review Archive
04 Jan 2025
EP Review: The Lounge Bar Orchestra – The Incidents OST
I make a practice of not reviewing singles or EPs, as I prefer the longer-form format’s ability to provide a deeper look into what an artist’s about. But rules being […]
03 Jan 2025
Boxed Set Review: Skin Yard — Select
The grunge movements wa – if not a breath of fresh air, then – a break from the slick, spandex-clad, teased-hair lite metal of the ‘90s. Along with a resurgent […]
02 Jan 2025
Album Reviews: Three from Hyperspace Communicaitons
I first encountered David Javelosa while working on my second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave. Javelosa had been a prime mover of Baby […]
01 Jan 2025
Album Review: Johnny Bragg – Let Me Dream On
A bonus post to ring in the New Year — bk. One of the most historically significant vocal groups of the 1950s and beyond, the Prisonaires recorded the original version […]
31 Dec 2024
Book Review: An Ideal for Living
In 2021, Sal Maida edited (and did some fine writing for) a book called The White Label Promo Preservation Society. The book’s conceit was straightforward enough, and quite compelling: a […]
22 Dec 2024
Boxed Set Review: Yes – Talk
Back in August, I reviewed a CD reissue of Yes’ Talk, the band’s 14th studio album, released in 1994. Since that time, I have received another configuration of that reissue, […]
21 Dec 2024
Album Review: King Crimson – Sheltering Skies
The reactivated King Crimson of the 1980s – that’s King Crimson Mk IV for aficionados – represented the most radical overhaul to date of the group’s approach, and that’s saying […]
16 Dec 2024
Concert Review: David Gilmour – Madison Square Garden, November 8
As David Gilmour pointed out to me in our interview — and as he no doubt did in every other interview he held to promote Luck and Strange – it […]
14 Dec 2024
Album Review: Lightnin’ Hopkins – Live from the Ash Grove… Plus!
One of the missions of boutique label Liberation Hall is to rescue from obscurity critically-acclaimed and/or otherwise important recordings. That means that the label is always on the hunt for […]
13 Dec 2024
Album Review: Trees Speak – Timefold
As I’ve observed before, Tucson, Arizona isn’t the first place one would look for krautrock. But in 2024, it may well be the best place. As Trees Speak, Daniel Martin […]