by Tom Johnson I like to think of Isis as the band that Tool wishes it could be. Call me jaded, but by this time, Tool had become entangled in plots created to baffle and obfuscate rather than intrigue and draw listeners in, being what they think is clever butRead More

There’s no denying, if you dig into the stacks, the Who’s shuddering energy – equal parts speed, raw fury and rangy emotion.

by Mark Saleski Fans of pianist Bill Evans will probably bristle at the comparison here, but that was the first connection that popped into my head with The Ground. You May Also Like: Keith Jarrett + Charlie Haden and Paul Motian – ‘Hamburg ’72’ (2014) Noah Haidu – ‘Slowly: SongRead More

by Mark Saleski Much like those pointless negative reviews where the writer (read: attacker) has never liked the band in question, I sometimes wonder if maybe it’s just not right to go on about my favorite artists. Let’s face it, I own just about every recording Pat Metheny has everRead More

by Mark Saleski There are guitarists with “chops,” and there are guitarists with “feel.” These are not mutually exclusive categories You May Also Like: Prezens [David Torn, Tim Berne, Craig Taborn + Tom Rainey] – ‘xFORM’ (2020) David Torn with Tim Berne + Ches Smith – ‘Sun of Goldfinger’ (2019)Read More

by Tom Johnson Cohen works a kind of outsider-art aesthetic in his unusual pop-songs. Like Dylan at his most uncomfortably nasal, this is not for everyone, but the rewards for patient, open-minded listeners are great. Cohen’s a bit of a mystery; finding information on this guy is pretty tough. He’sRead More

by Mark Saleski Most people think of the mandolin as being a rootsy, countrified kind of instrument. Surely there is no denying the rich history of the bluegrass side of the mandolin. You May Also Like: Phil Marshall – Scatterbed (2016) Mike Baggetta, mike watt + Jim Keltner – ‘EverywhenRead More

I love to read negative reviews of albums put out by aging rock stars. They’re predictable in a comforting sort of way. A big chunk of them say that the artist hasn’t been any good since the “blah blah” release. You May Also Like: Neil Young’s Chrome Dreams II wasRead More

by Tom Johnson I found myself entranced by the horn-laden theme that repeatedly roared through the ads for Inception. Less song-like and more a series of massive, rumbling horn crashes, the music seemed as important as it was mysterious. Hans Zimmer’s score was no mere backing music. Like the biggestRead More

by Mark Saleski Do things in music always have to go smoothly? Does it bother you when your expectations are upset? I’ve always enjoyed it when a song takes an unexpected left turn. You May Also Like: Randy Bachman + Peter Frampton, “Heavy Blues” (2015): One Track Mind The StoneRead More