, from cabaret waltzes to classic Americana, but the facility to interweave them on Spectres has only grown more impressive. [6 August 2008] 
16 Horsepower: Live: March 2001Live release documents one of rock's most under-appreciated (and now-defunct) bands at their most bullish, though not necessarily their best. [31 July 2008] 
Twilight Hotel: Highway PrayerThere's something earnest and charming about this Winnipeg couple's folk-pop that makes me feel like a real jerk for not liking it. [12 June 2008] 
Laura Cantrell: Trains and Boats and PlanesBrief but satisfying themed EP from a gifted voice and interpreter. [27 May 2008] 
The Wilders: Someone’s Got to PayA hillbilly concept album about a murder trial? By all rights, such a thing shouldn't exist. But it does; and it's great. [15 May 2008] 
Greg Laswell: How the Day SoundsThe contours of How the Day Sounds are pillowy soft and radio-friendly, pleasantly sung and arranged, straight-forward and benign. [4 April 2008] 
R.E.M.: AccelerateIt’s up in the air whether or not Accelerate will reclaim any lost prestige after a disappointing decade for R.E.M.. But it’s hard to imagine what more the band could have done to revive itself than this terse, exceptional set of engaging rock. [31 March 2008] 
The Grizzly Owls: By Night On My BedThe Grizzly Owls are a whole lot more iconoclastic than all that lack of jazz. [26 February 2008] 
Jed Speare: Sound Works 1982-1987Long-form musique concrete. I didn't know either before hearing it. [4 February 2008] 
Orillia Opry: Lighthouse for Stragglers EyesLighthouse for Stragglers’ Eyes deserves a wider audience for its comfortable, confident, and adventurous mien. [16 January 2008] 
Black Swans: Change!Change! is an album of texture and nuance, unafraid to embrace tradition one minute, and leave it longing and in tears the next. [10 January 2008] 
The Pines: Sparrows in the BellSolid second effort from Minneapolis Americana combo with a respected folk lineage. [3 December 2007] 
Porter Wagoner: Legends of the Grand Ole Opry: Live!Released just a couple months before Wagoner's passing at age 80, this live collection is a fine testament to the country icon's grace and showmanship. [27 November 2007] 
Magnolia Electric Co.: SojournerFour discs of lost and found material from the workingman's workingman, Jason Molina, constitute a celebration of his band's work better than any best-of retrospective could hope to. [2 November 2007] 
Johnny Irion: Ex TemporeThe push and pull between good and bad material on Ex Tempore ultimately makes one wish that the album’s creation was a little less spontaneous and a bit more considered and edited. [24 October 2007] 
Iron & Wine: The Shepherd’s DogAs much for the beautiful distractions conjured by the musicians, the richness and creativity, bells and whistles, The Shepherd’s Dog should one day be regarded for how it reflected its time, timelessly. [27 September 2007] 
Vic Chesnutt: North Star DeserterFeaturing Thee Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra, Guy Picciotto, and a host of others, Mr. Chesnutt's latest opus is a monument of haunted beauty, splintered fury, gloves off and gorgeous. [18 September 2007] 
Alina Simone: PlacelessnessALthough she echoes Chan Marshall, Alina Simone sounds determined to get her own thing going on Placelessness. [13 September 2007] 
Various Artists: Old Town School of Folk Music SongbookMore songs to love and learn from Chicago's venerated Old Town School of Folk Music. [6 September 2007] 
Michelle Shocked: ToHeavenURideWhat is ostensibly coming from a deep, and deeply personal, connection with the Lord, ends up sounding subverted by glad-handing showmanship. 
Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh RitterJosh Ritter said of his new record, "I wanted to blow something up." Boom! [30 August 2007] 
Great Lakes Myth Society: Compass Rose BouquetPretty yet fussy, Compass Rose Bouquet overextends itself just a wee bit, but ain't that better than the alternative? [27 August 2007] 
Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem: Big Old LifeBig Old Life may be clean and composed, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fun listen. [13 August 2007] 
Copper Kettle: Coal RabbitCopper Kettle is a wonderful surprise from a most unlikely locale. [8 August 2007] 
Meg Baird: Dear CompanionMeg Baird (Espers, the Baird Sisters) wows with a simple, stripped-down folk record that peels off the psych-, freak-, and anti- labels and lets them float away on the breeze. 
