Jeff Moody

Recent Articles

Stripwax: The Cell Phones stand alone
Stripwax

The Cell Phones stand alone

Chicago-based rockers The Cell Phones, led by an epic frontwoman, are the ones really saving rock and roll.

Stripwax: Everything reverberates with Primes’ “Millions”
Stripwax

Everything reverberates with Primes’ “Millions”

There's only six tracks on this Brooklyn trio's EP, but Jeff Moody thinks they're just getting started.

Stripwax: Mosquitoes are a drag
Stripwax

Mosquitoes are a drag

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' new record, "Mosquito," is an uninspired release to be avoided, just like the insect it's named for.

Stripwax: Slack your illusion
Stripwax

Slack your illusion

Milk Music's full-length debut "Cruise Your Illusion" doesn't quite live up to the hype promised by its initial EP, "Beyond Living."

Stripwax: The Magic Of Marnia
Stripwax

The Magic Of Marnia

Singer-songwriter Marnie Stern has lyrics that make her sound mid-midlife crisis, but what she can do with a guitar is incredible.

Stripwax: Nick Cave cools down
Stripwax

Nick Cave cools down

"Push the Sky Away" goes minimalist, which isn't Nick Cave's best move by a long shot.

Stripwax: Swami John and The Night Marchers go! (and go!)
Stripwax

Swami John and The Night Marchers go! (and go!)

The Night Marchers' second LP "Allez! Allez!" is as good as anything John Reis does. So it's extremely good.

Stripwax: Near-future twin pop superstars
Stripwax

Near-future twin pop superstars

Tegan & Sara's new album, "Heartthrob," puts them on the edge of mainstream success.

Stripwax: Can you even say “Pissed Jeans” on the air anymore?
Stripwax

Can you even say “Pissed Jeans” on the air anymore?

The noise rock band, touring the Midwest later this year, has a new record called "Honeys," a chaotic mix of tracks, good and bad.

Stripwax: Louisville’s Neighbor brings the rock and/or roll
Stripwax

Louisville’s Neighbor brings the rock and/or roll

Louisville trio Neighbor strips it down and brings the rock and roll energy with their new album.

Stripwax: Business Cats rock it lo-fi
Stripwax

Business Cats rock it lo-fi

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs/surf rock amalgam's self-titled album is strong, but flows better in reverse.

Stripwax: “Lady From Shanghai” another failed revolution
Stripwax

“Lady From Shanghai” another failed revolution

Pere Ubu and lead singer David Thomas try to "smash the homogeny of dance," but end up with a hit-and-miss experiment.

Stripwax: Nothing negative about Shy Mirrors
Stripwax

Nothing negative about Shy Mirrors

Rock and roll duo Shy Mirrors' new album "Negative Collector" is a "14-track post-punk racer."

Stripwax Top Ten Elpeez of 2012

Stripwax Top Ten Elpeez of 2012

Jeff Moody counts down the albums of the year for Stripwax, the world's only comic strip record review.

The Stripwax Top Ten Trax of 2012

The Stripwax Top Ten Trax of 2012

Jeff Moody counts down the songs of the year for Stripwax, the world's only comic strip record review.

STRIPWAX: The Fortress of Kowloon Walled City
STRIPWAX

The Fortress of Kowloon Walled City

West coast band Kowloon Walled City's new album "Container Ships" is dark, loud and metallic.

STRIPWAX: No “Koi No Yokan” for new Deftones elpee
STRIPWAX

No “Koi No Yokan” for new Deftones elpee

The Deftones' new album "Koi No Yokan" is clean and polished and powerful, but despite a solid opening track in "Swerve City," but you've heard this before.

STRIPWAX: MOONEATER comes on strong
STRIPWAX

MOONEATER comes on strong

Even if you missed it for free, MOONEATER's debut release is a fast and rocking good time that is not to be missed.

STRIPWAX: Total Victory – “National Service”
STRIPWAX

Total Victory – “National Service”

Manchester band Total Victory's new album "National Service" just isn't enough fun to be anything beyond decent.

STRIPWAX: Kendrick Lamar – “good kid, m.A.A.d city”
STRIPWAX

Kendrick Lamar – “good kid, m.A.A.d city”

Kendrick Lamar is Compton born and bred, and the L.A. neighborhood is his subject, his muse and his constant co-star and on his new, critically-praised album.

