Aural Fixations
ANDERS PARKER
Tell It to the Dust
(Baryon)
The thing about Anders Parker is that he does what he does so well, with such heart and talent and integrity, that everything he does sounds new. Every sound, every mood sounds fresh. (more)
NIKKI SUDDEN & THE LAST BANDITS
Treasure Island
(Secretly Canadian)
Nikki Sudden is almost the very definition of a cult artist: revered by a small but loyal fan club that includes famous names like Paul Westerberg and members of R.E.M., all but invisible to anything even approaching a mass audience. There are some practical reasons for that. (more)
VALIS
Head Full of Pills
(Small Stone)
When the Northwest psychedelic rock band Screaming Trees came to an end, most people looked to singer Mark Lanegan for future lightning bolts from beyond. Lanegan's solo work has certainly been interesting, with moments of brilliance nudging up against nuggets of mediocrity (kind of like the Trees' stuff, to be honest). But the most consistent music from the camp of ex-Trees comes from bassist-turned-guitarist Van Conner and his band Valis. (more)
TOM WAITS
Real Gone
(Anti-)
Tom Waits has become like Richard Thompson; it's so common for him to release a brilliant piece of work that it's almost a non-event. Waits puts out new album. It's hailed by critics and fans as a jewel. Rinse. Repeat. Real Gone is no exception. (more)
What We're Listening To
- Georgina Toland, webmistress:
- Cotton Mather—The Big Picture
- Helicopter Helicopter—Wild Dogs with X-Ray Eyes
- Lightning Seeds—Sense
- Cat Stevens—s/t box set
- Trashcan Sinatras—Weightlifting
- Michael Toland, editor-in-chief:
- Costello Show—King of America
- Doomshine—Thy Kingdom Come
- Eddie Hazel—Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs
- Immortal—Sons of Northern Darkness
- Trashcan Sinatras—I've Seen Everything/Weightlifting
What are you listening to? Tell us, and we'll tell the world.
