Every kid who’s ever had a half-decent record collection has their favorite overlooked, underappreciated, why-the-hell-haven’t-we-devoted-the-entire-state-of-South Dakota-to-their-utterly-brilliant-and-amazing-career songwriter. Whether it’s Richard Thompson, Sinéad O’Connor, Mark Linkous, Nick Drake, Patti Smith, Craig Wedren, etc., anyone who’s ever cared has sat around and pulled out the wonderfully refreshing and naïve “Man, so-and-so is a genius. How come nobody […]
Brian Smith
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Born in the USA
Ted Leo Starts a Fire with a Spark
Ted Leo is the new Bruce Springsteen. No disrespect to The Boss. Spring-steen’s still on fire and holds the key, but what Bruce was to the arena rock, faux-glamour, and mind-numbing excess that dragged down the 1970s—a shot in the dark—that’s what Leo is now. Thirty-two years removed from Born to Run, the current rock […]
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Nels Cline vs. Cereal
Nels Wins, Cereal Loses
We’re not dead yet, and Nels Cline proves it. Cline, lead-guitarist extraordinaire for the mighty Wilco, frontman of the Nels Cline Singers, and sideman to more jazz-based side projects than he himself can count, kept a pace over the past year that can only inspire. In late September of 2006, Cline dropped New Monastery: A […]
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Malkmus Reborn
Coffee and Milk, Together at Last
FINALLY. AND THANK GOODNESS. It’s about time someone gave Stephen Malkmus’ post-Pavement career a huge kick in the ass. Granted, his self-titled solo debut from 2001 was nice. And 2003’s Pig Lib was some damn hot shit. And yeah, he and the Jicks backed Radiohead that same year, which was rad. But, lately, it seems […]
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Singing in the Storm
How Sufjan Stevens Kept His Head Above Water
SUFJAN STEVENS is at that point. The point where, as an artist, he can seemingly do anything. Go anywhere. The point where, as a listener, one is constantly startled and amazed by just how talented Stevens is. But that point is also a break. A crossroads. Dylan or Donovan? Laureate or sham? Because since Greetings […]
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He Died So that We May Live
How Nels Cline Saved the Guitar
Pullout: “Gods of Guitar” Music Issue
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Minor Deities
The Under-Appreciated Guitar Gods
Pullout: “Gods of Guitar” Music Issue
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Mission of Burma!
Still Going for the Jugular
FOR EVERY HALF-ASS, part-nostalgia, part-money-grabbing reunion tour that has been thrown at us in the last decade, there is Mission of Burma. For every “band” that has sucked in their guts, Botoxed-out the wrinkles, spent a week figuring out how to finger the old chords, and then reluctantly hit the road to be able to […]
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Silver Freakin’ Jews
David Berman is Our Dylan and Whitman
COMING IN A CLOSE SECOND to Will Oldham in the “most famous rock recluse” category, Silver Jews frontman/songwriter/hero-to- seemingly-half-of-Portland David Berman is the one. And he’s gonna be sorely missed when he’s gone. If/when the Jews ever do clock out, Berman will immediately ascend to one-man Velvet Underground status. A boatload of hyperbole will swim […]
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Dude! It’s David Cross
Promising “30 Minutes of Loose, Lazy Rambling”
PERHAPS THE SINGLE most hilarious human being on our great planet, David Cross has been one busy bee the last few years. Mixing wit, sarcasm, and a good blog’s worth of research, the majority of Cross’ onstage work has centered around the triumphs of the Bush administration ever since “Florida” went down. The actor/comedian, who […]