STRIPWAX: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Heavy Hand, and stuff related
STRIPWAX

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Heavy Hand, and stuff related

Jeff Moody covers two things at once this week with Heavy Hand's debut EP and the John Spencer Blues Explosion's first release of the decade.

STRIPWAX: The return of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
STRIPWAX

The return of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

More than eight years have passed since the last album from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, but the band picks up right where it left off on "Meat and Bone."

STRIPWAX: You need Police Teeth more than you know
STRIPWAX

You need Police Teeth more than you know

Jeff Moody can't get enough of Police Teeth and the band's fourth album, out next week on Latest Flame Records.

STRIPWAX: All hail the simple rock riff
STRIPWAX

All hail the simple rock riff

Seattle quartet The Unnatural Helpers new album "Land Grab" is full of brilliantly simple, high-energy rock songs.

STRIPWAX: Greetings From Zagreb!
STRIPWAX

Greetings From Zagreb!

Croatian band Joe 4's Steve Albini-recorded album "Njegov Sin" is blunt and relentless.

STRIPWAX: The Heavyweight Gary
STRIPWAX

The Heavyweight Gary

The Gary's "Remains" is a dark, heavyweight rock and roll record that invites all sorts of comparisons.

STRIPWAX: Bard Dylan
STRIPWAX

Bard Dylan

"Tempest" continues on the late-career road paved by 2001's "Love and Theft," and despite a misstep or two, Bob Dylan delivers once again.

STRIPWAX: Kelly Hogan, sweet and lovely
STRIPWAX

Kelly Hogan, sweet and lovely

Kelly Hogan's first record in over a decade, "I Like To Keep Myself In Pain," is a fine document of her endlessly lovely voice.

Stripwax: MEET HER PARENTS
Stripwax

MEET HER PARENTS

Her Parents are a loud, hooky, rollicking young band from London, and new album, "Physical Release" makes for a great late-summer soundtrack.

STRIPWAX: Dark And Light Matters
STRIPWAX

Dark And Light Matters

Highlighted by the skronky guitar and possessed wailing of Vince Presley, Zebras self-titled elpee makes the apocalypse sound fun.

STRIPWAX: Tilts are tops
STRIPWAX

Tilts are tops

St. Louis band Tilts is another riff-tastic record in a great summer for rock 'n' roll.

STRIPWAX: Dear Beverly…
STRIPWAX

Dear Beverly…

New album "Beverly" from corner tavern Chicago rockers The Blackout Dates send Jeff Moody on a nostalgia trip to the college radio days.

STRIPWAX: “Tryin’ On The Outfits”
STRIPWAX

“Tryin’ On The Outfits”

For this week's Stripwax, girls in outfits review the new album from all-girl Portland (no, not that Portland) trio, The Outfits.

STRIPWAX: Twin Shadow of mediocrity
STRIPWAX

Twin Shadow of mediocrity

Twin Shadow's "Confess" is full of style but short on substance.

Review: The Blind Shake with The Mallard at Frank’s
Review

The Blind Shake with The Mallard at Frank’s

Jeff Moody calls The Blind Shake's Tuesday night set at Frank's Power Plant "the most intense rock and roll show of 2012."

STRIPWAX: Michael Render Made A Monster
STRIPWAX

Michael Render Made A Monster

After almost ten years in the business, Killer Mike's newest full length, "R.A.P. Music" is his strongest work yet.

STRIPWAX: Fiona Apple’s Mind is a Rube Goldberg Machine
STRIPWAX

Fiona Apple’s Mind is a Rube Goldberg Machine

Jeff reviews Fiona Apple's new elpee "The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do."

STRIPWAX: The Great Slaughter of 2012
STRIPWAX

The Great Slaughter of 2012

Ty Segall Band's "Slaughterhouse" is a "heavy, unholy racket" that will have you searching Segall's back catalogue for more noisy goodness.

STRIPWAX: The Hives return, but don’t call it “Garage Rock”
STRIPWAX

The Hives return, but don’t call it “Garage Rock”

"Lex Hives" is "pretty much what rock and roll is supposed to be." The high-energy Swedish band (incredibly!) will be playing at Summerfest on Friday, June 29.

STRIPWAX: FOTL’s bold “Plot Against Common Sense”
STRIPWAX

FOTL’s bold “Plot Against Common Sense”

Jeff Moody calls Future of the Left's "The Plot Against Common Sense" the band's "most adventurous and diverse recording to date."

