The Pixies — now with 100 percent more Paz Lenchnatin! — released to their website yesterday a new EP. The oh-so-cleverly named EP-2 is the follow-up to last year’s abysmal EP-1. (Which, if you’re anything like me, you were able to block from your mind with repeated listens to “Distance Equals Rate Times Time.”) If […]

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I often have to be in the mood to listen to certain bands, but one band I can put on regardless what I’m doing or how I’m feeling is Stereolab. There’s something about Laetitia Sadier’s voice that just mesmerizes me. Her solo work is slightly more intimate and freer than Stereolab’s syncopated, droning machinations. Sadier’s […]

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For his second solo LP, Interpol’s Paul Banks has abandoned his Julian Plenti alias in favor of his own name. The album, entitled Banks, will be out October 23, 2012 on Matador Records, home to all but one Interpol record. Having such a distinctive voice is a bit of a double edged sword for singers […]

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The Lemonheads are gearing up for a tour supporting or celebrating (but more likely cashing in on) an album that came out 19 years ago. It’s A Shame About Ray is founding member Evan Dando’s unquestionable masterpiece. Never has he put together a collection of such effortless, memorable, and affecting folk-pop. Despite Dando’s notorious struggles […]

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Whether or not your down with Joy Division bassist Peter Hook touring his old band’s debut album with his kid and a few hired guns in tow is one thing. Purchasing an EP of Joy Division covers by said crew is another. I couldn’t imagine patronizing either one. But somebody must be, or I wouldn’t […]

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Another new tune from Arctic Monkeys’ fourth long-player, the curiously titled and shittily cover-art-ed Suck it and See, shows the Sheffield quartet continuing its quest into the dark terrain trampled on the slightly dour Humbug. But as with even the worst Arctic Monkeys songs, there’s always Alex Turner’s showy wordplay to lessen the blow. Alas, […]

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Battles has paired down to a three-piece, but the departure of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Tyondai Braxton hasn’t quashed my excitement for the new record, Gloss Drop, one bit. (That album title, by the way, is the win). In fact, as long as Ian Williams is on board, I’m on board. The new record is out June 7th […]

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