Buffalo Tom, “Asides From . . . “ (Beggars Banquet, 2000; original recordings 1988-1999)Comp. of underrated ‘90s band, really a classic loose/rousing folk-rock combo à la the Band, but adapted to the heavy/noisy rock sound of the day. No gimmicks, just incisive, haunting songs and performances, which is why this holds up better than their […]
John Cale, “Guts” (Island, 1975; originally recorded 1973-75)Probably the ex-Velvets bassist’s best solo stuff, and certainly the most extreme; vaguely glam/Roxy, Music-style rock and roll overdriving into bludgeoning paranoia, with truly disturbing lyrics/vocals from Cale.Try 1 /4, 2/1, 2/1.
California X, “California X” (Don Giovanni, 2013)Heavy/melodic, hard-driving indie-guitar-rock from Massachusetts. They’ve been compared to that state’s legends, Dinosaur Jr., and make a similar sunshine-‘n’-storms folk/psych/metal blare, but are simultaneously blurrier and more straight-ahead. Really good stuff, with fine songwriting.Try A/1, B/14/17/16
Camera Obscura, “Biggest, Bluest Hi-Fi” (Merge, 2001)Guy/gal-fronted Scots indie-poppers; most obvious debt is to Belle& Sebastian, but there’s some C86, Smiths and (especially) third-album Velvets. Jangly, sharp, intense and often gorgeous.Tty 3, 4, 52/14/13
Bailterspace, “Strobosphere” (Fire, 2012)This band goes back to the ‘80s, with further roots in the early New Zealand postpunk underground. Their umpteenth record sounds similar to its predecessors – droning/chiming guitars and wide-swinging, heavy rhythms create a shadowy, metallic dome of sound with pop undertones, and, like the others, it’s very good.Try 1, 27/26/12
Bananarama, “Bananarama” (London, 1984)Misleading title, actually their second LP, and a move from goofy new wave to a cooler, more atmospheric synth-pop. Some great songs here, girls-lost-in-the-city weepig romantic light-and-shadow.Try 1/ 1, 2/ 36/18/18
Bananarama, “Greatest Hits” (London, 1988; originally 1981-1988). Non-stop peak moments from one of the ‘80s’ great singles bands, effervescently amateurish girl-vocals (like the Slits gone bubblegum) atop state-of-te-art music from new wave to electro-pop to freestyle. Try 1, 4, 6, 10, 11.11/12/12.
Claudia Barry, “Down And Country” 12” (Epic, 1986).Excellent, hard-hitting mid-80s electro-dance, with hip-hop-inflected beats in the then-dominant freestyle mode, but a soul/funk feel, particularly in the vocals.Try 1/1.11/12/12
Bastards, “Exploding Man” (Glitterhouse, 1989; original recordings 1987-89) In the wake of Big Black, Killdozer et al, noise-rock exploded across the Midwest like the garage-punk of its day, and these guys were among its most gutter-level rock-and-roll exponents, particularly on these early singles. Viscous, lurching sludge that will have you wondering if the record is […]
Beach Boys, “Holland” (Brother/Epic, 1972)This is the Boys at peak mellow. With its drifting-cloud tempos and piano that sounds like it was recorded in the depths of one of the city’s canals, this gives every sign of having been fueled by bales of Amsterdam’s finest combustibles. As compellingly hedonistic-utopian a representation of life in the […]