Dave Hayden

As part of a reported trilogy (the first, On Blue Fog came out in 2007), one could interpret this latest title literally, since the album marks a true rebirth of Ethier’s musical direction. While the writing still sparks little flashes of Al Tuck, Dylan, Nick Cave and noir-ish folk, Born of Blue Fog takes a […]

Some partnerships were just meant to be. Ever since alt-country pioneers The Jayhawks broke up—though Olson and Louris have both released highly acclaimed solo albums—it was never quite the same. For the first time since 1995, the two have recorded together for an album that showcases how well their voices mesh. When those harmonies click, […]

Since 1989, the Red Hot Organization has released 20 diverse compilations—appealing to fans of everything from mainstream to jazz and Latino music—benefiting AIDS awareness and funding around the world. For indie-rock fans, though, not since 1993’s No Alternative (Nirvana, Pavement and Sonic Youth) and 1995’s Red, Hot and Bothered (Built to Spill, Folk Implosion, Grifters) […]

If after listening to Get Guilty you start wondering what the difference is between A.C. Newman’s solo material and The New Pornographers, you would not be alone. The whole feel and flow of this (his second) solo disc is almost no different from his previous work on the 2004 debut, The Slow Wonder. Once again, […]

After a stressful holiday season, the best way to unwind is to play an album like this in the car and push the limits of summer tires on icy pavement. Within the catastrophic noise and mayhem of Young Widows’ post-punk wailings lies catharsis and redemption. Within everything lies this Louisville, Kentucky trio aspires, and it […]

Brian BorcherdtCoyotes(Hand Drawn Dracula)If you think about Holy Fuck and Brian Borcherdt’s solo work, they really aren’t that far apart. Sure, on the surface there’s a sonic discrepancy: propulsive rhythms and chest-exploding synth/bass/drum attack vs. whispered vocals and softly strummed guitar chords. But look beyond volume settings and BPMs, and underneath it all there’s a […]

Mount Eerie w/Julie Doiron, Fred SquiresLost Wisdom(indie)In typical Phil Elverum style, Lost Wisdom is a warm, intimate recording full of existential questioning and naturalistic spiritualism. Recorded with long-time heroes Julie Doiron and Fred Squires, it’s a near-perfect example of how collaborations should be done. They each have such an unfiltered, organic aesthetic; their subtle restraints […]

[image-4]Published November 06, 2008.Lucinda WilliamsLittle Honey(lost highway)After several albums that were more produced (specifically her vocals, which were filtered through some pretty distracting reverb), it’s good to see Lucinda Williams lay it bare again. She writes with such a lyrical honesty, her voice deserves an equally intimate treatment. There’s no better example than “Plan To […]

Delta SpiritOde to Sunshine (Rounder)You would be excused for assuming that, with a name like Delta Spirit, this album is by a large booming southern voice wailing at the blues. Well it kind of is and it kind of isn’t. Ode to Sunshineis indie-rock through and through, but with a soul as big as the […]

Damien JuradoCaught in the Trees(Secretly Canadian)Over the course of seven albums and 20 years, Damien Jurado has released some of the saddest music going. Even though all the characters and stories he conjured up on albums like Rehearsals for Departure or Ghost of David are fictional, his stark musical palette and rich emotional tone evoke […]

Matt Mays & El Torpedo Terminal Romance(SONIC)You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the new Matt Mays album—with its glossy, hot-pink and machine-like metal heart artwork—perfectly suits the shift this album displays over its predecessors. Where previous albums reflected Mays’ strong rural-roots influences, only one song on Terminal Romance (the Tom Petty-ish “Stand […]