The GourdsHeavy Ornamentals(Eleven Thirty/Redeye) Some may see The Gourds as a novelty due their genius old-time cover of Snoop’s “Gin and Juice.” However, beneath the hillbilly facade created by Kevin Russell and crew is some serious shit. On their eighth record, Heavy Ornamentals, they mix up their sweet brew of country, Tex-Mex and rock ‘n’ […]
Trevor MacLaren
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Loose Fur
Loose FurBorn Again in the USA(Drag City)Loose Fur began as a side project for Jim O’Rourke, Jeff Tweedy and Glenn Kotche of Wilco to stretch out the avant-garde ideologies that began on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Their debut was an interesting gem of experimental post-rock styles. Born Again in the USA is more straightforward and poppier […]
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Bruce Springsteen
Published December 08, 2005. Bruce Springsteen Devils and Dust (SonyBMG) Forget The Rising?this is the Springsteen record fans have been waiting for since the mid-’80s. An equal mix of Nebraska and Tom Joad, Devils and Dust shows a reflective Springsteen dealing with his demons and creating the masterpiece fans knew he still had in him. […]
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The Minus 5
The Minus 5At the Organ(Yep Rock)At the Organ is a brilliant EP from the ever-changing Scott McCaughey-led collective The Minus 5. As with each release, the listener is bombarded with a variety of sounds and genres. This time the disc hops from classic ’60s pop to alt-country to punk combining seven tracks in just under […]
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Various
VariousChristmas Remixed (Six Degrees)Christmas Remixed features such classics as Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Dean Martin doing “Jingle Bells” and Louis Arm- strong and Velma Middleton with “Baby, it’s Cold Outside,” remixed as the title suggests. The idea is interesting and it sometimes works, but it soon becomes boring and […]
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Harlan County USA
Harlan County USADirected by: Barbara Kopple (Criterion)Harlan County USA is one of the finest American documentaries ever. The picture chronicles a coal miner’s strike in a small Kentucky town, capturing the pain of overworked, under-paid labourers struggling to keep what’s theirs while fighting with strikebreakers, police and company-hired henchmen. Documenting the 13 months of the […]
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David Vandervelde
David VanderveldeThe Moonstation Mouse Band(Secretly Canadian)Multi-instrumentalist David Vandervelde recreates the glam-era Marc Bolan that graced such classics as Electric Warrior and The Slider with scary accuracy. While that should make fans of T.Rex and glam rock excited, the line between imitation and influence often gets blurred throughout this debut. But there is no denying that […]
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Dan Reeder
Dan ReederS/T(Oh Boy)Dan Reeder’s debut is a great find of lo-fi folk that can stand easily beside Ani DiFranco, Will Oldham and Greg Brown. This disc comes from Reeder’s cassette demos, which found their way into the hands of John Prine, who released them on his own Oh Boy label. Packed end to end with […]
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Rock City
Published September 04, 2003. Rock City S/T (Lucky Seven) Before Alex Chilton joined forces with Chris Bell for Big Star’s #1 Record, Bell and Big Star bandmate Jody Stephens were in Rock City. This CD displays the framework that Bell would bring to Big Star’s powerhouse sound. With the still ongoing debate over who was […]
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When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four ActsDirected by: Spike Lee(HBO Home Video)Spike Lee is primarily known for his groundbreaking work dealing with racial and social issues in the US. With a great deal of visionary films to his credit, his work as a documentary filmmaker is often overlooked. Like the haunting and disturbing […]
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Paul McCartney
Paul McCartneyChaos and Creation in the Backyard EMIChaos and Creation in the Backyard is the record that all Beatle and Macca fans knew, deep down, he had in him. Since the collapse of Wings there’ve only been a few singles worthwhile of mention and they didn’t start until “My Brave Face on Flowers in the […]
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Elliot Brood
Elliot BroodElliot Brood(Electro Photo)Elliot Brood is a great find that gets better with each listen. The EP has a solid foundation in old time country-blues, with a great contemporary style. Over six songs in just 17 minutes, Brood displays a genuine songwriting gift and a knack for mixing ’80s pop-punk with old time music. It […]