Time to let you have your say. We made a series of lists, checked them twice, then published our best-ofs. But what better way to end things than with the annual SER Readers’ Top 10? Here are your albums of the year You May Also Like: Martin Barre – ’50Read More

Tortoise is one of those bands that, once I locked into what was going on behind their music, I found that I understood what was going on in a lot of other bands I hadn’t really “gotten” up until then. You May Also Like: Tortoise’s ‘Beacons of Ancestorship’ Provided IntriguingRead More

You will never hear anyone accuse Neko Case of “phoning it in.” She’s the kind of singer about whom there’s no doubt that she’s passionate about her craft, belting out a modern combination of Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. The alt-country chanteuse returned here from a three-year break, and continuedRead More

The Official™ SomethingElse! year-ending Top 10 list requires two or more of us to be in agreement as we gathered around the watercooler. It’s no easy task.

There are certain names that signify quality in a musical release, and there’s a bunch gathered on McCoy Tyner’s ‘Guitars.’

Ah, yes, another dreary offering from Tool-screamer Maynard James Keenan’s boring other band. They started out with a promising first album, Mer de Noms, then followed it up with the tedious and monotonous Thirteenth Step and returned in ’04 with that staple of washed-up bands: the covers-album. What do theyRead More

Dream Theater has become an iffy proposition for me. I still take my chances on them with each release, hoping that I’ll find a diamond like I did with 2007’s excellent Systematic Chaos — and not get another lump of coal like Octavarium. Chances are better with a live release,Read More

I know what you’re thinking – three basses … another Spinal Tap opus? Nope, sorry. If it’s not Spinal Tap, then next to the drum solo, the bass solo is just about the most reviled thing at concerts You May Also Like: Four Jacks and a Jill, “Master Jack” (1968):Read More

Even though I have been burned many times in the past, I still tend to take chances on projects on John Zorn’s Tzadik label. I tend to steer away from his pure-noise exploration, as I simply don’t have the appreciation for it that I wish I did, but I have,Read More

1970-1975 was one of the most creative, if not weird, periods of musical history, and that goes for Genesis as well. The most artistically exciting material of the band’s career, which is all covered on Box Set 3 (1970-1975), was produced during these years. You May Also Like: No relatedRead More