review Archive
20 Jun 2022
Album Review: Allan Holdsworth — Jarasum International Jazz Festival 2014
“In the moment.” That’s one of the phrases bassist Jimmy Haslip employs in his brief liner note essay for this, the latest in the ongoing series of archival live Allan […]
19 Jun 2022
Album Review: Ellen Starski — Sara’s Half Finished Love Affair
Tuneful, heartfelt and impeccably arranged singer-songwriter fare is the stock in trade of Ellen Starski. On the Nashville artist’s latest release, Sara’s Half-Finished Love Affair, she presents a varied set […]
18 Jun 2022
Album Review: Walker Brigade — If Only
If we’re honest, it’s not the hardest thing in the world to create a batch of hard rocking tunes. It’s substantially more challenging to write durable melodies, and/or to create […]
17 Jun 2022
Album Review: Spygenius — Jobbernowl
Those Cantabrigian masters of melody are at it again. Jobbernowl may sport an inscrutable title, but the music is accessible in the extreme. Spygenius’ knowing way with ear candy tune […]
14 Jun 2022
EP Review: Stick Men — Tentacles
Considering the degree to which each of its members is known for other projects, it’s remarkable that Stick Men even exists. Drummer extraordinaire Pat Mastelotto has been on every King […]
13 Jun 2022
Album Review: The Chemistry Set — Pink Felt Trip
For some, the idea of making (much less listening to) psychedelic music inn the 21st century seems anachronistic. I don’t share that sentiment; even without the use of psychedelic drugs, […]
12 Jun 2022
Album Review: Terry Carolan — Flights of Fancy
The music of Terry Carolan first came to my attention nearly a decade ago when I encountered a CD reissue of a 1980 self-titled album by his band True Hearts. […]
10 Jun 2022
Book Review: Wicked Game
San Francisco and the Bay Area have long been fertile creative ground. Even confining the discussion to music, there’s been a staggering volume of important music coming out of the […]
05 Jun 2022
Album Review: Jimi Tenor — Multiversum
It’s a delight to stumble upon music that resolutely resists categorization. That’s the case with Multiversum, the latest album form Finnish musician Jimi Tenor. His chosen instrumental palette suggests jazz, […]
31 May 2022
Album Review: Dopapod – s/t
Interactivity is what you make it. And for their latest album, Dopapod has devised a way for listeners to immerse themselves even more deeply into the band’s unique world. The […]