Dave Hayden

Susie Arioli BandLearn to Smile AgainJustin timeThis fourth disc from the Susie Arioli Band is primarily dedicated to the music of Roger Miller, one of America’s finest country songwriters. He mainly wrote comedic songs (“You Can’t Roller Skate Through a Buffalo Herd”) but also crafted serious music that went on to be well respected and […]

VariousRussian Christmas (BBC Music magazine)If you want something beyond the umpteenth version of “Rudolph,” the best source of holiday music can be found at the newsstand. Every year the classical music monthly BBC Music puts together seasonal offerings of a divergent kind. This year the focus is Russia, with a version of Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony […]

SpartaPorcelain(Dreamworks)When At The Drive-In splintered, few thought Sparta would outdo rival offshoot Mars Volta. But it did. On its second full-length, Porcelain, Sparta deals with the consistency problems that marred the debut while also avoiding the trap of trying to appease newfound critical expectations. “Breaking The Broken,” “Lines in Sand” and “Splinters” are unforced, simple […]

The Paper ChaseNow You are One of Us(Kill Rock Stars)Listening to this disc is like seeing your most favourite horror movie for the umpteenth time, knowing full well what to expect and yet still shitting your pants at all the scariest scenes. Think Modest Mouse on a whole mess of acid and having a paranoid […]

Stephen MalkmusFace the Truth(Matador)Stephen Malkmus’ third post-Pavement solo effort finds him aging gracefully, sounding comfortably assured even when he’s experimenting wildly — with obvious intent to cause audience double-takes. Like on the opener “Pencil Riot” or “I’ve Hardly Been,” it’s almost like Malkmus has a twisted will to frustrate. But these moments are broken up […]

MemphisI Dreamed We Fell Apart (Paper Bag)You would think that Stars frontman Torquil Campbell would be satisfied that his band pretty much owns the lush-pop throne in this country. But no. He has to dive into Euro-dance-pop with Memphis, a band he formed in 2002 with multi-instrumentalist Chris Dumont. Think Pet Shop Boys on tranquilizers […]

Jens LekmanRocky Dennis EP(Motown)There is an incredibly sad thread running through this EP—the second of an anticipated trilogy by this Scandinavian wunderkind—creating a forceful undercurrent beneath an otherwise glossy orchestral folk-pop sheen. The song titles alone (“Farewell Song to The Blind Girl,” “If You Ever Need a Stranger”) dig a pit of loss and loneliness. […]

Elliott SmithNew Moon(Kill Rock Stars)Compared to Kurt Cobain, Biggie Smalls and so many other prematurely dead rock stars, Elliott Smith’s talent and body of work has remained in relative obscurity despite its critical acclaim and praise from fellow artists. His suicide in 2003 was the final exclamation mark on a life that shied away from […]

Lou BarlowEMOH (Merge)With the release of his first solo disc, Lou Barlow has made himself relevant again. Through his work with Sebadoh and the Folk Implosion, he practically drafted the blueprint for heart-wrenching bedroom recordings and became the spiritual father of artists like Conor Oberst. But for a few years, he got off track. EMOH […]

Elvis Costello and the ImpostorsThe Delivery Man(Lost Highway)While Elvis Costello is still dabbling in “serious” music- making—writing for Diana Krall and the symphony—it’s good to see he hasn’t forgotten how to kick a lick around. Here Costello is in top form, firing off rollicking blues and country-tinged jams. “Button My Lip” and “Bedlam” are exactly […]