Aural Fixations

THE GREEN PAJAMAS
Ten White Stones
(Hidden Agenda)
One of the funny things about being a cult band is that two decades can pass by with hardly anyone outside the circle noticing. Psychedelic rockers Green Pajamas quietly hit their 20th anniversary this year, and in celebration release Ten White Stones, a live-in-the-studio album of mostly new songs. (more)

THE HIDDEN HAND
Mother*Teacher*Destroyer
(Southern Lord)
Heavy metal isn't usually considered to be part of the realm of "art." Scott "Wino" Weinrich, however, is a true artist. He has something to say with his music and pursues his own individual path in saying it, without any consideration given to commercial viability or audience expectations. (more)

ROBYN HITCHCOCK
Spooked
(Yep Roc)
Robyn Hitchcock's kept a low profile the past few years, preferring to release records on his own rather than use the corporate machine to expand his cult audience. So a lot of Hitchcock fans like myself have missed his most recent work and, thus, his continued creative development. (more)

IAN HUNTER
Strings Attached
(Mercury/Universal)
Pretty much anytime a seventies rock icon does a live album with orchestration, it's cause for concern. Kiss, Elton John, Deep Purple, etc…it's like an acknowledgment that, "Yes, we made it to the top of the hill, but all we're gonna do now is relax and watch the sunset." (more)