ALARM leaves no genre unloved in our round-up of 50 albums that didn’t receive enough attention in 2009.
I saw David Eugene Edwards perform with 16 Horsepower when I was in high school, but this was the first chance I had to see Wovenhand. Their music, a hybrid of intense rock ‘n’ roll and traditional American styles, is dark, haunting, and incredibly moving.
These perfectionists are also simpletons: when it comes to their music at least.
Last summer, The Fiery Furnaces, an oft-difficult sibling duo, released Remember, a live album mixed so well that it brings the live show to the listener. Taken from a dizzying number of performances, the album presents an “in the corner, jacket in hand” experience that seeing live music really is.
Over the past week, we caught news of a mini Soundgarden/TAD live jam, a new Kayo Dot album, a new/streaming Trash Talk EP, another Mars Volta album, another Zach Hill project, and a release date for the new Tortoise album. Read about this and more after the jump.
Political inspiration is great, but the world is tired of Will.I.Am‘s celeb-packed Obama tribute. In honor of the freshly passed stimulus package, here are five good songs about the United States’ 44th president.
Dysrhythmia begins recording its new album; Tinariwen announces UK dates with Tunng; Prefuse 73 has a new album and a project with Zach Hill; Lifetime reissues a pair of albums; Pelican signs to Southern Lord. Read about this and more in our weekly roundup.
This weekend, our plans include catching Tortoise and its sneak preview of new material, attending a “going to press” party for the Thought You Knew pinup calendar, and seeing a pair of widely influenced, experimental groups (Mi Ami, onYou) at The Hideout.
Details emerge about new albums from Isis, Tortoise, Akron/Family, and Stinking Lizaveta; Zu announces some dates for a world tour (a pair of which are with Mike Patton); Dark Meat will go on tour with its 17 members; the Scion Rock Fest hosts a spate of crushing metal bands in Atlanta on February 28.
Keep readin’…
Care to stalk us this weekend? Search for us around Chicago as we see Subtle, The Lonesome Organist, Eastern Blok, the Andreas Kapsalis Trio, Young Widows, and more. And maybe you’d care to see The Dark Knight with online editor Scott Morrow…
Lord knows that there are thousands of record labels in the world. So how does one go about separating itself from the rest (other than through awesome music)? That would be with a good name. Thankfully, these labels all have great music as well.
Highly regarded musicians Rob Mazurek and Bill Dixonof Exploding Star Orchestra combines classical music with the cosmos for a truly astounding ensemble.