The Postal Service Give Up Sub-Pop By: Japanese Correspondent – Patrick Doherty Now that the synthesis of indie rock and electronic music has become the de facto means of expression for every burgeoning hipster with a penchant for 80's synth-pop and a perfunctory knowledge of the K Records catalogue, it only makes sense that a […]

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Radiohead Hail To The Thief Capitol By: Eric Greenwood I'm sure Thom Yorke's heart is in the right place and all that, but, my God, what is he thinking with that album title? Everyone knows that mixing politics and music is embarrassing, turning the artist into a parody of whatever cause he should champion (or […]

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Martin L. Gore Counterfeit2 Mute/Reprise By: Eric Greenwood As Depeche Mode's sole songwriter for over twenty years, Martin Gore has painted himself into a bleak corner. It's almost as though he's run out of ways to write about drugs or sex or death or betrayal. He released an EP of obscure covers back in 1989 […]

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Blur Think Tank Virgin By: Eric Greenwood When an original member leaves an established band – no matter what the reason – the respectable thing to do is to break up. Too often, though, the band, thinking itself invincible, soldiers on like a staggering amputee, embarrassing itself and its fans with a swift and certain […]

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…and You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead The Secret Of Elena's Tomb Interscope By: Eric Greenwood Since …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead fears nothing in its path, its inherent pretentiousness is so much easier to swallow. That's the thing about pretentiousness- if one can balance it out […]

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Cursive The Ugly Organ Saddle Creek By: Eric Greenwood If all emo were as good as Cursive's The Ugly Organ, it wouldn't be the embarrassing cliché it is today. Alas, all emo is nowhere near as good as this record is, so it will have to wade through the usual minefield of prejudgments and knee-jerk […]

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Hot Hot Heat Make Up The Breakdown Sub Pop By: Eric Greenwood Idiosyncratic rock rarely extends as big a welcome as Hot Hot Heat's first full-length, Make Up The Breakdown…never mind that the band is from Canada. Equally dividing new wave, prog, garage, and all the eccentricities of early XTC and, perhaps even, the poppier […]

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