Damien Jurado and his cracked, wavering voice won me over. He’s not a perfect singer — he’s not even great in the way that enigmatic leads can be imperfect and yet still make it work. There’s something so earnest and vulnerable that sometimes I feel almost as if I shouldn’tRead More

Radiohead-lite band Travis couldn’t have named it more plainly. While having only four albums, at the time, seemed a bit premature to be releasing a best-of, it was nice in that you got at least a few tracks from each album, rather than “that one big single” from each. YouRead More

I’m trying to imagine being 18 and listening to Ten for the first time like I did when I was 18 in 1991. I can’t. You May Also Like: Pearl Jam, “Soon Forget” from ‘Binaural’ (2000): One Track Mind Pearl Harbor and the Explosions – ‘Pearl Harbor and the Explosions’Read More

Wilco headed into their own loft in Chicago last December to record this tight little iTunes Session, a short live-show-without-an-audience, essentially. You May Also Like: Wilco (The Album) echoed, but didn’t quite live up to Sky Blue Sky

Adrian Belew had never been more on top of his game and – solo, at least – had never had a more energetic band back him.

I excitedly ordered a copy of this collaboration between Robert Fripp and Brian Eno when it was released as an import through Fripp’s DGM records in the U.S., and I unfortunately cannot say I recommend it. For two geniuses of ambient, this was incredibly boring, and this is coming fromRead More

Another great release from PBS’ fantastic Austin City Limits series. Why did it take them so long to finally start releasing these shows on CD and DVD? This 2003 concert might be where I first experienced Neko Case’s enchanting voice and music. I remember being so enthralled by what IRead More

One listen to Shara Worden’s voice and it should come as no surprise that she’s actually a trained singer, pulling off with ease the kinds of things most rock singers can only dream of attempting. You May Also Like: Chicken Diamond – The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (2016)

Bill Bruford’s Earthworks was, along with John Zorn’s Masada, one of my very favorite jazz groups — especially in its acoustic incarnation. At its heart is the amazing drumming of Bill Bruford You May Also Like: Bill Bruford – ‘Earthworks Complete’ (2019) Bill Bruford’s Earthworks – ‘Heavenly Bodies: Expanded Collection’Read More

An unconventional combination of the sound of early solo Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, and touches of David Bowie with hip-hop and minimalist post-rock sensibilities of today, TV On The Radio doesn’t really sound like rock per se, yet doesn’t sound so esoteric that their music is a turn-off. Instead, theRead More