STRIPWAX: Get OFF!
STRIPWAX

Get OFF!

Clocking in at just under 18 minutes, Jeff Moody says the new OFF! elpee is a raw and ferocious reminder that rebellion ain't just for kids anymore.

STRIPWAX: “Urban Turban” needs more funky nuggets
STRIPWAX

“Urban Turban” needs more funky nuggets

Jeff Moody reviews Cornershop's "Urban Turban" with the help of Swami George.

What to expect when you’re expecting Primus

What to expect when you’re expecting Primus

Jeff Moody runs down your need-to-know for a two-set Primus concert at the Rave/Eagles Ballroom.

STRIPWAX: A little less clowning from Guided By Voices
STRIPWAX

A little less clowning from Guided By Voices

The "classic lineup's" second album this year, "Class Clown Spots a UFO," offers a more even tracklist than GBV's last effort.

Stripwax: Santi White strikes gold (again)
Stripwax

Santi White strikes gold (again)

With "Master Of My Make Believe," Santigold has put out another irresistible elpee.

Stripwax: Full of Mezzo-Forte
Stripwax

Full of Mezzo-Forte

You won't find any earworms on this album, says Jeff Moody, but the payoff for Italian band Kash's new album "Full Of" comes in repeated listening.

Stripwax: Go forth and conquer the world, LLTTTD
Stripwax

Go forth and conquer the world, LLTTTD

If you haven't heard of Like Like The The The Death, listen to "Holy Ghostly" and make it your Milwaukee song of the summer.

Stripwax: A pair of Aces in April
Stripwax

A pair of Aces in April

With the help of Hologram Dick Clark, Jeff Moody reviews Jack White's solo debut, "Blunderbuss" and The Golden Boys' "Dirty Fingernails."

Stripwax: SWADDLE ME IN SKRONK
Stripwax

SWADDLE ME IN SKRONK

A super-funk trifecta anchors "Rad Times Xpress IV," the new album from Black Bananas.

Stripwax: Plenty Of Fresh Meat
Stripwax

Plenty Of Fresh Meat

Chicago's Fake Limbs hit hard on new elpee "Man Feelings."

Stripwax: No Bushes to Beat
Stripwax

No Bushes to Beat

Ministry may have returned with new record "Relapse," but Jeff Moody (ironically) just wants the Dubya-days back.

Stripwax: The secret language of noise
Stripwax

The secret language of noise

This week, thee world's first and only comic record review asks a few creeps about the new elpee from Bad Creeps.

Stripwax: Brothers I’ve never had, Friends I’ve never met
Stripwax

Brothers I’ve never had, Friends I’ve never met

B. Hamilton's songs have truckloads of soul and enough American Blues to send Jeff Moody on a rock 'n' roll nostalgia trip.

Stripwax: The swagger stagger
Stripwax

The swagger stagger

The Steady Swagger's "...And They Call It Whiskeybillie" is a rowdy mesh of styles that will leave you smelling of cigarettes and bourbon.

Stripwax: Rabbits and Rock
Stripwax

Rabbits and Rock

A Lynchian rabbit reviews "Fake Infinity", the latest LP from the Dallas-based post-punk synth-rock trio.

Stripwax: The Mark Lanegan variety show
Stripwax

The Mark Lanegan variety show

Grizzled rock veteran Mark Lanegan has a voice like none other, and new tracks like "Riot In My House" and "Quiver Syndrome" demand a larger audience.

Cedar Block’s Solid Results

Cedar Block’s Solid Results

Science and music collide at Turner Hall during the odd but engaging event "Sexy Results: Cedar Block’s Dig for the Higgs and How the Quest was Won."

Stripwax: Tindersticks are for lovers
Stripwax

Tindersticks are for lovers

Tindersticks' "The Something Rain" gets off to a slow start, but the end result is an otherwise fantastic recording, like Roxy Music without the glitter.

Stripwax: Nonagon is a blunt force object
Stripwax

Nonagon is a blunt force object

Fueled by designated screamer John Hastie, Chicago trio Nonagon's "People Live Everywhere" eepee is fist-pumping stuff.

Stripwax: The poet speaks in melody
Stripwax

The poet speaks in melody

Cohen has been singing despite not having a singing voice since (!!!) the sixties, and at age 77, his "Old Ways" are tried and true.

