When I purchased the 2lp edition of Destroyer‘s 2011 pop masterpiece Kaputt, I had no idea that the bonus track promised on side C would slowly become the languid circulatory system of the entire album. It swims in an embryonic well from which the other tracks drink, all held breath and deep plunge. It’s patient … Continue reading Destroyer – The Laziest River
This video dropped halfway through the year and I feel terrible for failing to share it immediately. The song is one of 9 front-to-back highlights on a pop masterpiece I wrote about in February and the video is something odd and special, inventive and thoughtful. And unexpected. And fun. Yes, this is a first person … Continue reading Destroyer – Savage Night At The Opera
Before 2011, I had heard one Destroyer album, Your Blues. I recalled a very baroque yet earnest ballad named The Music Lovers, and nothing else. I thought of Dan Bejar (the sole permanent member) as part of an indie pop milieu I haven’t found interesting in years. Thankfully, Destroyer changed and I was wrong. Kaputt … Continue reading Destroyer – Kaputt
This is my official shout out to all the great albums that didn’t make the cut for the 50 best albums of 2017. Some of these are albums I know I need to spend more time with. Some of them I simply didn’t get to until late in the year. The point is, I keep … Continue reading 50 More Must-Hear Albums of 2017
When I was ten years old, I chose the alto saxophone as my instrument for school band. I kept at it through high school, but gave up when my interests turned elsewhere. I still own that sax, but I haven’t touched it in years. If only I’d known that it could create otherworldly music like … Continue reading Joseph Shabason – Aytche
2017 was easily the most definitive year of my entire life. This year, I became a father. I got married. Everything changed, including the way I appreciated music. It wasn’t my tastes; I didn’t suddenly drop my love for techno and weird jazz to become a dad rock connoisseur, despite in fact making a dad … Continue reading 50 Best Albums of 2017
I just watched Interstellar. I had a great time. I feel like director Christopher Nolan really nailed the feeling he was going for – which, to me, was a bold mixture of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Brian Eno-scored NASA documentary For All Mankind, life affirming earth panorama Koyaanisqatsi, and Carl Sagan’s Cosmos… with a sprinkling … Continue reading Thoughts On ‘Interstellar’
Optimistic Underground 