Various Artists “Stage Diving To The Oldies” (Restless, 1995; original recordings 1978-82)Release date indicates attempted cash-in on the post-Nirvana commercial breakthroughs of the Offspring and Bad Religion, but whatever – this is a snazzy set of vintage L. A. hardcore. This really gets the signature sound and sensibility of its subject – the suburban nihilism, […]
Various Artists, “Teen Expo: The Cleopatra Label” (Numero Group, 2018; original recordings 1960-70)So this guy ran a tiny indie out of northern New Jersey, and he put out examples of pretty much every happening pop style of the ‘60s – girl-group, garage-punk, folk-psych, dance-floor r&b, even post-doo-wop crooning. But it all feels of a piece. […]
Tomten, “Wednesday’s Children” (Flat Field, 20120)Interesting stuff from the northwest. Indie-pop with classic mid-60s song structures and crisp, energetic attack, it sometimes seems about to tip into orchestral ornateness or post-punk antiquity, but (intriguingly) never quite does.Try 2, 8, 107/12/12
Toro Y Moi, “Under The Pine” (Carpark, 2011)Last time I heard these guys (guy?), they/he were pretty sparse and morose, but this is perky, almost ‘80s-ish techno-dance-pop, as if somebody had removed the Xanax from the dish in his terrarium and replaced it with cocaine and poppers.2 is nice disposable fun.1/6/12
Toy Love, “Live at the Gluepot” (Goner, 2012; original recordings 1980)Starting out as pioneering New Zealand punk band The Enemy, here Toy Love are already getting simultaneously poppier and more twisted on the way to the members’ later-80s indie-rock glory, but this is still quintessential first-wave punk – raw, trebly, funny, feral.Try 3, 8, 10, […]
Trip 6, “Back With A Vengeance” (Grand Theft Audio, 1997; original recording 1987)Classic NY HC, a thick, muscular, compressed low-end buzz/throb that rushes disorientingly at you like two subway trains barreling past in opposite directions while you stand in between.Try 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 135/12/11
Tropic of Cancer, “The End of All Things” (Downward, 2012). Collecting work released since 2007, this documents a goth/postpunk/gloom combo that eschews typical stylish posturing and heads straight for the trip to the abyss this stuff initially promised. Soot-darkened, stark soundscapes that achieve a kind of transcendence through sheer methodical execution, grinding through the anguish.Try […]
Robin Trower, “Bridge of Sighs” (Chrysalis, 1974)Ex-Procol Harum guitarist with a fine set of moody, Hendrix-inflected riffolas that should appeal to fans of acid-damaged early ‘70s Brit hard rock.Try 1/2, 1/4.11/12/12
Corin Tucker Band, “1000 Years” (Kill Rock Stars, 2010)Best known as the one in Sleater-Kinney with That Voice, this is Tucker’s first solo album. S-K’s run from Call The Doctor to Dig Me Out to Hot Rock is up there with the very, very greatest rock and roll of the whole post-Pistols era, so it […]
Corin Tucker Band, “Kill My Blues” (Kill Rock Stars, 2012). Second solo album from the ex-Sleater Kinney-ite is as excellent as the first. It’s a return to the more hard-rocking side of S-K’s distinctively angular-yet-melodic band of punk-inflected indie rock. Try 1, 3, 4, 6.11/12/12