Spouse: Relocation TacticsSpouse returns to the days when nimble, un-ironic rock songs flitted neon around the hearts and legwarmers of true believers. [6 August 2007] 
Ben + Vesper: All This Could Kill YouBen + Vesper's songs are maddeningly hard to categorize, but is that such a bad thing? Not when their tunes on their debut album have so much to offer. [20 July 2007] 
Tuatara: East of the SunDespite a few intriguing cuts featuring Sufi poet Coleman Barks, Tuatara's latest is unfortunately stale. [11 July 2007] 
Jenny Owen Youngs: Batten the HatchesOriginally released in 2005, Youngs' folkish debut exudes clever and riotous potential, but never quite lifts off. [6 July 2007] 
Track a Tiger: We Moved Like GhostsTrack a Tiger appears close to felling the elusive prey of wider acclaim. [2 July 2007] 
Chris Bathgate: A Cork Tale WakeAnn Arbor, Michigan's Chris Bathgate has the kind of distinctive, intimate voice that fans of acoustic indie-folk rock adore. [22 June 2007] 
Mark Olson: The Salvation BluesOlson's way is never trendy or trail-blazing, but so steeped in classic American song that his body of work seems to exist out of time. [4 June 2007] 
Robbie Fulks: Revenge!Wisecrackin' Fulks's double-disc live album keeps the hot side hot and the cool side cool. 
Lewis & Clarke: Blasts of Holy BirthThe compositions are thoughtfully and carefully arranged folk mini-symphonies. [31 May 2007] 
Madagascar: Goodbye East, Goodbye WestSecond album of gypsy-folk dreamscapes from Baltimore instrumentalists. [29 May 2007] 
Various Artists: Finest Worksongs: Athens Bands Play the Music of R.E.M.Finally, a tribute album with both heart and nerve. [21 May 2007] 
Wilco: Sky Blue SkyIf you're prone to confusing honest musical maturity with banality, then you'll surely miss out on the treasures of Sky Blue Sky. [14 May 2007] 
Winterpills: The Light DividesSecond album of shimmering folk-pop from one of New England's finest rising exports. 
Lou Barlow: Mirror the EyeThe task of entering the Lou Barlow catalog over 20 years since it began seems as daunting and perilous as an assault on K2. [18 April 2007] 
Guy Clark: Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill YearsThe experience of a good retrospective is like raiding an older sibling's record collection as a kid, one of the most time-honored entry points for discovering new old music. [16 April 2007] 
The Zincs: Black PompadourFresh off of their first cross-country tour, Chicago's Zincs internalize all that movement on a set of spry, shimmering rock. [30 March 2007] 
Grant-Lee Phillips: StrangeletStranglet's songs are often wrapped in production quirks and dense arrangements when they beg for leaner treatment. [28 March 2007] 
Low: Drums and GunsBroken hymns, charred fight songs, and unsure anthems on Low's best since Things We Lost in the Fire [22 March 2007] 
Andrew Bird: Armchair ApocryphaTime may be a crooked bow, but Andrew Bird is shooting for timelessness. [19 March 2007] 
Rivulets: You Are My HomeA high lonesome vibe pervades the album, as if the arrangements were just imaginary friends brought in to testify to Nathan Amundson's private musings. [8 March 2007] 
Northern Alliance: For the Grains of SandThe Scottish indie rock band apparently rarely plays live, but for the singing alone I would encourage them to do so. [6 March 2007] 
Six Parts Seven: Casually Smashed to PiecesThese are songs for folks who find isolation comforting. [1 March 2007] 
Paula Frazer & Tarnation: Now Its TimeWhat better time than now than to remind the world that Frazer hasn't hung it up, and that Now It’s Time, while not exactly the same sound as the original Tarnation, is still helmed by the same talent. [28 February 2007] 
Various Artists: Endless Highway: The Music of the BandThey say everything can be replaced, but you wouldn't know it from this lukewarm tribute to one of rock's most timeless, legendary groups. [27 February 2007] 
Eleni Mandell: Miracle of FiveThe best moments on Miracle of Five are these: where Mandell’s incisive wit wins out over convention. [13 February 2007] 
Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter: Like, Love, Lust & The Open Halls of the SoulThe year seems too young for there to be so many incredible new records, but Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter have a sure masterpiece on their hands. [5 February 2007] 
Julie Doiron: Woke Myself UpReconnecting with former Eric's Trip bandmates, Doiron delivers a profoundly affecting account of the joys and difficulties of family and love. [25 January 2007] 
The Shins: Wincing the Night AwayCan't sleep? The Shins know how you feel. They're probably the reason why. [19 January 2007] 
Kristin Hersh: Learn to Sing Like a StarFusing old with new to make an improvement on new: when you can do that on your own terms, why would you ever want to sing like a star? [17 January 2007] 
Denison Witmer: Safe Away / Are You a Sleeper?Reissue of sensitive Philly songster's 2002 debut full-length, served with an extra disc of sincerity. 
