Musings on the past and present state of music, film, and pop culture. Get off my lawn.
Concert Review: Roxy Music at Moody Center, Austin: Inimitable genre-straddling outfit celebrate 50 years together with stellar retrospective set. It takes a special kind of alchemy to keep a band together, let alone one that makes it to the five-decade mark. But Roxy Music has always been a special band: part art project, part glam […]
Episode 25: Our Take on the 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees-SLIS Podcast: ranking the RRHOF class of 2019 in advance of this week’s induction ceremony. On this week’s episode of the SLIS podcast, co-host Chris Logan and I dive into the 2019 inductees for the RRHOF, including Radiohead, Roxy Music, The Cure, The […]
Christopher Sky ‘Vastness’ Review: L.A. based instrumentalist conjures immersive ambient soundscapes that both invigorate and soothe. Composer/instrumentalist Christopher Sky’s newest album Vastness (out November 9th on vinyl through Aagoo Records, and digitally via Hidden Shoal) is a master class of ambient mood, light, and shade. Crafting rich soundscapes through guitar, electronics and percussion, Sky creates a fully immersive sonic […]
Buildings and Food ‘Quick Beat Save’ Review: assured début from Canadian multi-instrumentalist is an invigorating, atmospheric delight. ★★★★ Canada based indie act Buildings and Food have just release their début album ‘Quick Beat Save’, but its accomplished tone sounds like a veteran act. What’s even more impressive is that the album (out November 2nd on Number F records) is the […]
Kaada ‘Closing Statements’ Review: Norwegian instrumentalist offers a moving meditation on death. [rating=5] Norwegian composer and multi-instrumentalist John Erik Kaada has had a diverse and multi-faceted career. While he’s perhaps best known for his work with vocal virtuoso Mike Patton, he’s also had a varied solo career as well composing film scores. And his cinematic take on sound […]
Moby ‘Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt’ Review: electronic one-man band conjures bleak blues on somber new release. [rating=3] Moby has never been shy in his political opinions, but he’s been particularly vocal during the Trump era. He vented his rage on his cathartic 2016 release These Systems Are Failing, and the 2017 follow-up More […]
Tyson Todd Meade ‘Robbing The Nuclear Family’ Review: mastermind behind Defenestration and Chainsaw Kittens unique vision still thrills on new release. [rating=5] My art is dedicated to those other fringe dwellers and friends of fringe dwellers, those who want something beyond reality TV, casino gambling, car payments, 401k, church on Sunday, family portraits on the […]
30 Rock Albums Turning 40 in 2017: The Best of 1977: from punk to metal to electronic music, ’77 was one of the most pivotal years in music history. Here are the 30 best albums from four decades ago. By SLIS and Peter Marks This Saturday marks two major musical milestones–the 40th anniversaries of two […]
Concert Review: Bryan Ferry at ACL Live: the suave master of glam and sophisto-pop wows at rare Texas show [rating=5] Opening with the pulsating and sensual 1982 Roxy Music track The Main Thing, Bryan Ferry came out guns blazing for his March 22nd performance at ACL Live. Backed by a 9 piece band and an […]
‘Thor and Friends’ Review: Swans percussionist Thor Harris offers unique instrumental treats in début album from new musical trio. [rating=4] Thor Harris is best known as the percussionist for dark noise rock icons SWANS, currently riding high off their critically acclaimed 2016 release The Glowing Man. But the ever-busy performer switches gears on his latest project, the […]
