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in Spin
by
Phoebe Riley, April 2008
Panic at the Disco's guitarist and lyricist Ryan Ross was 17 when the band's debut, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, was released in 2005. Here the babyfaced rocker talks about the band's new album, Pretty. Odd., which has a decidedly British Invasion feel. He also discusses the musical he'd planned to write, recording the album at Abbey Road studio, his platonic relationship with singer Brendon Urie, and his reading habits. Unfortunately, though, Riley's line of questioning doesn't allow Ross to talk at length about his musical influences.
Posted 4:59, 11 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Beth Young
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
David Peisner, April 2008
Musicians have been involved in campaigns since the 1920s, and Peisner recalls a quick history of music and elections before describing in detail some of the more recent political concerts, including 2004's Rock Against Bush tour. Though there's no quantifiable proof of their impact and many claim they're preaching to the choir with their political views, musicians are very active in the 2008 campaign on both sides of the political fence. The article is a long, comprehensive introduction to the subject and an informative rundown of who is on which side this year, but it's pretty much all old news by now.
Posted 3:37, 11 April 2008
This abstract was written by
aaron knoll
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
Michael Azzerad, April 2008
Critics of rock band REM might have suggested that the "rock" label be dropped based on their production since 1996. With nothing to prove, the band talks to Buck about regaining their old mojo and reverting to some tried-and-true recording techniques on their new album, Accelerate. But don't be fooled by all of this talk of the past -- the band has stayed current, using YouTube to generate hype for the new record. Although it's uncertain if they'll return to top-ten status, the band seems happy, and for long-term musicians like them, that seems to be all that matters -- a sentiment that comes across in this relaxed interview.
Posted 3:13, 11 April 2008
This abstract was written by
aaron knoll
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
Charles Aaron, April 2008
Aaron paints a disjointed portrait of Deerhunter frontman Branford Cox, who suffers from limb-elongating Marfan syndrome, wears dresses on stage, and picks fights with jocks. This tender, tight profile gets under the skin, though it's a little loose on his theories about his music. Aaron talks about Cox's childhood in Athens, Georgia and his childhood obsession with Nirvana and gives a bleak account of the way Cox's disease has crippled him both physically and emotionally. "Look, I'm a 26-year-old gay virgin who eats barbecue and watches Braves games," Cox tells his interviewer. His candor throughout the piece makes this article a winner.
Posted 11:14, 11 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Beth Young
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
David Hajdu, April 2008
Hajdu waxes nostalgic about his first guitar, a $24.99 Danelectro that his parents bought him, then continues through a laundry list of guitars he's loved since, including the Gibson SG played by the frontman in his high school garage band. His passage on the religious sacrifice of Pete Townshend's destruction of that same model of guitar is somewhat silly, but his memories of his beloved Martin D-28 and the bands he's gotten to know as an adult in Greenwich Village are worth reading. As he sagely reminds readers, "To be truly great is to be good enough to use a bad instrument."
Posted 11:12, 11 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Beth Young
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
David Browne, April 2008
This cheeky take on the salaries of real people in the music industry is an eye-opener as to just how much variety there is to these entertainment jobs. From independent record store managers who make $22,000 per year to indie rappers earning half a million, Browne capably chronicles the perks and pains of each gig. Most unusual among the career paths are rapper's bodyguards, who make $150,000, and music bloggers, doing surprisingly well for themselves at $35,000. What's unclear, though, is whether these figures are averages or case studies, which makes an awful big difference.
Posted 4:23, 10 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Beth Young
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
Jeff Gordinier, March 2008
Gordinier has just one suggestion for the bands he loves: Quit while you're ahead. After creating one transcendent, groundbreaking album a la The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, it's better to drop off the face of the Earth than to try -- and fail -- to capture that magic again. Yet too often, fans are asked to suffer through a slow decline by musicians who were never meant to achieve the longevity of The Rolling Stones. While his "shot their wad" metaphor is a bit juvenile, Gordinier makes a convincing case for knowing when to call it a day.
Posted 4:12, 20 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Lorie Witkop
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
Andy Greenwald, March 2008
New "it" band Vampire Weekend combines pop, Caribbean, and South African rhythms, and even a whiff of classical music in their genre-defying eponymous debut. How did a band formed in a Columbia University dorm room two years ago blast off so quickly? The band members took a nontraditional path by courting "an incestuous network of fans, bloggers, and music-biz outsiders" through touring and the occasional homemade CD-R. When their popularity grew, "old media" was forced to respond. This cover story will inspire you to sample some of Vampire's Weekend's music -- though if you haven't already, you're probably not reading Spin.
Posted 4:46, 7 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Laura Dixon
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
Nicole Keiper, March 2008
Keiper pens an intimate look at Paramore, a band comprised of mostly teenagers seemingly oblivious to their own success, as their breakout 2007 album Riot! went gold. Throughout Keiper's visit with the foursome, the members of Paramore refer to themselves as a "little band" and admit to still being surprised when they hear themselves on the radio. Their wholesome Christian values might explain the unassuming attitude, but the band knew early on that Christian rock wasn't for them. Now, they're fighting to remind fans and press they're a full band, not just a dynamic frontwoman.
Posted 4:23, 7 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Pinoli
and edited by Brijit.
in Spin
by
Douglas Wolk, March 2008
With his new band, the Jicks, Stephen Malkmus of Pavement is finding a new direction in his settled-down life. Growing up with the California punk sound and skater culture, his involvement in Pavement came naturally, but the band didn't begin with a vision, just the intent to entertain -- until Slanted and Enchanted received critical acclaim. Malkmus confesses his relief at relinquishing his role as a singer and songwriter, focusing on his guitar playing with the Jicks and his family life. Surprisingly open and honest, Malkmus is unafraid to reveal his opinion about peers like Mudhoney or Sonic youth and his disdain for Bob Dylan, making for an in-depth, purposeful interview.
Posted 3:41, 7 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Ceda Xiong
and edited by Brijit.