Review: Pak – “Bestial”
I once wrote that Ron Anderson is the best kind of madman. Today, with Bestial, his trio PAK’s fourth LP, he again proves he’s worth all the breathless, rave reviews…
ALBUM REVIEW: THE CAMPFIRE FLIES, “Sparks Like Little Stars”
The Campfire Flies are a songwriter’s dream sextet, bringing together some of New Jersey’s most acclaimed indie-rock writers and performers: John and Toni Baumgartner and Ed Seifert (Speed The Plough),…
Album Review: Through Your Eyes by Marcela Bovio
Bovio has long since established her status as a vocalist in progressive metal with Stream of Passion, Ayreon, and MaYaN. On Through Your Eyes, she welds the bombast of a…
Review: Various Artists – “Bridges”
What makes Pittsburgh quintessentially Pittsburgh? It’s a good question, one with an urgency the national media’s been mulling for more than a decade (and, in past iterations, for generations) now,…
Review: Rodan – “The Hat Factory ’93”
If Rodan’s Rusty is the butterfly on its ripe-peach-hued cover, the newly released ’93 recordings are the budding chrysalis. And they are something to behold. So, first, a little back-story…
Album Review: Gretchen’s Wheel – “Moth To Lamplight: A Tribute To Nada Surf”
In my conversations with Gretchen’s Wheel, also known as Lindsay Murray, she would cite the artists that informed her decision to get into music. There were usual suspects, of course,…
review: Devin Townsend, “Empath”
I have an affinity for saying things that get me into trouble; things like, “Devin Townsend is the only progressive metal performer out there today.” This should not be taken…
CD/DVD REVIEW: PAUL WELLER, “Other Aspects”
Once again, Paul Weller doesn’t rest on his laurels or accolades of his 40-plus year career; no sooner than he releases one of the finest albums of his solo run…
Review: Weezer, “The Teal Album”
Far be it for me to defend the zombie juggernaut known as Weezer. At their best, the group is one of the most potent power pop monsters of the last…
ALBUM REVIEW: BIG STAR, “Live On WLIR”
Okay, onto the re-release of Big Star: Live On WLIR (which originally came out in 1992 on Ryko as Big Star Live): first, the “featured image” is with Andy Hummel,…
ALBUM REVIEW: ROBERT FORSTER, “Inferno”
Most people know Robert Forster as one half of the driving force behind Australia’s beloved and brilliant Go-Betweens, along with musical partner, the late Grant McLennan. But rather than look…
Review: Two Badfinger Reissues – Badfinger, Wish You Were Here, Expanded Editions
Badfinger was a band hanging within the periphery of greatness with both success and tragedy within the folds. With The Beatles’ blessings and some active participation by members of the…