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in Pitchfork
by
Amanda Petrusich, 12 May 2008
Scarlett Johansson is branching out from acting with her debut record, Anywhere I Lay My Head, a collection of ten Tom Waits covers and one original. Produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek and featuring guest performances by the likes of David Bowie, the album is described by Johansson as more of a valentine to Waits' work and for those she collaborated with rather than a debut album. By recording in the bayou in Louisiana, Johansson and friends managed to capture a mugginess that honors both the area and Waits. This conversational interview shows Johansson as a down-to-earth music fan dabbling seriously in a second artistic discipline.
Posted 1:06, 13 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Francis Merlie
and edited by Brijit.
in Pitchfork
by
Mark Richardson, 8 May 2008
With music fans increasingly refusing to accept art as a passive medium, many artists are attempting to make their music an interactive experience. Radiohead is the latest band to embrace the trend, offering the "stems" (bass, vocals, guitar, strings/FX, and drums) of the single Nude to those wishing to remix the track. As a result of the enthusiastic embrace of the concept, Nude landed on the popular charts, and more than 2,000 remixes were submitted to the Radiohead site, where they can be viewed and voted upon. Richardson suggests several remixes worth a listen, though his commentary is only sporadically entertaining.
Posted 3:49, 9 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in Pitchfork
by
Stephen M. Duesner, 2 May 2008
Hot off the release of her most recent album, From the Valley to the Stars, El Perro del Mar's Sarah Assbring delves into a discussion about her musical inspirations, recording process, the meaning of her band name, and the excitement of touring with the likes of TV on the Radio and Jens Lekman. Placing depth over breadth of topics, Assbring attempts to illuminate her musical and spiritual influences in all their complexities. The result is a discussion that truly adds character to her music, giving a greater context and power to her unique album "trying to mix ... the pop and the liturgical music worlds."
Posted 4:33, 5 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.
Subjects/Tags:
arts,
Despite their growing international popularity, it is a rarity to hear the words of Boris, the Japanese noise-rock titans. Atsuo Mizuno tackles questions about the band's newest album, Smile, the exhausting tolls of touring, the band's international and domestic image, and even manga. The resulting glimpse is of a creative group that has reached a point where they are able to branch out, relax, and explore even more experimental styles and structures. This interview is worth a read, both for its rare peek at the creative force behind the albums, but also for its discussion of Japanese musical and cultural complexity.
Posted 4:39, 29 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.
Rather than employing the heavy-handed rhetoric common in music criticism, Ewing subtly weaves together five vignettes to make his point. The result is an essay that allows a wide range of interpretation, potentially focused on any of the small (and unstated) themes on the nostalgic 1970s list. From songs by Bruce Springsteen and Roy Harper to the Reading Festival lineup from 1976 and two pieces from rock critics, Ewing provides enough details to do each piece justice, but leaves the commentary sparse enough to let each shine by itself.
Posted 4:08, 28 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.
in Pitchfork
by
Ryan McPhun, 24 April 2008
Ryan McPhun, frontman of the New Zealand psych-pop outfit the Ruby Suns, offers an rather standard round of current favorites. The list does offer a few entertaining nuggets, such as his backhanded compliment of the movie Transformers (and its sound editing) as "good, but it's crap," or his attempt to explain the television show The Mighty Boosh. However, more often than not, the piece is repetitive or rambling, with unremarkable commentary and elaboration on his picks.
Posted 10:01, 25 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.
in Pitchfork
by
Stephen M. Deusner, 22 April 2008
David Pajo talks about his latest project in this almost-interesting Q&A. Subjects include: how the band got together (idea born during a Slint reunion tour), their influences (old-school metal), and how their new album, Attack, differs from their first EP (more aggressive, better production). He also discusses their "weird" back-cover art, a photo of the band distorted to make them look inbred. The most telling quote from Pajo: "In my entire life I never set out to do anything ground-breaking or pioneering, and I'm not going to start anytime soon".
Posted 4:24, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Guido van den Anker
and edited by Brijit.
in Pitchfork
by
Mike Carriere, 21 April 2008
Carriere sits down with indie crush band She & Him, the duo of M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel. Deschanel, the singer in the pair, confesses her initial nervousness when beginning the collaboration. Ward discusses finding inspiration in older music and his support for Obama's presidential bid. But aside from Ward's reflection that he hopes his "own personal history lines up with musical history," the interview brings little to the table that fans wouldn't already know.
Posted 10:53, 23 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Laura Sorensen
and edited by Brijit.
in Pitchfork
by
Pablo Dias-Reixa, 17 April 2008
Known for making hypnotic sample-based electronica that paradoxically feels familiar and completely unique, Spain's El Guincho (Pablo Días-Reixa) lists some interesting anecdotes and his current favorites -- including a cherished piece of percussive wood. Given his eclectic taste and exposure to more European artists, his list of musical recommendations is a refreshingly diverse sampling, guaranteed to grant new finds to even the most well-versed audiophile. Días-Reixa doesn't just write a list but also discusses the meaning of the sounds to him and the way they influence his work.
Posted 10:11, 22 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.
in Pitchfork
by
Nate Patrin, 15 April 2008
Deftly manipulating descriptions and eloquently illustrating sonic landscapes, Patrin makes an excellent case for why every album on this list has been criminally overlooked. However, his defense does not stop at these individual outputs; instead, he attempts to counter the trendy belief that hip-hop is a dying art. His picks span the range of "Wu-Tang alumni, Stones Throw roster members, conscious Midwestern rap and an album that got most of its exposure on Cartoon Network," showing both the range and strength of modern hip-hop lyricism and production.
Posted 4:49, 16 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Blickenstaff
and edited by Brijit.