Joe Piscopo, “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” (CBS, 1982)The SNL comedian in character as Frank Sinatra singing a medley of new wave hits. It actually works as music, both because Piscopo knows Frank and because new wave was a natural fit for this sort of pop theatre of the bizarre.Try 1/110/2/18
Plexi 3, “Tides of Change” (Certified PR, 2009)They put out a good single on Dusty Medical Records a few years back, and now here’s the album, and it’s really good. Wendy Norton’s songs in particular are able to fashion the now-familiar garage-punk/girl-group/folk-rock hybrid into something distinctive and original, taking the freshness and spookiness of the […]
Poolside, “Pacific Standard Time” (Poolside Music, 2012)Ultra-listenable contemporary dance music, shimmering and cool while still pumping a compelling pulse. Disco, house, minimal-electro and more, seamlessly fused into a distinctive whole. If you like the more melodic side of electronica/IDM, don’t miss this one.Try 5, 9. 108/29/12
The Pop Group, “Y” (Radar, 1979)Deservedly legendary Brit post-punk explorers—coiled but fluid noise-funk that passes through dub-like open spaces and bursts of electro-acoustic racket. Parts are surprisingly tender and lyrical, abruptly juxtaposed with patches of twitched-out ferocity. These are people committed to living out complete political and artistic autonomy – and to collapsing the distinction […]
The Pop Rivits, “The Original First Album!!” (Hangman, 1978; original recordings 1978-79)Billy Childish (Mighty Caesars, Headcoats)’s punk-era group combines a post-punkish choppiness one wouldn’t necessarily expect from this ultra-traditionalist with a hard-driving mod beat one would, and an acute melodic sense (kind of music-hall-ish) to the pop. Cool as an artifact, and an exciting listen […]
Jessica Pratt, “On Your Own Love Again” (Drag City, 2015)This acoustic acid-folk singer-songwriter’s stark, shadowy, ravishing debut was one of the best albums of 2013. This follow-up isn’t as direct, but when it sinks in there’s clearly an extension into new fields of melodic complexity and narrative sound-calligraphy. Great to see a performer so daring […]
Jessica Pratt, “Jessica Pratt” (Birth, 2013)First release on Tim Presley (White Fence)’s new label, and it’s a great start. This is stark, voice-and-acoustic-guitar-at-3AM freak-folk that’s genuinely freaky, and haunting. The songs linger in the loneliest places in the heart, and Pratt sings like Jandek and Stevie Nicks’s love child. One of the year’s very best.Try […]
Elvis Presley, “Speedway” (RCA, 1967)Later soundtrack by the King, some cool rockin’ stuff (a slight heavy/spacey contemporary influence trickling into his mountain fastness?) and a kicky little tune by co-star Nancy Sintra (of course).Try 1/ 1, 2/ 17/11/18
Elvis Presley, “Spin Out” (RCA, 196)Soundtrack with a nice mix of work-rockers, ballads, and a Dylan cover that shows the King really got what Bob was about.Try 2/ 1, 2/2, 2/4 7/11/18
Neu!, “Neu! 2” (Astralwerks, 2001; original release, 1973)Pretty similar to the first one – some gently propulsive minimalist soundscapes, same Velvetsesque rhythm guitar kinetics filtered through kaleidoscopic studio effects. But this is more beautifully blissed out.Try 12/21/16