Stripwax: They sold their souls for “The Church Of Rock And Roll”
Stripwax

They sold their souls for “The Church Of Rock And Roll”

Jeff's seat on the Foxy Shazam bandwagon is open after an album too radio-friendly for rock and roll greatness.

Stripwax: AN ALL OUT FUN ASSAULT
Stripwax

AN ALL OUT FUN ASSAULT

With a sound like demolition experts (with giant amplifiers) from outer space on laughing gas, IFIHADAHIFI returns with the "Nada Surf" eepee.

Stripwax: Deep under the influence
Stripwax

Deep under the influence

On a foundation of built by The Jesus Lizard, Minneapolis-based Buildings bring the NOISE.

Stripwax:  Let’s not go eat the ENTIRE factory…
Stripwax

Let’s not go eat the ENTIRE factory…

Jeff and a donut-wielding snowman weigh in on the new Guided By Voices lineup and album.

The Stripwax Top Ten Elpeez Of 2011 (!!!)

The Stripwax Top Ten Elpeez Of 2011 (!!!)

And now for TCD's inclusion to the the wondrous year-end tradition of music list-making: the Stripwax Top Ten Elpeez of 2011.

THE STRIPWAX TOP TEN TRAX OF 2011 (!!!)

THE STRIPWAX TOP TEN TRAX OF 2011 (!!!)

Jeff Moody's top ten of 2011: rock 'n' roll fight songs, sloppy punk rock anthems, TV on the Radio, Kurt Vile and St. Vincent.

Stripwax:  Crooked Fingers sing purdy
Stripwax

Crooked Fingers sing purdy

Eric Bachman meets Lefty, otherwise known as the Biggest Fan this here side of the Mississippi.

Stripwax: 2011 ain’t over til it’s over (!!!)
Stripwax

2011 ain’t over til it’s over (!!!)

Getting your best of 2011 list together? Best put on the brakes and listen to Chris Connelly's new elpee, "Artificial Madness" before it's said and done.

Stripwax: A celebration of simplicity
Stripwax

A celebration of simplicity

St. Even gracefully guides listeners through traces of folk, New Orleans jazz, Western piano-saloon music and ragtime on this American back porch elpee.

Stripwax: A glimpse into the future of Future of the Left
Stripwax

A glimpse into the future of Future of the Left

Lineup changes threaten a shake-up for The Future of the Left's new elpee "Polymers Are Forever," but frontman Andy Falkous still delivers.

Stripwax: Super relax with Atlas Sound (!!!)
Stripwax

Super relax with Atlas Sound (!!!)

Shades of Sparklehorse and The Pixies find their way into Atlas Sound's "Parallax."

Stripwax: Weak Spit
Stripwax

Weak Spit

This week, Jeff Moody hopes for the rock motherload of loogies but instead only finds drool.

Stripwax: The Dead Milkmen – still snotty after all these years and whatever
Stripwax

The Dead Milkmen – still snotty after all these years and whatever

For the Dead Milkmen, every album has (at least) one great song. New album, "The King In Yellow," has "Can't Relax," but the rest, by now, is kinda predictable.

Stripwax: The THUNDER and the ROAR
Stripwax

The THUNDER and the ROAR

In celebration of the new Tom Waits album, "Bad as Me," Jeff recollects a storied history of Tom Waits fandom.

Stripwax: HURRY UP AND BUY THIS RECORD (!!!)
Stripwax

HURRY UP AND BUY THIS RECORD (!!!)

Behind Austin Pitts' shredding guitar and howling vocals, Hurry Up Shotgun harkens back to the best of '70s rock while sounding fresh at the same time.

Stripwax: Uh Oh’s Thrash Racket
Stripwax

Uh Oh’s Thrash Racket

Milwaukee punk-rock band Uh Oh has Jeff ready to rock.

Stripwax: Wilco and the Art of Almost
Stripwax

Wilco and the Art of Almost

Jeff gets some help from Hole's Courtney Love to review Wilco's "The Whole Love."

Stripwax: Some Sad Surf
Stripwax

Some Sad Surf

The Dum Dum Girls' "Only In Dreams" surfs over an ocean of melancholy as lead singer Dee Dee Penny deals with loss.

Stripwax: Uneasy Listening From The Future
Stripwax

Uneasy Listening From The Future

Annie Clark of St. Vincent arrives from a distant planet in the future and delivers a subdued, beautiful, often creepy sonic experience on her album "Strange Mercy."

