Category Archives: Videos/Singles

Crispy Ambulance – The Plateau Phase Released 30 Years Ago

A year ago today Factory Benelux Records released The Plateau Phase, the debut album by post-punkers Crispy Ambulance. Dave McCullough of Soundsgave it a five-star review. “It conjured up, after the second listen, big thoughts like, this is how the … Continue reading

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Orange Juice’s You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever Released 30 Years Ago

The first major releases of 1982 were the challenging, sophisticated soundscapes of XTC’s English Settlement and The Fall’s similarly lengthy, gnarly Hex Enduction Hour. Orange Juice seemed on the surface much lighter fare, but the hidden depths of their music … Continue reading

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The Fall’s Hex Enduction Hour Released 30 Years Ago

Nowadays it’s hard not to take one of the most prolific bands in the history of rock for granted, but thirty years ago, the release of The Fall’s fourth album (not counting numerous live albums and EPs) was kind of … Continue reading

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XTC’s English Settlement Released 30 Years Ago

30 years ago today XTC released their fifth album, English Settlement. They had decided to record something they wouldn’t be able to re-create live, leading to a sprawling, fascinating double album. Many think it’s their best. While Black Sea (1980) … Continue reading

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The Greatest Post-Punk Bands You Never Heard

Interest in post-punk seems to ebb and flow in roughly decade-long cycles since its initial heyday of 1978-84. A fair number of bands emerged in 2001-04 that were influenced by the likes of Joy Division, The Chameleons and Comsat Angels, … Continue reading

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Fester’s Lucky 13: 2012 Year-End Summary

Top 100 Albums of 2012 | 2012 Breakdown: Genre Lists | Shows, Videos | Movies, Television, Books, Comics, Beer & Bourbon Every year is similar in that I get excited when the first year-end lists start coming out the week of Thanksgiving. But by mid-December, I’m … Continue reading

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Sufjan Stevens – Silver & Gold

I have conflicted feelings about Christmas music. My generally positive experiences with it as a kid are balanced by increasingly crass and repetitive use of it as early as October to trigger Pavlovian shopping impulses. Apparently, so does Sufjan Stevens. … Continue reading

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New Album of the Week: Troubled Horse – Step Inside

The Swedish heavy rock scene is on fire this year, with at least nine albums most likely making my top 50. Troubled Horse consist of Jens Henriksson (drums) and John Hoyles (guitar) who were original members of Witchcraft, and Ola Henriksson … Continue reading

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This Week’s Album Rundown

There are a ton of new interesting releases this week, at least thirteen worth noting. At a time of year that’s normally focused on greatest hits and boxed set compilations for the holidaze, some major releases have come out that … Continue reading

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Golden Void

Golden Void’s addition to the Thrill Jockey roster has for some reason been regarded as a surprise, as the label was generally associated with avant rock and art pop releases that have been highly regarded in the indie rock community … Continue reading

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