Norfolk & Western: The Unsung ColonyTwo elaborately crafted folk-rock albums in one year? HA! I'll review this one in 2007! [2 January 2007] 
Rick Brockner: Black Mountain BrewCheesiness of the marketing aside, Rick Brockner’s Black Mountain Brew is a soothing, enjoyable, if not revolutionary acoustic folk record. [20 December 2006] 
Pit Er Pat: PyramidsHow to write a hack review of a good album in three easy steps! Just in time for the holidays! 
Anders Parker: Anders ParkerParker's songs turn down flashy for something much more welcome and rare: enduring. [27 November 2006] 
Various Artists: Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook, Vol. 1Excellent and educational compilation of folk songs, featuring members of Wilco, Freakwater, and the Bad Livers, as well as faculty and staff of Chicago's esteemed Old Town School of Folk Music. [15 November 2006] 
My Brightest Diamond: Bring Me the WorkhorseEmotive, operatic debut from a sometime-Illinoisemaker. [31 October 2006] Congress of Starlings: AlbedoDuo manages to actually bring something new to the female singer-songwriter table, and that's a welcome thing. [12 October 2006] 
Wovenhand: MosaicMosaic moves David Eugene Edwards further away from country 'n' western, more towards country 'n' eastern. 
Hairshirt: Lover PoliticianNeither itchy, uncomfortable, nor R.E.M., this EP is a solid if middle of the road mix of '80s influences. [6 October 2006] 
All City Affairs: BeesIf justice exists, All City Affairs' multi-genre mash-ups will be the sleeper hit of 2006. [5 October 2006] 
Catfish Haven: Tell MeQuick and dirty, Tell Me is a fine set of Motown-infused rock and roll. [28 September 2006] 
Paul Burch: East to WestJoyfully eclectic, Burch's sixth album is sure to be one of the best country albums of the year. [26 September 2006] 
Magnolia Electric Co.: Fading TrailsGood songs culled from four different sessions for four different albums makes Magnolia's latest scatterbrained and unsatisfying. [19 September 2006] 
Kerosene Kondors: New American StandardsRock-solid second outing for Northern California's finest all-purpose blues/country/folk/jug band. [15 September 2006] 
Logan Square: Pessimism & SatireSame old heartbreak song and dance, done yet again. [11 September 2006] 
I Love You But Ive Chosen Darkness: According to PlanEven more gothic 'Dear John' letters. [8 September 2006] 
Ponies in the Surf: Ponies on FireFull-length release by Now Hear This! artist realizes all the charming moments of breezy promise. [31 August 2006] 
The Mountain Goats: Get LonelyDo goats get lonely? John Darnielle attempts to explain on the latest bucket drawn from his bottomless song well. [24 August 2006] 
More Animals of the Arctic: An Appendix of Whaling TermsA quirky, psychedelic affair full of hymns of outsider Americana. [23 August 2006] 
Kaki King: ...Until We Felt RedAcoustic guitar virtuoso breaks out with help from Tortoise's John McEntire. [18 August 2006] 
Counting Crows: New AmsterdamAmidst the pleasant yet bland newer material remains hope that the Crows can one day recapture their wet-behind-the-ears, nervous and energetic charm. [8 August 2006] 
Feist: Open SeasonOtherwise delightful, a Mushaboom cloud hangs over this album of remixes and collaborations. [18 July 2006] 
Mia Doi Todd: The Ewe and the EyeTodd's 1997 debut, re-issued here, is a bit underwhelming, but not without good or fair reasons. [12 July 2006] 
Grant-Lee Phillips: NineteeneightiesIt's a cover album, sure, but you really should spin this right round baby right round like a record something something something. [6 July 2006] 
The Handsome Family: Last Days of WonderThis land is your land, this land is my land, from the Devil dancing in the silent branches of thousand-year-old trees, to large iced tea, extra packet of ketchup, and small bag of onion rings. [16 June 2006] 
Ken Waldman: All Originals, All TraditionalsDouble-disc offering of Alaskan poems and fiddle tunes, as big as the state itself. [13 June 2006] 