Stripwax: Wild Gift For A Birthday Grrrl
Stripwax

Wild Gift For A Birthday Grrrl

Jeff pens a special birthday letter to his teenage daughter, and turns her onto the fearless femme rock of Wild Flag.

Stripwax: Almost Jicktastic
Stripwax

Almost Jicktastic

Stephen Malkmus' fifth LP with The Jicks isn't quite on par with earlier albums, but it provides a danceable soundtrack to these waning days of summer.

Stripwax: Trophy Wives + True Blood = Ofcourseandwhynot?
Stripwax

Trophy Wives + True Blood = Ofcourseandwhynot?

Trophy Wives sound like the rumble of 100 motorcycles, and Jeff is of the mind that their brand of ballsy ruckus will fit right in with the werewolf pack on "True Blood"

Stripwax: Victory and Associates, track by track
Stripwax

Victory and Associates, track by track

Jeff heads out to L.A. to talk up Victory And Associates shiny new LP "These Things Are Facts" with two of his favorite little characters, Spike and Blondie.

Stripwax: Red River Delirium
Stripwax

Red River Delirium

Spooky, and somewhere between funeral jazz and Mexicali brass, Mr. Lewis & The Funeral 5's "Delirium Tremendous" is definitely worth your time, folks.

Stripwax: Simple Equations
Stripwax

Simple Equations

Austin based Boy+Kite's latest LP, "Go Fly" is simple, pleasant indie pop, with lovely vocals and production value so clean, it sparkles.

Stripwax: She Put A Spell On Me (And She’ll Put One On You)
Stripwax

She Put A Spell On Me (And She’ll Put One On You)

Imelda May's "Mayhem" has its fair share of great rockabilly moments, intertwined with lush country waltzes and vocals that will melt your heart. No lie.

Stripwax: Bob in Retirement
Stripwax

Bob in Retirement

Once Guided By Voices disbanded, you would think that frontman Robert Pollard might slow down a bit. And you would be wrong.

Stripwax: Teddybears – Fun/Not Fun
Stripwax

Teddybears – Fun/Not Fun

If you like what you hear on pop radio, you totally need "Devil’s Music," the latest LP from Teddybears. If you're NOT into radio-friendly pop, well...

Stripwax: Helms Alee Is A Wooly Beast
Stripwax

Helms Alee Is A Wooly Beast

The Seattle trio's latest LP shifts between sounds that conjure alternating images of rampaging wooly mammoths and nimble hummingbirds. And that's a good thing.

Stripwax: Getting Reatarded
Stripwax

Getting Reatarded

The Reatards tracks are an unfiiltered youthful human expression flinging itself at you, refusing to be ignored.

Stripwax: Low Expectations
Stripwax

Low Expectations

People often settle for mediocrity, which explains the hype over The Vaccines' LP, "What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?" - an apt title for an underwhelming record.

Stripwax: Flower Punk Party, Hey!
Stripwax

Flower Punk Party, Hey!

Do you like to mix juice with flavored rum while doing the twist? If the answer is yes, you'll like The Black Lips' swingin' new LP, "Arabia Mountain"

Stripwax: Man Man, now with 20% more heartbreak
Stripwax

Man Man, now with 20% more heartbreak

Alongside the usual Man Man zaniness, "Life Fantastic" boasts a few songs that smolder in quiet desperation like never before.

Stripwax: Police Teeth Are More Awesome Than Anything
Stripwax

Police Teeth Are More Awesome Than Anything

Could Police Teeth be the band of the decade? If the title of their new LP "Awesomer Than The Devil" is any indicator, maybe.

Stripwax: Tripping Over The Clutters
Stripwax

Tripping Over The Clutters

Short on pretense and long on noise and attitude,The Clutters "Breaking Bones" is a cluster of handclaps, cowbells, loud and obviously tormented guitars.

Stripwax: The Funk Lesson Plan
Stripwax

The Funk Lesson Plan

Bootsy Collins' "Tha Funk Capital of the World" is like a history lesson in funk and black pop culture. It’s fun, it's smart, and most of all, it’s got soul.

Stripwax: Miss Holly And Lawyer Dave Make A Great One
Stripwax

Miss Holly And Lawyer Dave Make A Great One

Wildly diverse percussion animates Holly Golightly's honey-dipped "No Help Coming," with everything from washboards to pots and pans. In a word, it's perfect.

