Author Archive
2013, A Collection: A Few Favorites from the Year that Was

2013, A Collection: A Few Favorites from the Year that Was

I wish there was a pattern to this, sometimes. I wish there was an easy explanation for what I like and don’t like. It was so easy in high school. I wore flannels and liked something called “grunge”, until I decided it was more fun to wear all black and like everything that fell under the hindsightedly ridiculous moniker of “industrial”. There was a formula then. It was easy then. Not so much, now. Here are ten albums, my favorites […]

The Best Albums of 2012: Mike S.'s Top 10

The Best Albums of 2012: Mike S.’s Top 10

Mike S. picks his favorites for the year, with a couple of bonuses he couldn’t bear to not talk about.

Green Day, ¡Tré!: Album Review

Green Day just doesn’t have it with this bunch. At least we can make our own albums with the songs.

Kid Rock, Rebel Soul: Album Review

Kid Rock, Rebel Soul: Album Review

Detroit rocker Kid Rock unleashes his “Rebel Soul” to the world. Is his latest album worth your investment?

Spin Cycle: How to Destroy Angels, An Omen

Spin Cycle: How to Destroy Angels, An Omen

Two EPs in, How to Destroy Angels is showing no signs of living up to the duo referenced by their name.

Spin Cycle: Green Day, ¡Dos!

Spin Cycle: Green Day, ¡Dos!

Finally, two months after ¡Uno!, we get to some good stuff.

Spin Cycle: Mike Doughty, The Flip is Another Honey

Spin Cycle: Mike Doughty, The Flip is Another Honey

The Flip is Another Honey is less a “covers album” than “another Mike Doughty album”.

Spin Cycle: Tori Amos, Gold Dust

Spin Cycle: Tori Amos, Gold Dust

Retrospection through reinterpretation. Seems like something Tori would do.

Spin Cycle: Green Day, ¡Uno!

Spin Cycle: Green Day, ¡Uno!

Green Day’s new album is a lot of noise that makes very little impact.

Spin Cycle: James Iha, Look to the Sky

Spin Cycle: James Iha, Look to the Sky

2004: “The truth of the matter is that guitarist James Iha broke up the Smashing Pumpkins. Not me, not drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, but James.” 2010: “I think James Iha should feel alone.” 2012: “James Iha I think is just a piece of shit. I think he’s one of the worst human beings I’ve ever met in my life.” -Billy Corgan There is a two-pronged problem to trying to provide context to a James Iha solo album: One, he is inextricably […]

Spin Cycle: David Byrne and St. Vincent, Love This Giant

Spin Cycle: David Byrne and St. Vincent, Love This Giant

Love This Giant never quite reaches the potential suggested by such a powerful collaboration.

Spin Cycle: Ben Folds Five, The Sound of the Life of the Mind

Spin Cycle: Ben Folds Five, The Sound of the Life of the Mind

Folds. Sledge. Jessee. Together again, doin’ what they do and doin’ it well.