Depicted by the band’s house emcee, Black Thought, Redford Stephens is the narrating character, a composition of many of BT’s family members and people he and fellow Roots founder ?uestlove knew from their hometown of Philadelphia. Listening to “undun” you hear Redford’s hopes, dreams, mistakes and struggles, all told in uncompromising, uncontrived lyricism from Black […]
Matt Carney
Posted inMusic
Drake — Take Care
My feelings about this are complicated, although I found the record to be a languorous epic that rewarded dividends upon repeat listens. It’s certainly a winsome, good album — probably even a great one — but for reasons ascribed to Aubrey Drake Graham’s sense as a producer more so than his voice or rapping. The […]
Posted inMusic
Musical entity
Amid Gentle Ghost’s signature jarring, distorted, three-guitar assault, singer Seth McCarroll has to work extra hard to keep from getting drowned out. His close attention to storytelling detail and occasional bouts of shouting creates an aggressive tension with the Norman post-rock band’s especially loud style, which mimics some of the destructive domestic themes explored in […]
Posted inMusic
Musical entity
Amid Gentle Ghost’s signature jarring, distorted, three-guitar assault, singer Seth McCarroll has to work extra hard to keep from getting drowned out. His close attention to storytelling detail and occasional bouts of shouting creates an aggressive tension with the Norman post-rock band’s especially loud style, which mimics some of the destructive domestic themes explored in […]
Posted inMusic
Los Campesinos! — Hello Sadness
Their neckbreak rock style that somehow straddles post-rock and post-punk — as best exemplified on the explosive “Youngster …” opener “Death to Los Campesinos!” — no longer catches listeners unaware, but singer and songwriter Gareth Campesinos!’ vocal improvements and knack for darkly comical, hyperdetailed storytelling really focuses this disc’s stories about messy relationships and death. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Inni
That’s only partially due to the Icelandic post-rockers’ otherworldly approach to music. Shot during a two-night stand in 2008 at London’s historic Alexandra Palace, French-Canadian director Vincent Morisset transferred digital footage to 16mm film, then again, through prisms and “found objects,” according to the “Inní” website. Combined with the abstract and always beautiful cinematography, the […]
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Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Police / Def Leppard / Van Halen
In the meantime, however, I’m already learning that I’ll likely come to embrace the kiddified pop culture that surrounds modern child rearing, thanks to these three CDs from the “Rockabye Baby!” crew, whose previous instrumental-only work has covered everybody from Smashing Pumpkins and Led Zeppelin to Björk and The Flaming Lips. Most songs are as […]
Posted inMusic
Philip Zoellner Band — Lean On
Zoellner’s fifth album gets a little schmaltzy here and there (see “I Love You I’m Sorry” and “Running Is the Hardest Part,” specifically), but who doesn’t crank “Don’t Stop Believin’” every once in a while? Embrace it, and “Lean On” will hug you right back with the title track’s rich guitar tone that’s locked in […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Brews for the bird
As each one is different, so is the occasion for which they’re best suited. Here are my picks and tentative plans for this Thanksgiving: Coop Ale Works: Native Amber This guy’s crisp and delicious with a sweet hint of caramel, and comes in a tall, very regal-looking black can. Grab a koozie and it’s perfect […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Brews for the bird
As each one is different, so is the occasion for which they’re best suited. Here are my picks and tentative plans for this Thanksgiving: Coop Ale Works: Native Amber This guy’s crisp and delicious with a sweet hint of caramel, and comes in a tall, very regal-looking black can. Grab a koozie and it’s perfect […]