J. Smith [
On Point and Click Adventure Games with Creator Joel Staaf Hästö
Point and click adventure games, says Kathy Rain and Whispers of a Machine creator Joel Staaf Hästö, hit a "sweet spot" between puzzles that exercise logical thinking and stories that stimulate emotions.
Alps 2 and Harry No Release Eclectic Single "Madness at Toni's Chip Shop in Wishaw" (premiere)
Alps 2 and Harry NoSong's "Madness at Toni's Chip Shop in Wishaw" is a dizzying mix of mangled 2-step rhythms and woozy tranquil electronics.
Kathleen Grace and Larry Goldings Team for Wonderfully Sparse "Where Or When" (premiere)
Kathleen Grace and Larry Goldings' "Where Or When" is a wonderfully understated performance that walks the line between pop and jazz.
The 50 Best Post-Punk Albums Ever: Part 1, Gang of Four to the Birthday Party
If we must #quarantine, at least give us some post-punk. This week we are revisiting the best post-punk albums of all-time and we kick things off with Gang of Four, Public Image Ltd., Throbbing Gristle, and more.
Alison Chesley Toils in Human and Musical Connectivity on Helen Money's 'Atomic'
Chicago-based cellist, Alison Chesley (a.k.a. Helen Money) creates an utterly riveting listen from beginning to end on Atomic.
That Kid's 'Crush' Is a Glittering Crossroads for E-Boy Music
That Kid's Crush stands out for its immediacy as a collection of light-hearted party music, but the project struggles with facelessness.
Percival Everett's 'Telephone' Offers a Timely Lesson
Telephone provides a case study of a family dynamic shaken by illness, what can be controlled, and what must be accepted.
Dream Pop's Ellis Wants to be 'Born Again'
Ellis' unhappiness serves as armor to protect her from despair on Born Again. It's better to be dejected than psychotic.
Counterbalance No. 10: 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols'
The Spirit of ’77 abounds as Sex Pistols round out the Top Ten on the Big List. Counterbalance take a cheap holiday in other people’s misery. Right. Now.
'Thor: Ragnorak' Destroys and Discards the Thor Mythos
Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok takes a refreshingly iconoclastic approach to Thor, throwing out the old, bringing in the new, and packaging the story in a colourful, gorgeously trashy aesthetic that perfectly captures the spirit of the comics.
Run the Jewels - "Ooh LA LA" (Singles Going Steady)
Run the Jewels' "Ooh LA LA" may hit with old-school hip-hop swagger, but it also frustratingly affirms misogynistic bro-culture.
New Translation of Balzac's 'Lost Illusions' Captivates
More than just a tale of one man's fall, Balzac's Lost Illusions charts how literature becomes another commodity in a system that demands backroom deals, moral compromise, and connections.
Protomartyr - "Processed by the Boys" (Singles Going Steady)
Protomartyr's "Processed By the Boys" is a gripping spin on reality as we know it, and here, the revolution is being televised.
Go-Go's Bassist Kathy Valentine Is on the "Write" Track After a Rock-Hard Life
The '80s were a wild and crazy time also filled with troubles, heartbreak and disappointment for Go-Go's bass player-guitarist Kathy Valentine, who covers many of those moments in her intriguing dual project that she discusses in this freewheeling interview.
New Brain Trajectory: An Interview With Lee Ranaldo and Raül Refree
Two guitarists, Lee Ranaldo and Raül Refree make an album largely absent of guitar playing and enter into a bold new phase of their careers. "We want to take this wherever we can and be free of genre restraints," says Lee Ranaldo.
'Trans Power' Is a Celebration of Radical Power and Beauty
Juno Roche's Trans Power discusses trans identity not as a passageway between one of two linear destinations, but as a destination of its own.
Yves Tumor Soars With 'Heaven to a Tortured Mind'
On Heaven to a Tortured Mind, Yves Tumor relishes his shift to microphone caressing rock star. Here he steps out of his sonic chrysalis, dons some shiny black wings and soars.
Mike Patton and Anthony Pateras' tētēma Don't Hit the Mark on 'Necroscape'
tētēma's Necroscape has some highlights and some interesting ambiance, but ultimately it's a catalog of misses for Mike Patton and Anthony Pateras.
M. Ward Offers Comforting Escapism on 'Migration Stories'
Although M. Ward didn't plan the songs on Migration Stories for this pandemic, they're still capable of acting as a balm in these dark hours.
Parsonsfield Add Indie Pop to Their Folk on 'Happy Hour on the Floor'
Happy Hour on the Floor is a considerable departure from Parsonsfield's acclaimed rustic folk sound signaling their indie-pop orientation. Parsonsfield remind their audience to bestow gratitude and practice happiness: a truly welcomed exaltation.
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