Stripwax: Someone Loves You, Times New Viking, But It’s Not Me
Stripwax

Someone Loves You, Times New Viking, But It’s Not Me

Thin melodic structures, caterwauling and cheap, disposable songwriting: Times New Viking's "Dig Yourself" leads to nowhere.

Stripwax:TV On The Radio Glows In The Darkness
Stripwax

TV On The Radio Glows In The Darkness

TVONTR call on Bowie and Peter Gabriel as an influence, but how about adding Pere Ubu to the mix? They are just one of the lights shining on this new elpee.

Stripwax: THWOK! Goes The Death Set
Stripwax

THWOK! Goes The Death Set

THWOK! is the sound The Death Set makes on "Michael Poiccard," and BAP! is the sound of their latest LP hitting your skull.

Stripwax: Every Party Has Some Pooperz
Stripwax

Every Party Has Some Pooperz

Ray Davies collaborates with a bunch of musicians in homage to The Kinks with "See My Friends." And it's, uh...okay. Jeff breaks down the LP, track by track.

Stripwax: These Vile Times
Stripwax

These Vile Times

There is a sense of uncertainty and dissatisfaction in "Smoke Ring for my Halo" that resonates in these uncertain times, but this is no protest record.

Stripwax: Dood! Don’t Bag On Them Bagpipes!
Stripwax

Dood! Don’t Bag On Them Bagpipes!

Take the Celtic folk of The Cheiftains, the whiskey aesthetics of The Pogues, add some slam-dancing in workboots and what you get are The Dropkick Murphys.

Parts & Labor Hammer It Out Again

Parts & Labor Hammer It Out Again

Saturating noise with melody, Brooklyn's P&L bask in a northern-U.K.-esque sound that almost makes you smell the sea air.

Stripwax: Devotchka is not a Blended Spirit
Stripwax

Devotchka is not a Blended Spirit

Devotchka's fifth LP "100 Lovers" offers a cinematic sound as big and wide open as the blue Montana sky on a clear day.

Stripwax: Truckload Of Love
Stripwax

Truckload Of Love

The Drive By Truckers' new LP, "Go Go Boots", is populated by characters and stories that are written so vividly and seem so real, you feel like you know them.

Stripwax: Detroit Techno Gets All Dirty
Stripwax

Detroit Techno Gets All Dirty

The Dirtbombs' latest techno-heavy LP “Party Store” boasts fun rock and roll party tracks, and functions as a gateway back to the techno you dug as a kid.

Stripwax: Motorhead Forever
Stripwax

Motorhead Forever

If you still lazily throw Motörhead in the metal genre, knock it off. Motörhead transcends genre. Motörhead is its own genre.

Stripwax: My Disco’s Sustained Inferno
Stripwax

My Disco’s Sustained Inferno

My Disco's "Little Joy" unleashes a torrent of white-hot sustain, creating an LP that's simultaneously relaxing and agitating. It's great stuff for your ears.

Stripwax: Smith Westerns and the (merely) OK Corral
Stripwax

Smith Westerns and the (merely) OK Corral

I must have unknowingly absorbed enough of the hype over the Smith Westerns that I built up an expectation level for their latest LP. But that’s all over now.

Stripwax: Two guys named Tapes and Englebert Humperdinck
Stripwax

Two guys named Tapes and Englebert Humperdinck

On their new LP, the oddly-named guys that make up Tapes 'n Tapes weave together multiple layers of genre and sound - and they do it with flair.

Stripwax: Two types of Wire, intertwined
Stripwax

Two types of Wire, intertwined

The best way to describ "Red Barked Trees," the latest LP from Wire: jittery, scissor-sharp, persistent and damn near perfect.

Stripwax: The Top Ten LPs of 2010 (!!!)
Stripwax

The Top Ten LPs of 2010 (!!!)

Superchunk, Elvis Costello, The Magnetic Fields and more: Jeff Moody counts down the official Stripwax Top Ten LPs of 2010.

The Stripwax Top Ten Trax Of 2010

The Stripwax Top Ten Trax Of 2010

'Tis the Season for Top Ten Lists, so here it is: Jeff's Top Ten Tracks of 2010, featuring Ryan Adams, Grinderman and more.

