Camper Van Beethoven: Cigarettes & Carrot Juice – The Santa Cruz Years August 18, 2008I listened to a lot of Camper van Beethoven back in 1987. I can’t tell you why other...
Blood of Abraham: Future Profits August 12, 2008More legit than Two Live Jews, but somehow less acceptable than 3rd Bass, Blood of Abraham found themselves...
BOAT: Let’s Drag Our Feet August 11, 2008I’m not really certain how to categorize BOAT’s music. It’s like hipster goof rock. This stuff is really...
Against Me!: New Wave August 5, 2008Perhaps this is just a window into my nature, but I like a little bit of irony in...
Sunset Rubdown: Random Spirit Lover August 3, 2008Mixing in even more elements than their first album, Sunset Rubdown continues to be an experiment in progress,...
Ben Lee: Ripe August 3, 2008It’s hard to believe this is the same kid from Noise Addict who wrote such infectious little punk...
K.M.D.: Black Bastards July 31, 2008The content, along with the cartoon of a black caricature being hanged on the cover (see left) got...
K.M.D: Mr. Hood July 13, 2008I can remember when I first got this album on tape way back in the day. I sat...
Jawbox: For Your Own Special Sweetheart July 6, 2008This album reminds me of a particular room in my ramshackle fraternity house. It’s not even a room...
Blackalicious: NIA June 29, 2008I’m too stupid–and white–to understand the whole Nia, earth mother theme going on here. Apparently “Nia,” meaning purpose,...
Blackalicious: Blazing Arrow June 29, 2008If rap was all about production, then these guys would be the pinnacle. Everything on this album sounds...
Destroyer: Trouble in Dreams June 29, 2008Dan Bejar is never at a loss for words. He crams his songs full of ‘em. He packs...
Destroyer: Thief June 29, 2008If cabaret weren’t self-indulgent garbage, it would sound like this. If showtunes were rock ‘n’ roll and not...
Black Francis: Svn Fngrs June 28, 2008Black Francis is such a freak! No but really, listen to the first song on this EP, “The...
Centro-Matic: Dual Hawks June 26, 2008Centro-Matic and its de facto leader, Will Johnson, are a hard band to categorize. They’re certainly not country...
Gnarls Barkley: The Odd Couple June 22, 2008Gnarls Barkley is one of those side projects that on first listen sounds new and fresh and groundbreaking...
Grand Puba: Understand This. June 22, 2008Was it still okay to say “Word to mutha” in 2002? I’m not one to push street vernacular,...
Bootsy’s Rubber Band: Jungle Bass June 17, 2008I have no idea what the hell I was thinking when I dropped a few clams on this...