Dave Hayden

Preston School of IndustryMonsoon(Matador)While it should be easy for Spiral Stairs to make the break from Pavement’s shadow, there’s no indication it’s his intention. If anything, PSOI reaffirms that Pavement’s greatness was truly the sum of its parts. On Monsoon, touches in both songwriting and arrangements allude to the latter three Pave-ment records. It’s a […]

Parts & LaborStay Afraid(Jagjaguwar)From the opening bars of Stay Afraid, it is evident that this Brooklyn trio has studied the first cardinal rule for assaulting the senses: if you can write a catchy melody then you can do whatever the fuck else you want. Explosive feedback, macerating rhythms and senseless noise teetering on the brink […]

Iron and WineThe Shepherd’s DogSubpopFans might not initially like Sam Beam’s full band arrangements on The Shepherd’s Dog, but the sound’s been emerging since the Woman King EP and Calexico collaboration revealed layers to Beam’s songwriting beyond his earliest stripped folk simplicity. Except for “White Tooth Man,” with cues from Tusk-era Fleetwood Mac, and “Peace […]

Cowboy JunkiesEarly 21st Century BluesLatentThe Cowboy Junkies have always been a great cover band — able to completely recraft a song to its own image without losing the song’s original intent. Not since Trinity Session have Timmins and company dedicated a whole album to other people’s material. Early 21st Century Blues features songs of love, […]

The FeverRed Bedroom(Kemado)With an approach reminiscent of post-punk revivalists !!!, The Fever tackles you head on with sharp anthems punctuated by bursts of organ and guitar fire. Its sound owes as much to the Talking Heads and Dead Or Alive as it does to Hot Hot Heat. Be it the industrial disco of “Scorpio,” the […]

Guided by VoicesHalf Smiles of the Decomposed(Matador)Robert Pollard’s rise from teacher to middle-aged alt-god has kept the rock star fantasy alive in us all. Though he will continue his prolific output in other guises, it is sad to see the final pages turn on GBV. Any of the last four albums could’ve served as a […]

Harry Connick Jr.Harry for the Holidays(Sony)Connick’s 1993 album When My Heart Finds Christmas was geared for quiet family nights sitting around the tree in front of a roaring fire, but his latest is for those that like their Christ- mas music with a jazzy edge. Maybe he feels the kids are 10 years older—and have […]