Stripwax: Ryan Adams, Paul Westerberg and Wabi-Sabi
Stripwax

Ryan Adams, Paul Westerberg and Wabi-Sabi

Grab a partner and dive into Ryan Adams' new LP. Here’s hoping you dance like fools, fall in love and celebrate your ridiculously improbable existence together.

Stripwax: Who’s NOT A Member Of The Broken Dreams Club?
Stripwax

Who’s NOT A Member Of The Broken Dreams Club?

This week, Jeff spends some time with the latest EP from San Francisco-based jingle pop group Girls. His take? Not bad. Not bad at all.

Stripwax: Killing Joke’s Otitis Interna
Stripwax

Killing Joke’s Otitis Interna

Post-punk noise monsters Killing Joke sound like they could use a little shot of B-12 on their latest LP "Absolute Dissent."

Stripwax: Holiday Hyperdrive
Stripwax

Holiday Hyperdrive

The holidays are here, and with them they bring loads of new music. This week: Seeland's trippy "Scrambles of Earth" and The Wagner Logic's self-titled LP.

Stripwax: Invisible Hand is your favorite new band
Stripwax

Invisible Hand is your favorite new band

Invisible Hand is the stuff of dreams. This band and this record are both well worth your while.

“National Ransom” : Rich music for bankrupt times
“National Ransom”

Rich music for bankrupt times

This week in Stripwax: Elvis Costello critiques big banks, champions the plight of the working class and still manages not to be overtly political.

Stripwax: I Am Now A Human Eggplant
Stripwax

I Am Now A Human Eggplant

A double whammy! Jeff awakens from his vegetative state in time to list the myriad reasons to love Nellie McKay and why Liz Phair's latest album is um..."fun."

Stripwax: Nellie Mckay
Stripwax

Nellie Mckay

Jeff takes a break from the blog this week and leaves a comic in its stead. This time around: Nellie Mckay's genre-hopper "Home Sweet Mobile Home"

Stripwax: Greg Graffin’s Brain
Stripwax

Greg Graffin’s Brain

Bad Religion has never been my favorite band, but Greg Graffin's songwriting keeps me interested -- he's like the Noam Chomsky of punk rock.

Stripwax: Swans Dive (Once Again) Into Darkness
Stripwax

Swans Dive (Once Again) Into Darkness

The latest Swans elpee is an intensely dark and yet beautiful collection of songs, unfettered by sentiment or superficiality.

Stripwax:The Autumn Blues
Stripwax

The Autumn Blues

Punk legend Jon Langford’s latest elpee "Old Devils" is all about reflection and, to some extent, resignation. The seasonal timing couldn't be better.

Stripwax: Grinderman Goes After Middle Age With A Baseball Bat
Stripwax

Grinderman Goes After Middle Age With A Baseball Bat

Getting old and slowly coming undone isn’t so bad when there’s guys like Nick Cave around to share the pain and lend a little perspective.

Stripwax: Never Mind The Arcade Fire, Here’s Superchunk!
Stripwax

Never Mind The Arcade Fire, Here’s Superchunk!

Superchunk's new elpee is pure, joyous rock and roll energy from start to finish. Rock and roll this good transcends time, era, scene and trend.

Stripwax: Les Savy Fav –It’s A Like Affair
Stripwax

Les Savy Fav –It’s A Like Affair

September marks the end of summer, and the release of TONS of new music. It makes the transition a bit more bearable.

Stripwax: Sxip Shirey’s Audio Tour Of  New York City
Stripwax

Sxip Shirey’s Audio Tour Of New York City

"Sonic New York" leads the listener from place to place with music as big and diverse as New York City itself.

Stripwax: !!! Is All About The Groove
Stripwax

!!! Is All About The Groove

!!!'s latest elpee "Strange Weather, Isn't It?" comes full force and flexes some pretty strong dance-rock muscle.

Stripwax: Mea Culpa
Stripwax

Mea Culpa

Sorry, Toadies : Jeff pens an apology for getting his albums mixed up and waxes on FM radio, the music industry and the anxiety that goes with putting your opinion in print.

Stripwax: Toadies Is The Name Of A Great Track By The Minutemen And A Lousy Band From Texas
Stripwax

Toadies Is The Name Of A Great Track By The Minutemen And A Lousy Band From Texas

I spent a week with this waste of time and resources so you wouldn’t have to.

Stripwax:Drunks, Power Poles, and Salmon
Stripwax

Drunks, Power Poles, and Salmon

A drunk driver knocks out Jeff's power and nearly derails a perfectly good edition of Stripwax about Kim Salmon and The Surrealists. Phew!

