In issue #55 we chatted with Deerhoof, and learned about Greg Saunier's unique and obsessive ways of working on recordings. Their new album, La Isla Bonita, began as demos that soon became the core of...
Dave Pearce's first album in 15 years consists of processed electric guitar performances recorded at home, live to tape and CD-R. Textures abound, sometimes jarring or noisy, but more often sedate and...
Unlike the late Grant McLennan, his former partner in the Go-Betweens, Robert Forster [Tape Op #14], has never been the most prolific of songwriters. But for us dedicated fans of his unique work,...
From the viewpoint of mid-2015, there seems to be nothing at all special about a songwriter and some musicians traipsing down into a rented basement and recording run-throughs of new material and some...
Game Theory was one of Northern California's most exciting groups. Band leader and songwriter/guitarist Scott Miller may have been influenced by Elvis Costello and The Beatles, but his take on...
When I am asked to describe my personal goals when making records, I frequently say that I'm looking to make classic, timeless works of art. I want to make albums that can be listened to for many...
Songwriter and novelist Willy Vlautin has led Portland's Richmond Fontaine for 20 years. With this new group, The Delines, he's written songs for Amy Boone (The Damnations TX) to sing, and grabbed his...
Over the last few years, my town of Portland has become a traveler's destination for food (as well as beer, coffee, comedy, books, and music). Many come to sample the delights of world-renowned...
It was 1985. I was in a band called Vomit Launch. Our guitarist, Lindsey Thrasher, was DJ'ing at our college station (KCSC) in Chico, California. While there one day, she picked up the phone and a...
For this 100th issue, John and I tried to think of some of the albums that captured the attention of our contributors and interviewees in our early years, as well as what has made for good listening...
Somehow Light in the Attic Records has been given access to the vaults of LHI, the company that producer, songwriter, singer, mogul, and cowboy Lee Hazlewood helmed in the mid-'60s and early-'70s....
Sessions for Bowie's 24th studio album, his first in ten years, began several years ago "in secret" at The Magic Shop, New York City [owned by Steve Rosenthal, Tape Op #29]. Long-time collaborator...
This excellent collaboration between Emmylou and Rodney, her former Hot Band cohort, presents a clean, straightforward recording of two legendary country singers laying down some great takes. Emmylou...
