new wave Archive
27 May 2019
Give it a Whirl: Split Enz’s ‘Frenzy’ at 40
A skewed art-pop band greatly influenced by Roxy Music and Skyhooks, today Split Enz is remembered chiefly as the group that featured Neil Finn, later of Crowded House (and currently […]
21 May 2019
A Conversation with Laura Davis-Chanin, Author of ‘The Girl in the Back’ (Part Two)
Continued from Part One… I thought that your citing the Rashomon effect was really effective. Since the book has come out, have you heard — either directly or indirectly —from […]
20 May 2019
A Conversation with Laura Davis-Chanin, Author of ‘The Girl in the Back’ (Part One)
Laura Davis-Chanin is in a unique position to write a personal chronicle of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s New York rock scene. As the drummer in the Student Teachers, […]
16 May 2019
200-word Reviews: Five Vinyl Records
Few people are mas pleased as myself to witness (up close and personal) the vinyl revival. I’m not getting into the warmth-versus-digital argument; all I know is that as an […]
30 Mar 2019
Single Review: Les Techno – “Guilty Pleasure”
NYC post-punk artist Les Techno aims for a dance pop vibe on “Guilty Pleasure.” Don’t be scared off by that description. There’s a gritty feel to the song that places […]
22 Dec 2018
A Vinyl Roundup to Round Out 2018
So much good music has found its way into my ears in 2018. As the year winds toward its close, I’d like to share words on a few of these […]
01 Oct 2018
A Look Back at the Tubes’ ‘Remote Control’
The Tubes were among the most outrageous of 1970s rock groups. With an impressively muscular and underrated instrumental foundation, the group – or at least lead singer Fee Waybill – […]
15 Jun 2018
Josh Rouse is Totally ’80s (For Now) — Part 2
Continued from Part One… How important is it to you to not do the same thing over and over? Is that driven by your own creative restlessness, or a kind […]
14 Jun 2018
Josh Rouse is Totally ’80s (For Now) — Part 1
One never quite knows what to expect from Josh Rouse. The nomadic, Nebraska-born singer-songwriter’s first few albums introduced a musician whose contemplative, sometimes moody songs compared favorably to work by […]
16 Apr 2018
Album Reviews: Cocteau Twins’ ‘Head Over Heels’ and ‘Treasure’
Not to be confused with Thompson Twins, Cocteau Twins were a dream-pop band from Scotland. Between 1982 and 1996 the group released nine albums of original music, including a 1996 […]