Stripwax: Menomena Means Nothing But Innovative Sound
Stripwax

Menomena Means Nothing But Innovative Sound

They take the most seemingly incompatible textures and make them work together. They’ve created a sound that is truly their own, and sometimes, that sound is truly astonishing.

Stripwax: What’s It Gonna Be, M.I.A?
Stripwax

What’s It Gonna Be, M.I.A?

M.I.A.'s new elpee is a mess of electronic trash and poorly thought out politics. What exactly is she doing?

Stripwax: Melatonin Brothers
Stripwax

Melatonin Brothers

Once in awhile, an elpee is so opaque sounding to my ears that I like to re-imagine the tracks as a series of short avant-garde films, in an attempt to make it interesting.

Fan Belt @ Summerfest – Modest Mouse, Miller Lite Oasis, Saturday, July 3

Fan Belt @ Summerfest – Modest Mouse, Miller Lite Oasis, Saturday, July 3

I’ve come to think of Modest Mouse as an excellent studio band, but not the greatest group to see live. By the end of “Bury Me With It,” I began to rethink my position.

Fan-Belt @ Summerfest: Devo, Miller Oasis, July 4
Fan-Belt @ Summerfest

Devo, Miller Oasis, July 4

In 1978, Devo invaded my childhood television set wearing yellow jumpsuits and deconstructing classic rock. 30 years later, they still have "Something for Everybody."

Stripwax: Welcome Back, Devo
Stripwax

Welcome Back, Devo

It’s a beautiful world. We are all Devo now.

Stripwax: Katzenjammer Charm Attack
Stripwax

Katzenjammer Charm Attack

They dress real, they look real nice, they have an elpee that’s as close to perfect as yer ever gonna hear. Norway’s Katzenjammer is about to conquer the known world.

Stripwax: Southern Frolic
Stripwax

Southern Frolic

What's a Southern Gothic? For The Constellations, it's a groove-heavy love letter to the city of Atlanta, and it's got Jeff floating down that hazy memory lane.

Stripwax: What the folk?
Stripwax

What the folk?

After steering clear of folk music for most of his adult life, Jeff finds folk quartet worth listening to.

Stripwax: Gitar cuts up the culture
Stripwax

Gitar cuts up the culture

At some point the guys in Gitar snapped. They decided to suck up the mass media pumped their way, rearrange it, and fling it back at the machine.

Reviewed: Pezzettino @ Verge
Reviewed

Pezzettino @ Verge

So when Pezzettino concluded her new song “Free Fall” with the violent murder of her instrument, I wondered...what WAS that?

Stripwax: Against it!
Stripwax

Against it!

To continue to label this band as “punk” is just plain false. Is a banana a hammer? Is Lady Gaga a linebacker? No and no.

Reviewed: The Wrens @ Sonar, Baltimore MD
Reviewed

The Wrens @ Sonar, Baltimore MD

Fan-Belt hits the road as Jeff Moody takes a road trip to see a rare performance by one of our favorite bands ever.

Stripwax: The Melvins are the sound of arterial blockage
Stripwax

The Melvins are the sound of arterial blockage

Whilst gnawing on a burger that was too large for my mouth, a thought crawled like slow death across my orbitofrontal cortex … why not The Melvins with these burgers?

Stripwax: RIP, LCD
Stripwax

RIP, LCD

This week: Ivan and Natasha discuss LCD Soundsystem and plot the violent death of Ke$ha's celebrity. Just kidding -- I left that part out.

Stripwax: Blue is a Color You Can Hear
Stripwax

Blue is a Color You Can Hear

Jeff Moody waxes poetic on the genre that is blues-rock in advent of the Chicago Blues Festival.

Stripwax: Ask The Dick Clark Poster!
Stripwax

Ask The Dick Clark Poster!

Every so often, Jeff gets a letter from a reader who has a question for The Dick Clark Poster. Here are a few.

Stripwax: The Perpetual Mark E. Smith
Stripwax

The Perpetual Mark E. Smith

Once upon a time, Jeff went and saw The Fall, and they kinda sucked. But that's ok. Their new album doesn't suck.

Stripwax: Amanda Palmer’s Next Act
Stripwax

Amanda Palmer’s Next Act

Amanda Palmer as conjoined twins? Yes please.