Aural Fixations

THE MAKERS
Stripped
(Kill Rock Stars)
Let's turn the clock back a decade. Seattle's Makers were one of the leading lights of a garage punk underground with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest going back to the early 60s (see: the Kingsmen, the Sonics), one that existed prior to anyone named Jack White getting in the game. (more)

THE NEW YORK DOLLS
Morrissey Presents the Return of the New York Dolls Live From Royal Festival Hall, 2004
(Attack)
First the Stooges, then the MC5, and now this? Yes, amazingly enough, the New York Dolls rise again, 29 years after last playing together. With the patronage of superstar Morrissey, curator of London's Meltdown Festival for which this concert took place, surviving Dolls David JoHansen, Syl Sylvain and Arthur "Killer" Kane reunited to show the young punk 'n' roll pups how it's done. (more)

CHRIS THILE
Deceiver
(Sugar Hill)
Let's just get this out of the way right now: Nickel Creek is NOT a bluegrass band. It's a pop band that uses bluegrass instrumentation. (Yes, there's a difference.) Chris Thile is the mandolinist/visionary who fronts the acoustic trio. He's put out solo records before, usually instrumental bluegrass sessions that revolve around his mastery of the eight-string. Deceiver, though, is different. (more)

TIGER MOUNTAIN
Get Along Like a House on Fire
(Kismet/Lucky Cat)
Tiger Mountain plays rock & roll—not a kind of rock that requires a prefix, but a timeless amalgam of rhythm, melody and energy that's classic in every sense. The no-nonsense guitar hooks, rough-hewn harmonies and plainspoken songs should play wide not because the NYC quartet tries to appeal to everyone, but because they should appeal to anyone. (more)