I’ve pulled this album out, the only one I have by this American psychedelic pop “band” called Of Montreal, which is really the creative brainchild of one Kevin Barnes, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter,visual artist, and provocateur. There is no identifyinginformation on the album cover, on the spine, or on the disc labels. Not even the linerContinue reading “#820: O is for Of Montreal”
Tag Archives: review
#819: N is for Nyro, Laura
Another mysterious album in the collection gifted to me by my artist and musician friend Curtis.Here’s a songwriter that I would have heard about, whose name I would have recognized as a person often cited as a significant figure, whosesongs I had heard performed by otherartists, but whose records had completely escaped me. It’s 1969.Continue reading “#819: N is for Nyro, Laura”
#818: N is for Numan, Gary
Telekon, Gary Numan’s fourth album, the second album post Tubeway Army, begins with the most crushing slow rock synth groove of “This Wreckage” and, in that early, nasal, almost robotic, most distinctive voice, he sings the first lyric: “And what if God’s dead?” This was heady stuff for a 16 year old me, who hadContinue reading “#818: N is for Numan, Gary”
#807: M is for Morrissey
This one is troubling, this entry about the British singer Morrissey, who emerged into fame during the 80’s with the mopey rock outfit, an undeniably great band, The Smiths. We have to talkabout that age-old question, more firmly in the public consciousnessover the last couple of decades than it has ever been: is it possibleContinue reading “#807: M is for Morrissey”
#803: M is for Missing Persons
What could be better in the knownuniverse than alumni from the greatFrank Zappa band forming a new wavegroup? I can barely think of a single thing.Dale Bozzio was sexy and weird and provedshe could really sing, albeit eccentrically, her then husband Terry was about the greatest drummer in all of rock music, and Patrick O’HearnContinue reading “#803: M is for Missing Persons”
#801: M is for The Minus 5
Portland, Oregon music giant, Scott McCaughey, inducted into the state’s Music Hall of Fame in 2022, founder of The Young Fresh Fellows, once an auxiliary member of R.E.M., frequent collaborator and friendof Peter Buck and English rocker Robyn Hitchcock, has been over the last few decades writing and recording under the band name The MinusContinue reading “#801: M is for The Minus 5”
#795: M is for Martha and the Muffins
I am not sure that I have everlistened to this album. I think, but I am not certain, that it wasa gift or a loaner from my friendCurtis. I texted him this morningto confirm. If he denies this, or doesn’t remember, then I do notknow how I came by this record, Danseparc by Canadian bandContinue reading “#795: M is for Martha and the Muffins”
#793: M is for Manchester Orchestra
These guys are from Atlanta, Georgia, not even remotely from Manchester,and they are not an orchestra, but a rockband–albeit a sophisticated one, a bandI discovered because Andy Hull, their band leader and principle songwriter, once collaborated with The Dear Hunter. I only have this one E.P. , The Valley of Vision,even though I streamed theirContinue reading “#793: M is for Manchester Orchestra”
#792: M is for Magdalena Bay
Magdalena Bay might be the best 80’smale and female duo ever to form in the twenty-first century. More experimental than the Eurythmics and less rock oriented than Roxette, while Everything ButThe Girl maybe comes closest with their flirtation with jazz, Magdalena Bay bringstogether the other-worldly lead vocal from Mica Tenenbaum and the prog-leaning, synthesizer-heavy, andContinue reading “#792: M is for Magdalena Bay”
#783: L is for Laufey
Lo eh veh. Or Lo eu veh. Or LOI-vay. Not Laffey, please, as many of us likelymispronounced her name once we became aware of this young Icelandicsensation bringing what sounded likestandard vocal jazz to the world of pop. Right next door to k.d. lang in the stacks, a comparison seems appropriate. Whilethe quality of theirContinue reading “#783: L is for Laufey”
michael jarmer 