Jolie Holland: Springtime Can Kill YouApologies in advance for referring to this album as "Ms. Holland's Opus". It was cheap,easy, and I'm sure it's been done before, but it felt soooooo good. [12 June 2006] 
Neil Young: Living With WarNeil Young may not have been born in the USA, but on Living With War he sounds born to run. [8 May 2006] 
Liz Durrett: The MezzanineHaunting and beautiful second effort from Georgia-born singer-songwriter. [29 March 2006] 
Jason Collett: Idols of ExileHit-and-miss solo effort from undeniably talented Broken Social Scenester. [27 March 2006] 
Half-handed Cloud: Halos & LassosQuick 'n' cute pop dissertation on the theory that 'God is good'. [6 March 2006] 
Lanterna: Desert Ocean, Geoff Farina et al: New SaltTwo completely different, and successful, takes on instrumental rock. [2 March 2006] 
New Radiant Storm King: The Steady HandWestern Massachusetts indie rock vets make good on a long awaited return to aluminum. [13 February 2006] 
Crosby, Stills & Nash: Crosby, Stills & Nash / Daylight AgainTwo fine reissues from the seminal trio of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, not the seminal trio of Crosby, Etheridge, and Cypher. Sorry, had to. [18 January 2006] 
Bob Dylan: The Best of Bob DylanThough not at all essential for Dylan fans, this is an extremely well executed one-disc rundown of Dylan's career for new listeners. [22 November 2005] 
Johnny Cash: The Legend of Johnny CashAnother decent single-disc career retrospective of The Man in Black, just in time for the holiday movie season!" [4 November 2005] 
Iron & Wine / Calexico: In the ReinsThis time, in addition to brewing some green tea and donning your favorite bathrobe, you might consider shining up the spurs and lacing up the chaps for this highly successful collaboration. [5 October 2005] 
The Love Hall Tryst: Songs of MisfortuneJohn Wesley Harding's fascinating confluence of literature, music, and theater explores the nature of ye olde British folk songs with a mostly a cappella recording of grim standards and smart originals. [19 September 2005] 
The Kennedys: Half a Million MilesGentle, strummy folk rock with shout-outs to Emerson, Kerouac, and Buddha. As Buddha might say, 'rub my belly'. Then Emerson: 'Um...', and Kerouac: 'Sure!'" [12 September 2005] 
Poi Dog Pondering: The Best of Poi Dog Pondering (The Austin Years)Excellent early career retrospective from this eclectic collective, neither hectic or corrective, just respectful and resplendent. [26 August 2005] 
Blue Highway: MarbletownLike a rock. Like a rock of marble. Like a town of marble. With a highway leading to it. A blue highway. Playing bluegrass like a rock. A rock of marble... [25 August 2005] 
Various Artists: Putumayo Presents: American FolkThis pleasant ramble through the contemporary singer-songwriter world isn't essential, but it's pretty folking good. [15 August 2005] 
Holopaw: Quit +/Or FightA quick fix of shimmery weirdness for Florida's second-most famous kinda-folk band recorded for a label on the opposite end of the lower 48, and a sophomore release that trumps the debut. 
Jackson United: Western BalladsIf the cover of your diary or is woefully lacking in angsty quotes, or your yearbook entry has room for a few quick jabs at your ex, have I got the album for you. [1 August 2005] 
Kevin Tihista: Home Demons Volume 1Home and studio outtakes culled from a massive backlog of work by one of Chicago's finest. There are duds to be sure, but even they sound purposeful. [25 July 2005] 
Various Artists: Little Darla Has a Treat For You (Volume 23, Summer 2005)Pleasing some of the people some of the time, just like good label compilations do. [19 July 2005] 
Flatt & Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Jamboree / Foggy Mountain GospelHours of bluegrass, country, and gospel from one of the 20th century's most important musical duos, reissued with thought and care for all y'all. 
