Album Review: ‘Snowflake Midnight’ by Mercury Rev
Almost twenty years into their turbulent career, Mercury Rev has outdone itself even by its own standards with the bands latest offering, Snowflake Midnight.
Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping
Kevin Barnes, the prodigal ringleader behind Of Montreal, took the notion of suffering for one’s art to a whole new level with the 2007 release of Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? Now, only a year later, Barnes and co. are back with Skeletal Lamping.
Kate Bush – The Dreaming
Chaotic, fantastical, unnerving, and painstakingly brilliant, Kate Bush’s The Dreaming is like nothing you’ve heard before and will be hard-pressed to forget.
Rachael Yamagata – Indie Enigma
In a cloud of cigarette smoke, a voice emerges from behind the case of a black piano. Gritty, yet undeniably feminine, it rises, lucid as air, above sustained chords played beneath the weight of fragile fingers. Brimming with emotion, it urges you to cling to every syllable, every vowel. The voice is that of 29-year-old Rachael Yamagata, the Italian-German- Japanese beauty, and if you haven’t seen her live, you don’t know what you’re missing.
Eye On the Horizon – An interview with Calexico’s Joey Burns
For well over a decade, Joey Burns and John Convertino have been rethinking the boundaries of Indie Rock one border-crossing genre at a time.
ANTI-CONFORMITY – Neko Case
Intended to be a home for recording artists with a punk sensibility that isn´t necessarily punk, ANTI- Records (a division of punk-label Epitaph) plays host to a seriously stellar collection of artists intent on making music on their own terms. Here, Movmnt invites you to get to know three legendary artists releasing vital material through ANTI- right now: Marianne Faithfull, Tom Waits, and Neko Case.
With a voice that rivals Patsy Cline’s and songs where haunting Lynchian landscapes play host to a bevy of characters who may or may not bring you harm, Neko Case has succeeded in creating her own strange little world of country-noir.
Semi Precious Weapons – All Dressed Up
The self-proclaimed “garage-glam” band [Semi Precious Weapons] seems intent on taking on the world one rock n’ roll lover at a time. In skintight flesh-toned pants, stiletto heels, tattered shirts, and waves of bleached hair over raccoon eyes splattered with glitter, Tranter’s dazzling onstage image commands attention. With inspiration from pop singer Jessica Simpson and collaboration with legendary rock producer Tony Visconti, Semi Precious Weapons has landed legions of fans worldwide.
Music Review – The B-52s, Funplex
The B-52s indefatigable sound translates to their new-millennium makeover without ever losing the charm, and kook, that made them so distinct back when they released their eponymous 1979 self-titled debut. The new album, Funplex, dances with the speed of a cosmic dancer and the shimmer of a disco ball. There will always be a time and place for The B-52s, because there will always be a need to stop taking life so damn seriously.
Playlist – Hits From Left Field
In a world where popular songs can be broken down to a science, these ten unlikely hits broke the mold by gaining chart success while remaining uncompromising as ever.
“Justified and Ancient” The K.L.F. featuring Tammy Wynette 1991
Jessie Baylin Leaves Her Mark
A New Jersey native, recording artist Jessie Baylin made the move out to LA to make it big in music. With her smoky voice and great collaboration, she did.
Music Review – Hot Chip, Made in the Dark
Charmingly nerdy, and with a penchant for hip-hop, London-based electro pop group Hot Chip have made a career out of defying classification. Review.
Playlist – Video Saved the Radio Star
In 1981, MTV capitalized on a fairly new and novel idea: Music videos were not only a way to promote music, but also a means of creative expression that enabled innovators to simultaneously push social boundaries and record sales. These ten songs and corresponding videos rank among the most memorable.
