The glass bottom boat of the cultural press
In the news today: Blonde Redhead, Taylor Swift, Paramore, Hayley Williams, Ron DeSantis, Architects, Steve Albini, Nirvana, Succession, Roy Boys, Summer Playlist, Tina Turner, Beyoncé, The Good Place, Succession, Black Veil Brides, Ville Valo, Christine and the Queens, Tour News, Pulp, Mae Muller
Bang Messiah (Smog Veil). Review by Bob Pomeroy.
Hooray For Me (Help Yourself Records). Review by Jen Cray.
Gone Away Backward (Bloodshot Records). Review by James Mann.
The Machine Cuisine Companion Cassette (Anchor Brain). Review by Matthew Moyer.
In the near future, there will be a documentary produced on every single punk scene or band from the late ’70s to mid ’80s. And that’s just fine.
Martin Atkins imparts the wisdom of several decades worth of punk rock self-sufficiency into one book. Except for predictable sections on sex and drugs, Rob Ward is impressed.
Pilgrimage (Southern Lord). Review by Matthew Moyer.
Sport (Sick Room). Review by Aaron Shaul.
Zulu (Kill Rock Stars). Review by Jen Cray.
Happy Songs For Happy People (Matador). Review by Dan Stapleton.
Good Morning, Mr. Good. (54, 40’ or Fight!). Review by Daniel Mitchell.
Color Sympathy (Clearly). Review by Daniel Mitchell.
The Best of Pigface (Invisible Records). Review by James Mann.
The Perfect Little Door (Merge ). Review by Daniel Mitchell.
A Sun That Never Sets (Relapse). Review by Nathan T. Birk.
Owls (Jade Tree). Review by Marcel Feldmar.
Since its founding in 1994, Punk Planet has been one of the most intelligent and honest magazines around, focusing equally on punk rock and progressive politics. Now, Akashic Books has collected the magazine’s most interesting interviews as We Owe You Nothing. Anton Wagner offers an in-depth analysis.
They don’t play major label politics (even sacrificing a full album because of it), they’re not a lounge act, and they don’t want their lead singer to be thought of as a sex symbol. So what are Elysian Fields? Even singer Jennifer Charles and guitarist Oren Bloedow have trouble explaining that to Gail Worley.
Earl is about to learn the Graboids have evolved and are deadlier than ever! Tremors 2: Aftershocks, the 1996 film by the original Tremors creative team, gets a 4k restoration for modern audiences.
Joe Stamm opens for Chris Knight at First Avenue Club in Iowa City, Iowa, and the audience is there for absolutely all of it.
This week Christopher Long is gifted a slightly scuffed, original vinyl pressing of Now & Then, the classic 1973 LP from the Carpenters, FOR FREE!
Just in time for the heavy metal Christmas shopping season, European author Alexandros Anesiadis delivers his latest — a thorough and riveting encyclopedia-type account of the hard-working DIY American bands that created an important underground music scene that’s well worth remembering.
In a beautiful testament to Peter Weir’s vision, the director’s 1985 classic, Witness, gets a fresh restoration from Arrow Video.
Ready for a cold one this season? We thought so! Enjoy, as Christopher Long reflects on his favorite VINYL releases of 2023 — an intoxicating (and satisfying) “six-pack,” to be sure.
Concert addict Jeremy Glazier talked with A.J. Croce near the beginning of his year-long Croce Plays Croce tour about embracing his father’s music and his own while honoring both their familial bond and shared influences.
For Lily and Generoso, 2023 was a fantastic year at the cinema! They select and review their ten favorite films, six supplemental features, and one extraordinary repertory release seen at microcinemas, archives, and festivals.
The hidden gem of the French New Wave, Le Combat Dans L’île gets a lovely Blu-ray from Radiance Films.