Fruit Bats: Spelled in BonesDropping in the dead-heat of summer, the Fruit Bats' latest is the sweetest lemonade. [8 July 2005] 
Sufjan Stevens: IllinoisA big enough album to support a senior thesis' worth of commentary/analysis/appreciation, the latest installment of Stevens' 50 States project is worth every minute of your time. [1 July 2005] 
Pete Seeger: The Essential Pete SeegerA better title for this compilation would be: The Most Famous Pete Seeger. And because it's not, here's a rant. [21 June 2005] 
Madagascar: Forced MarchMostly instrumental compositions drawn from everything from chamber music to Yiddish folk, this debut is a gorgeous surprise. [15 June 2005] 
Magnolia Electric Co.: What Comes After the BluesMagnolia Electric Co.'s studio debut is humbler and quieter, but (never fear!) as yearning and high-lonesome as ever. [2 June 2005] 
Glen Phillips: Winter Pays for SummerHook-filled, dependable, and very easy on the ears, courtesy of former Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman. Gorgeous artwork, too, by the way. [26 May 2005] 
The Coke Dares: Here We Go With… the Coke DaresThe Coke Dares grind out 32 songs in 32 minutes on Here We Go With. A rip-snortin' good time!" [19 May 2005] 
Bird Show: Green InfernoTown & Country's Ben Vida further explores his fascination with dense percussion, drone, and small chirping creatures. [16 May 2005] 
Various Artists: The AppalachiansLike a mix-tape from a daguerreotype, a fine accompaniment to the four-part PBS documentary about the history of Appalachian life and culture. [6 May 2005] 
Euphone: V [EP]This speedy EP finds Euphone transformed from a three-piece experimental post-rock combo to a one-man-band in love with catchy pop and zebras. [2 May 2005] 
The Zincs: DimmerThe Zincs' debut for Thrill Jockey is an ocean of shifting sands where texture and mood flow back and forth, over and under a bedrock of remarkable songs. [21 April 2005] 
Vic Chesnutt: Ghetto BellsOne of Chesnutt's very best. The nuanced production is akin to Silver Lake, but the songs are 10 times as memorable. [15 April 2005] 
Tremulous Monk: Sparkle Like Your ShoesA destined sleeper for 2005, Tremulous Monk's Sparkle Like Your Shoes does what it says, provided you're wearing, um... sparkly shoes. [12 April 2005] 
Deana Carter: The Story of My LifePop country darling releases her first for an independent. Is the grass greener on the other side? Nope. Just as green. [7 March 2005] 
Nicolai Dunger: This Cloud Is Learning [reissue]'The Swedish Van Morrison' strikes again. Kind of. Originally released in '00, this reissue is a fine introduction to yet another bearded guitar strummer with whom you might want to acquaint yourself. [23 February 2005] 
William Elliott Whitmore: Ashes to DustBlack crows and cow skulls and buzzards and drinkin', these are a few of his favorite things. [22 February 2005] 
Magnolia Electric Co.: Trials & ErrorsJason Molina & Co. flex their muscles in Brussels on this live set recorded in 2003. To quote a quote: 'Tonight's the night, yes it is'. [15 February 2005] 
Crash Test Dummies: Songs of the UnforgivenLike a bright orange plow in a deep Canadian winter, the Crash Test Dummies keep on trucking, this time with an album full of dark philosophy and absolutely no Campbells' Soup references. Merci. [9 February 2005] 
Deerhoof: Bibidi Babidi BooDeerhoof cap off their most successful year with a downloadable live treat, recorded in various sundry locales around the globe. Ain't nothing like the real thing baby. [24 January 2005] Split Lip Rayfield: Should Have Seen It ComingIf you count yourself ready for bluegrass music that projects personality, turns country clichés on their heads, and makes yours fingertips ache with sympathy, then get off your lazy, aforementioned ass. [20 January 2005] 
The Wilco Book (Book + CD) by WilcoIt's clear to see that without this kind of playful exploration to rein back for their song-based work, Wilco might not be Wilco. [7 December 2004] 
Wovenhand: Consider the BirdsThe gothic hillbilly punk of his early 16 Horsepower work has given way to the more baroque sounds of later 16 Horsepower albums, and Edwards's latest project, Wovenhand. [6 December 2004] 
Kid Dakota: The West Is the FutureDarren Jackson's opus is at times as flawed and messy as the philosophy of expansion it critiques, yet it manages to succeed as often as not. [24 November 2004] 
The Decemberists: The TainThe Decemberists’ Tain is about the nameless individuals whose lives were swept up as they fought and mourned. As it was in 1974, 2004 seems the right time to resurrect this story, as its tragic themes unfortunately never go out of style. [28 June 2004]
Wilco: A Ghost Is BornIt’s appropriate that the album is titled A Ghost Is Born because it rests firmly between the cradle and grave as the band’s most mature musical statement. Every aspect of the project is an improvement on the last. [21 May 2004] |
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Short Ends and Leader: Poitier Portraying Another Magic Negro: She’s Blind, So Race Don’t Matter
Music
:. AC/DC: Backtracks :. Sufjan Stevens: Run Rabbit Run + The BQE (CD/DVD) :. Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound :. Robyn Hitchcock: I Often Dream of Trains in New York [DVD] :. Lowlights: Further/Free :. Sondre Lerche: Heartbeat Radio :. Jupiter One: Sunshower
Books
:. The Original of Laura by Vladimir Nabokov :. The City Out My Window: 63 Views on New York by Matteo Pericoli
News
:. ‘Modern Warfare 2’ video game scores record sales in launch :. INTERVIEW:Tom Arnold is a lovable loser , and open about it :. Jazz pianist reflects on his influences in his first piano concerto :. INTERVIEW:Wes Anderson meets Roald Dahl in ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ :. INTERVIEW:It’s ‘Tuesday Night’ again for Sheryl Crow :. Libraries turning a page with cafes, chat rooms and flat screens
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