Just for a Day (1991) – 5 stars Souvlaki (1993) – 4.5 stars Pygmalion (1995) – 3 stars I was surprised to discover that I’ve never written about any musical group that would be classified as ‘shoegaze.’ That genre’s emphasis on heavenly washes of guitar sounds, gentle vocals, heavy feedback, and timeless melodies worked wonders…
I was driving home from work a couple months ago listening to Billy Joel’s 52nd Street (review forthcoming!), and I thought to myself, “No matter how many times I listen to Billy Joel’s discography, there are always some great songs that I had forgotten about and rediscover.” I am convinced that nobody since 1970 has written…
The story of Austin Chapman provides an awesome basis for discussion. If you haven’t seen this, take two minutes to read it before going on: Being able to hear music for the first time ever. Let me give you a glimpse of the deaf world. With his old hearing aids in, Chapman could hear some…
I have often thought about — and even attempted to draft — some sort of lengthy countdown of my favorite albums, but I keep talking myself out of it. For one, that would imply that my opinion is something worth examining closely by someone who may stumble on this site. This ain’t the Sight and…
Only lucky people encounter bands like Elessar. You won’t hear them on the radio until orchestral indie folk music wins its fifteen minutes of widespread public appreciation. You won’t be able to see them play live in the near future if you live more than a stone’s throw from northern France. Still, consider yourself lucky:…
This is a guest post by Dan’s little brother, Patrick. I’m writing this because my brother called me out. I said that Three Cheers for Disappointment was not only the best indie album of the past 10 years, but the best rock album of the same time period. He mentioned a couple of albums that…
These are Colton’s first impressions of Speak in Code. Read Dan’s here. Alright Eve 6 fans, get your worn albums out and let’s have a talk. Oh, look at you, you’ve got the old Eleventeen record? That’s good, that’s good. You’ll be the most disappointed of all. These guys have rounded the bases before, and…
These are Dan’s first impressions of Speak in Code. Read Colton’s here. Is it bad that I don’t really like Speak in Code right now? Yes and no. Yes – I walk away from my first full listen feeling a little bit let down. Speak in Code — the first Eve 6 album in nine years…
Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5) With Turnstiles, Billy Joel experienced a creative breakthrough. One album later, with The Stranger, he experienced a commercial breakthrough to match it. Peaking at #2 and ultimately going 10× platinum, his 1977 smash catapulted him to stardom he’s maintained for 35 years. From the first listen, it’s not hard to see…
Dear Readers, Dutch post-rock crew All Shall Be Well has announced the winner of the Storytellers contest I told you about. I hope some of you submitted! This is an exciting project, and I encourage all of you to follow along at the band’s website, where they will be posting updates over time to “make…