: Middle Cyclone
reviewed by Larry Crane
She can sing a mountain down and write circles around most songwriters - it's always a pleasure to hear a new Neko album. Basic tracks were started where many of her albums have begun - Tucson's...
Music Reviews
by Larry Crane
: Sleepwalking Through the Mekong
reviewed by Larry Crane
This is a stellar DVD and CD pairing. Dengue Fever, an L.A.-based group playing music inspired by and covers of Cambodian pop music from the sixties (with wonderful Cambodian ex-pat vocalist Chhom...
: No Line on the Horizon
reviewed by Larry Crane
What do you do after being a band for 30 years? How does anyone even survive being in a band for that long? U2's studio workflow has evolved into a slow process of addition and subtraction over the...
: Never Say Never
reviewed by Larry Crane
I had the pleasure of meeting Ian McLagan in Austin, Texas recently, and I will tell you this man is a treat to hang with. Ian's a soulful keyboardist and a music veteran of The Small Faces/Faces and...
: Fretworx
reviewed by Larry Crane
With a title like Fretworx you might assume this CD is all about guitar playing - and you'd be right. Brian is one of those "guitar technique" guys, and while he can play with speed like Steve Vai...
: Booty Beats Fully Realized
reviewed by Larry Crane
Chris Deaner (+/- {plus/minus}) and Karl Lundin (Mandible) create pop songs with just drums, percussion, a bit of chanting and some processing and editing. Instead of some crazy drum jam, these are...
: Schoolyard Ghosts
reviewed by Larry Crane
Steven Wilson (also of Porcupine Tree) presents one of his many side projects here, No-Man, a 22-year old collaboration with singer/songwriter Tim Bowness. The music is melancholy, layered and...
: Hold Time
reviewed by Larry Crane
For sake of honesty I should confess that I recorded a few songs for Transistor Radio, M. Ward's 2005 album, and I consider Matt a friend even if our busy schedules make hanging out difficult! But one...
: Black Monk Time
reviewed by Larry Crane
This is a reissue of the first album by the group of former U.S. G.I.'s with the tonsure haircuts who baffled audiences in Germany with their droney garage rock with weird lyrics and noisy guitar...
: To Be Still
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi, Larry Crane
I grew up near a magical town in the foothills of California called Nevada City. Back when I was in high school we'd see Jonathan Richman walking down the street or Gary Snyder reading his poetry, and...
: Living Thing
reviewed by Larry Crane
Remember the fun interview Thom Monahan did with Björn Yttling in #65? He and his famous whistling band (with Peter Morén and John Eriksson) return with their fourth album. It's catchy,...
: Ancients Speak
reviewed by Larry Crane
You may remember Melvin as the thoughtful bassist (with a back catalog and history to die for) whom we interviewed in issue #54. Here he unleashes an inspired mix of African music, hip-hop, Brazilian,...