A daily, usually vulgar, music blog focused on psychedelic, shoegazing, space rock, folk, post rock, hauntology, ambient/noise, and related genres.
I’ve been violently cranking Religious Knives as of late. I saw them once with, I think, Wizzardz (a Lightning Bolt side project). Or maybe it was Zodiac Mountain. I don’t remember. Either way, Religious Knives is boss, and reminds me of one of my forgotten favorites – Loop. More on that in a bit. Continue reading ‘Keepin’ It Evil with Loop and Religious Knives’
**For maximum effect, please read the opening paragraph with the inflection of a radio theater narrator circa 1955 or so**
When we last left our heroes, Kenny Bloggins and friends were destroying the paradigm of lame and old hat record reviews with a critique of Microcastle in real-time, before your very eyes. After careful consideration and a positive response from readers, the real-time review is back for another go with Weird Era Cont. Keep your dial locked to this station for keen adventure that can only be described as 23 skidoo! For you listening at home, feel free to follow our friends’ frolic on Last.fm. Continue reading ‘Deerhunter – Weird Era Cont. Review (In Real Time)’
Inspired by the Deerhunter blog debacle that unfurled before everyone’s eyes in real time last week, I’d like to review the new Deerhunter stereophonic delight Microcastle also in real time. Microcastle is available now on iTunes, and will be realized in the third dimension on October 28, courtesy of the smartest people alive – Kranky Records. Mashin’ play… Continue reading ‘Deerhunter – Microcastle Review (In Real Time)’
For your consideration, The Decibel Tolls is unveiling a new album rating system that will not only demonstrate an album’s creativity, musical or cultural importance, relevance, or otherwise, but also make reading album reviews fun again. This blog refuses to use the cliched “how many stars did it get” method, or the completely arbitrary number-with-decimal-point system, wherein Pitchfork reviewers are somehow able to judge an album’s vitality within a scale of 100 metrics (0.0 to 10.0). Continue reading ‘The New Decibel Tolls Album Rating System Unveiled’
As people who know me personally are aware, the music venue where I worked (booking and promoting) for 2.5 years was torn down in my old stomping ground of Lexington, Ky. It feels like a death in the family. Not only did I basically live there for that period of time (I had groceries in our office, I often slept there), but it was such a critical stepping stone in my life that offered connections, experience, and memories during such a vital, transitional phase in my life. It was called The Dame, and it was laid to rest on August 19. The club’s manager, Nick, has been trying to relocate the business, but the prospects are looking dismal.
Thanks to Backseat Sandbar for this horrendous photo:
Continue reading ‘A Death in the Family – The Dame Music Hall’
As promised earlier this week, here are two classic My Bloody Valentine shows conveniently ZIP archived. These were sent to me by a DT reader and fellow shoegaze ripper. For the sake of comparison, listen to these recordings, then play a track or two from the MBV v2.0 London bootlegs, found here. Virtually no difference, as a “reunion” tour should be (but usually isn’t).
Lookin’ at… lemme see… one month and four days until the Aragon Ballroom in Uptown Chicago is duly leveled. It will be horrible. The National Guard might get called in. Continue reading ‘Two Classic My Bloody Valentine Shows’
I haven’t heard it yet, since I’m typing this very post from work and the tyrants have firewalled all streaming content, but you probably can (and should) go on and czech the new Brian Wilson jam That Old Lucky Sun from now until Sept. 1 (the day before its release). And, for whatever reason, it’s USA Today that has the jump on this. So go here and let me know how it is. I’ll be right here.
While you’re groovin’ high, I suppose you can also peruse all the hawtttt celebrity gossip USA Today is wont to publish. The article has a nice little timeline available to read so you can get to know B Dubs a little better, though it curiously omits the most fun part of his life – flipping out and building a sandbox around his piano. I hope that That Old Lucky Sun is awesome, but being released to USA Today first doesn’t bode well for its potential awesomeness.
I actually had the pleasure of hearing Brian Wilson speak at a panel during the CMJ Music Marathon 2004 in New York City, right before the Smile sessions were released. He seemed like a nice man. Though he was the keynote speaker that day, he didn’t say much. At all. Whatsoever. Van Dyke Parks did most of the talking, and he would occasionally lean over to Brian and say “isn’t that right, Brian.” “Yes, yes, I remember that. Very fun. Making music. Fun.” It was weird. But it was awesome, too.
Pics or it didn’t happen:
Continue reading ‘New Brian Wilson Streaming Online, New Verve Also Streaming (and Kinda Sucks)’
Whereas Mr. Beast was good, but not as remarkable as their earlier efforts, Mogwai is shaping up to release something really special next month if “Batcat” and “Devil Rides” are any indication.
I was totally psyched when I heard that the the mighty Roky Erickson, legendary psychedelic cult hero, was going to appear on the new Mogwai jam hive The Hawk is Howling, already notorious for its most triumphant track listing and flea market-worthy cover art. It’s quite amazing that Roky is not only still alive, but making music today (though most of it is only a shadow of the 13th Floor Elevators’ reach). I mean, how many languages can you say “fuck yeah” in? I can only say it in one, and that’s English, so I will commence into cheering a loud “fuck yeah” for (probably) the most important duet since Michael Jackson and Eddie Murphy’s “Whatzupwitu.” Continue reading ‘Mogwai meets the 13th Floor Elevators’
I’ve got a lot going on this week, so look out. I’m currently working on two different interviews, as well as a relatively in-depth essay on the use of non-commercial broadcast in music. I have a special surprise to unleash this weekend to celebrate the “Holy Shit! My Bloody Valentine is only a month away” event. I also have an advance of the Verve album and will probably post a couple of the songs that don’t bum me out. For funs, I found this really nerdy seven freakin’ page (single space) analysis I wrote about Boards of Canada’s Geogaddi album when I was 18. In my defense, I was on adderall when I wrote it. I’m usually not that intense. So, good stuff comin’ up on The Decibel Tolls just in time for fall sweeps.
Also of note, next week is my birthday. Thursday, specifically. It’s gonna be ballin’ outta control.
Continue reading ‘Special Comment from Kenny Bloggins’
Not to be one of those morons that likes to be nostalgic about the ’80s even though your hippocampus was not developed enough to hold many memories of it because you were fuckin’ five years old… BUT, if you were born in 1984 like me, the Flintstones Vitamins jingle has been permanently burned into your cerebral cortex. The person who wrote it made a lot of money, I’m sure. As such, every time I think of the band Growing, this melody pops in my head. Not exactly the tune you want to have circulating in your dome whilst Growing is ripping a hole in the sky immediately above you. Continue reading ‘10 Million Strong and Growing’
