Aural Fixations
PORCUPINE TREE
Deadwing
(Lava)
Porcupine Tree has painted itself into a corner by becoming one of the best rock bands in the world. Over the course of seven studio albums (plus live disks and B-sides/outtakes compilations), the British quartet has carefully honed its combination of psychedelia, prog, pop, folk, metal and ambient music into an enormously creative, utterly distinctive sound. Literally getting better with each album, the band hit a dizzying peak with its previous platter In Absentia, prompting fans to not only marvel at the group's genius, but also to wonder: how can Porcupine Tree top this? (more)
EPIC SOUNDTRACKS
Good Things
(DBK Works)
Epic Soundtracks was a remarkable talent. Between his long history in underground rock and his career as a singer/songwriter of some renown, the Englishman more than made his mark. The multi-instrumentalist started off collaborating with his brother Nikki Sudden, first in the influential experimental rock ensemble Swell Maps, then in the Jacobites. He followed his pioneering work in those groups by joining Australian rock trailblazer Rowland S. Howard, first in the unique art ensemble Crime & the City Solution and then in the short-lived but much-missed These Immortal Souls. But his best work remains his solo albums, on which he sat down at the piano and crooned wonderful tunes that betrayed a love of classic pop song structure and egalitarian melody. (more)
What We're Listening To
- Michael Toland, Editor-in-chief:
- Kenny Brown—Stingray
- Hanoi Rocks—Self-Destruction Blues
- Bill Nelson—After the Satellite Sings
- Ron Wood—I've Got My Own Album to Do
- Paul Wheatley:
- Cheyenne—I am Haunted, I am Alive
- Spoon—Gimme Fiction
What are you listening to? Tell us, and we'll tell the world.
