Photon Band Oh, The Sweet, Sweet Changes Darla By: Eric G. When bands cover such a small, predetermined niche, particularly one that has been beaten into our subconscious for so long, it’s hard to appreciate the subtleties and nuances without immediately referencing other bands. The Photon Band doesn’t seem to care. Its brand of mod […]

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Cinerama Disco Volante Manifesto By: Eric G. Is the fact that Cinerama’s second album shares the same name as the second Mr. Bungle album a coincidence or a tribute? Surely, it’s the former because I can hardly imagine David Gedge, worldly musician that he is, rocking out to unpredictable punk/metal/funk fusion. Maybe I’m wrong. Who […]

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National Skyline Exit Now File 13 By: Eric G. A few seconds after pressing 'play' I had to double check to make sure that I had put the right disc in the player because I could have sworn this was the Foo Fighters, but, sure enough, it's the new National Skyline EP. For those of […]

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Mojave 3 Excuses For Travellers Beggars Banquet / 4ad By: Eric G. Wresting the beauty from its flawed second album, Out Of Tune, Mojave 3 returns with a gorgeous batch of heart-soaked, minor-keyed, country-ish tunes that honor Nick Drake as much as Gram Parsons. Neil Halstead sings with a dreamy sigh of resignation and sadness. […]

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Bjork Selmasongs Elektra By: Eric G. Can Bjork make a musical watchable or, in this case, listenable? That all depends on your stance on Bjork (and musicals, I guess- actually, I’ll just assume we all hate musicals). Do you soak up Bjork’s affected and stuttered Icelandic drawl or do you find her pixie schtick tiresome? […]

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Madonna Music Maverick / Warner Bros. By: Eric G. She’s already proven that she can wrap herself in (almost) any package and the public will eat it up. Madonna plays the press better than any pop star, actor, or politician. She’s claimed from the beginning that all she’s ever really wanted is respect for her […]

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Radiohead Kid A Capitol By: Eric G. Kid A challenges the idea that electronic music will never be as emotional as guitar music. Does it succeed? Well, yes and no, but either way it's going to be the blueprint for bands that continue the assimilation of rock and electronics. Take Radiohead's guitars away, and they're […]

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