The Cell Phones stand alone
Chicago-based rockers The Cell Phones, led by an epic frontwoman, are the ones really saving rock and roll.
May 11th, 2013
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.
May 4th, 2013
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.
Apr 27th, 2013
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."
Apr 6th, 2013
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.
Mar 23rd, 2013
Nick Cave cools down
"Push the Sky Away" goes minimalist, which isn't Nick Cave's best move by a long shot.
Mar 16th, 2013
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.
Mar 2nd, 2013
Near-future twin pop superstars
Tegan & Sara's new album, "Heartthrob," puts them on the edge of mainstream success.
Feb 23rd, 2013
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.
Feb 16th, 2013
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.
Feb 2nd, 2013
Business Cats rock it lo-fi
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs/surf rock amalgam's self-titled album is strong, but flows better in reverse.
Jan 26th, 2013
“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.
Jan 19th, 2013
Nothing negative about Shy Mirrors
Rock and roll duo Shy Mirrors' new album "Negative Collector" is a "14-track post-punk racer."
Jan 5th, 2013
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.
Dec 29th, 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.
Dec 22nd, 2012
The Fortress of Kowloon Walled City
West coast band Kowloon Walled City's new album "Container Ships" is dark, loud and metallic.
Dec 8th, 2012
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.
Nov 24th, 2012
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.
Nov 17th, 2012
Total Victory – “National Service”
Manchester band Total Victory's new album "National Service" just isn't enough fun to be anything beyond decent.
Nov 10th, 2012
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.
Nov 10th, 2012
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.
Oct 27th, 2012
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."
Oct 20th, 2012
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.
Oct 13th, 2012
All hail the simple rock riff
Seattle quartet The Unnatural Helpers new album "Land Grab" is full of brilliantly simple, high-energy rock songs.
Oct 6th, 2012
Greetings From Zagreb!
Croatian band Joe 4's Steve Albini-recorded album "Njegov Sin" is blunt and relentless.
Sep 29th, 2012
The Heavyweight Gary
The Gary's "Remains" is a dark, heavyweight rock and roll record that invites all sorts of comparisons.
Sep 22nd, 2012
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.
Sep 15th, 2012
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.
Sep 8th, 2012
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.
Sep 1st, 2012
Dark And Light Matters
Highlighted by the skronky guitar and possessed wailing of Vince Presley, Zebras self-titled elpee makes the apocalypse sound fun.
Aug 18th, 2012
Tilts are tops
St. Louis band Tilts is another riff-tastic record in a great summer for rock 'n' roll.
Aug 11th, 2012
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.
Aug 4th, 2012
“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.
Jul 28th, 2012
Twin Shadow of mediocrity
Twin Shadow's "Confess" is full of style but short on substance.
Jul 21st, 2012
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."
Jul 20th, 2012
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.
Jul 14th, 2012
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."
Jul 7th, 2012
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.
Jun 30th, 2012
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.
Jun 23rd, 2012
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."
Jun 16th, 2012
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.
Jun 9th, 2012
“Urban Turban” needs more funky nuggets
Jeff Moody reviews Cornershop's "Urban Turban" with the help of Swami George.
Jun 2nd, 2012
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.
May 27th, 2012
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.
May 26th, 2012
Santi White strikes gold (again)
With "Master Of My Make Believe," Santigold has put out another irresistible elpee.
May 19th, 2012
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.
May 12th, 2012
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.
May 5th, 2012
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."
Apr 28th, 2012
SWADDLE ME IN SKRONK
A super-funk trifecta anchors "Rad Times Xpress IV," the new album from Black Bananas.
Apr 14th, 2012
Plenty Of Fresh Meat
Chicago's Fake Limbs hit hard on new elpee "Man Feelings."
Apr 7th, 2012
No Bushes to Beat
Ministry may have returned with new record "Relapse," but Jeff Moody (ironically) just wants the Dubya-days back.
Mar 31st, 2012
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.
Mar 24th, 2012
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.
Mar 17th, 2012
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.
Mar 10th, 2012
Rabbits and Rock
A Lynchian rabbit reviews "Fake Infinity", the latest LP from the Dallas-based post-punk synth-rock trio.
Mar 3rd, 2012
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.
Feb 25th, 2012
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."
Feb 19th, 2012
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.
Feb 18th, 2012
Nonagon is a blunt force object
Fueled by designated screamer John Hastie, Chicago trio Nonagon's "People Live Everywhere" eepee is fist-pumping stuff.
