Stephin Merritt Eban & Charley Soundtrack Merge By: Eric Greenwood Traditional soundtrack albums are always hit or miss, and Eban & Charley is a little bit of both, as it finds Stephin Merritt just outside his natural element. It's odd that Merritt would choose to use his birth name for the first time on such […]

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Yuka Honda Memories Are My Only Witness Tzadik By: Eric Greenwood The musical brains behind Cibo Matto delivers her first solo work for John Zorn's Tzadik label, and it's a diverse collection of electronic instrumentals, skimming across the tops of dance, soul, disco, funk, blues, and rock. Honda's production skills are outstanding. Each track thumps […]

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Daniel Ash S/t Psychobaby By: Eric Greenwood Yikes. Bad techno schlock from former guitar genius confirms that Daniel Ash can't make a decent solo album to save his life. This is just terribly embarrassing. Cheesy, decade-old techno beats? What is Ash thinking? He proved he could at least pretend to hang with the underground electronic […]

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Cornelius Point Matador By: Eric Greenwood Cornelius" follow up to his dizzyingly schizophrenic breakout, Fantasma, is a more cohesive but less spontaneous collection of clean samples, calculated rock, and fusion noise. Cornelius is a meticulous producer. Every single sound is deliberate and precise, and he builds each song into a symphonic climax, using wholly unorthodox […]

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…and You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead Source Tags Interscope By: Eric Greenwood "And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead is the most exciting band making records today. Feel free to disagree, but listen to this record first. Source Tags & Codes is this Austin quartet"s major label debut, […]

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Fugazi The Argument Dischord By: Eric Greenwood While its music has progressed above and beyond the scope of punk and any of its splinterings, Fugazi’s anti-capitalistic message is still as stagnant as ever. I’ve always been one to ignore the band’s politics while still appreciating its music, and I do so to this day. When […]

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No Doubt Rock Steady Interscope By: Eric Greenwood No Doubt"s fourth album, Rock Steady, is a rare example of mainstream pop music that doesn"t make me want to vomit blood. Before you get your holier-than-thou indie rock panties in a wad and scream that No Doubt sucks, give Rock Steady at least a perfunctory chance. […]

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