Must be getting close to album release day, since another free track has leaked from Paul Banks’ debut solo record, Julian Plenti is… Skyscraper (out August 4th on Matador). This one veers well into Interpol’s spiky, post-punk lane- so much so that it almost seems odd that Banks didn’t offer this one up to the […]

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Love and Rockets were another one of my gateway bands in high school that opened up a whole new world of music to me. The band’s fluke Top 40 hit, “So Alive”, represents very little in terms of the breadth of its myriad musical styles. Despite being 3/4’s of the legendary art-punk pioneers, Bauhaus, Love […]

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The first thing that struck me when I listened to the first new Polvo song in a decade was how heavy it is. The band has always rocked, don’t get me wrong. But it was in an slightly unconventional, tunneling Sonic Youth way. The guitars are still spindly and difficult, flexing all the math-rock muscles […]

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Been hearing a good bit of Solid Gold on Sirius XMU lately. Something about the whole sad disco thing that perks up my ears. Must be all that growing up on New Order. Anyway, both Solid Gold singles I’ve heard are top notch, including “Bible Thumper.” Since the new Junior Boys is kind of meh, […]

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When news of Paul Banks’ solo record hit the week before last, there was very little in the way of musical evidence, save for a few looped blips at julianplenti.com. Now Matador has stepped up with a full download of “Fun That We Have” off Skyscraper, the Julian Plenti debut, set for an early August […]

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Peter Gabriel’s string-laden cover of one of The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs served as the climax of the series finale of Scrubs last night. His take on it is a little less dry than Stephin Merritt’s, showcasing the inherent drama of the song. It’s a simple song with simple lyrics, but it makes a […]

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Who knew Damon Albarn’s voice would lend itself so well to slow-burning hip-hop beats and flashy turntablisms? He’s more than proved himself in that context thanks to Gorillaz’ unexpected worldwide success, and now DJ Scratch has tapped Albarn’s distinctive croon for his second solo record. He’s in esteemed (give or take) company, as Kanye West, […]

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