Feb 11th, 2012
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.
Feb 4th, 2012
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.
Jan 28th, 2012
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.
Jan 21st, 2012
Deep under the influence
On a foundation of built by The Jesus Lizard, Minneapolis-based Buildings bring the NOISE.
Jan 14th, 2012
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.
Jan 7th, 2012
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.
Dec 31st, 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.
Dec 24th, 2011
Crooked Fingers sing purdy
Eric Bachman meets Lefty, otherwise known as the Biggest Fan this here side of the Mississippi.
Dec 17th, 2011
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.
Dec 10th, 2011
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.
Dec 3rd, 2011
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.
Nov 26th, 2011
Super relax with Atlas Sound (!!!)
Shades of Sparklehorse and The Pixies find their way into Atlas Sound's "Parallax."
Nov 19th, 2011
Weak Spit
This week, Jeff Moody hopes for the rock motherload of loogies but instead only finds drool.
Nov 12th, 2011
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.
Nov 5th, 2011
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.
Oct 29th, 2011
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.
Oct 22nd, 2011
Wilco and the Art of Almost
Jeff gets some help from Hole's Courtney Love to review Wilco's "The Whole Love."
Oct 1st, 2011
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.
Sep 24th, 2011
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."
Sep 17th, 2011
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.
Sep 10th, 2011
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.
Aug 27th, 2011
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"
Aug 20th, 2011
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.
Aug 13th, 2011
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.
Aug 7th, 2011
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.
Jul 30th, 2011
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.
Jul 23rd, 2011
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.
Jul 16th, 2011
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...
Jul 9th, 2011
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.
Jul 2nd, 2011
Getting Reatarded
The Reatards tracks are an unfiiltered youthful human expression flinging itself at you, refusing to be ignored.
Jun 25th, 2011
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.
Jun 11th, 2011
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"
Jun 4th, 2011
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.
May 28th, 2011
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.
May 21st, 2011
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.
May 15th, 2011
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.
May 7th, 2011
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.
Apr 30th, 2011
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.
Apr 23rd, 2011
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.
Apr 16th, 2011
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.
Apr 9th, 2011
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.
Apr 2nd, 2011
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.
Mar 26th, 2011
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.
Mar 20th, 2011
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.
Mar 13th, 2011
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.
Mar 5th, 2011
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.
Feb 27th, 2011
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.
Feb 19th, 2011
Motorhead Forever
If you still lazily throw Motörhead in the metal genre, knock it off. Motörhead transcends genre. Motörhead is its own genre.
Feb 12th, 2011
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.
Jan 29th, 2011
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.
Jan 22nd, 2011
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.
Jan 16th, 2011
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.
Jan 8th, 2011
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.
Jan 1st, 2011
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.
Dec 25th, 2010
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.
Dec 18th, 2010
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.
Dec 11th, 2010
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."
Dec 4th, 2010
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.
Nov 27th, 2010
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.
Nov 13th, 2010
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.
Nov 6th, 2010
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."
Oct 30th, 2010
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"
Oct 22nd, 2010
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.
Oct 16th, 2010
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.
Oct 9th, 2010
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.
Oct 1st, 2010
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.
Sep 22nd, 2010
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.
Sep 15th, 2010
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.
Sep 8th, 2010
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.
Sep 1st, 2010
!!! Is All About The Groove
!!!'s latest elpee "Strange Weather, Isn't It?" comes full force and flexes some pretty strong dance-rock muscle.
Aug 25th, 2010
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.
Aug 18th, 2010
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.
Aug 11th, 2010
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!
Aug 4th, 2010
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.
Jul 28th, 2010
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?
Jul 21st, 2010
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.
Jul 14th, 2010
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.
Jul 7th, 2010
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."
Jul 7th, 2010
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.
Jun 30th, 2010
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.
Jun 23rd, 2010
What the folk?
After steering clear of folk music for most of his adult life, Jeff finds folk quartet worth listening to.
Jun 16th, 2010
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.
Jun 10th, 2010
Pezzettino @ Verge
So when Pezzettino concluded her new song “Free Fall” with the violent murder of her instrument, I wondered...what WAS that?
Jun 8th, 2010
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.
Jun 2nd, 2010
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.
May 28th, 2010
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?
May 25th, 2010
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.
May 19th, 2010
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.
May 12th, 2010
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.
May 4th, 2010
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.
Apr 27th, 2010
