: Bathysphere
reviewed by Steve Silverstein
Some people try to use bouncing to squeeze a lot of tracks onto a 4-track recording, to simulate a live band using overdubs. There's even an album called Made on a Teac that explains how to bounce 12...
Music Reviews
What we are listening to. Non-critically.
: On the One CD
reviewed by Dewey Mahood
The Sick Bees are a guitar/vocal and drums duo (with a dash of clarinet and keyboards to keep it spicy) that sounds like the polar opposite of the Spinanes. In fact, their approach is more in tune...
: Indyglow CD
reviewed by Larry Crane
Some of you might remember a band called Sidecar and their frightening studio horror stories in issue #3 of Tape Op. Sidecar, due to someone else using the name, has now become Poolside, and they have...
: a-OK CD
reviewed by Larry Crane
As you may have read about in the J. Christian Quick interview elsewhere in this issue, this album was recorded at Stillness Sound Facility on a 16 track 1" recorder in the old house that is...
: It’s Hard to Find a Friend CD
reviewed by Adam Selzer
I'm told most of this record was tracked in a basement in Seattle on 1/2" 8 track by David Bazan, who wrote, sang, drummed and guitared all the songs. They are, for the most part, subdued melodic...
: Never Say Goodbye CD
reviewed by Steve Silverstein
In the liner notes of this CD reissue, John Darnielle from the Mountain Goats argues against calling these old recordings "demos", because they're wonderful and fit for release. Of course, he's right,...
: The Hot Rock
reviewed by Dewey Mahood
Their musicianship and songwriting continue to grow, and although the music has moved further into the pop realm, they haven't forgot- ten their punk roots. Roger Mountenot [known for his work with Yo...
: A New Music For A New Kitchen CD
reviewed by Dewey Mahood
When I first got this CD I gave it a few listens and dug the band's spazz-jazz Beefheart meets Minutemen compositions. Admittedly, I didn't pay a lot of attention to the lyrics expressed figuring the...
: Secret Luminaries CD
reviewed by Larry Crane
There's several ways to run a commercial studio. You can be outspoken, you can be highly visible on the local "scene" or you can quietly stay in and do some great work. In Portland, I sometimes feel...
: Eventually Something Cool Will Happen CD
reviewed by Larry Crane
When people talk to me about movies, I mention that I follow directors and rarely pay attention to actors. When it comes to records though, I don't think I'd pick music based on who "produced" it....
: In New Zealand CD
reviewed by Larry Crane
The first thing I noticed about this CD is that it is short. Less than 32 minutes, and that made me wonder. Would I know if it was on vinyl? Between flipping the sides and not having a digital counter...
: Birds Don’t Think They’re Flying (Enchante) CD, American Water (Drag City) CD
reviewed by Larry Crane
People like Nicolas Vernhes and his Rare Book Room in NYC are the backbone of honest, real recording in this country. I'm not joking. There's million dollar studios with well-trained staff and full...