Reviews (22)

Extraordinary, like Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, Todd Rundgren, Brian Eno, and East Village Pipe
The Magnetic Field's Stephin Merritt reminds me of some other extremely gifted pop producers, or composer/producer/musicians, who gift us with their own musical visions, and have the skills to enter a recording studio and deliver this vision which can then be shared with the listener. Other such music geniuses, individuals such as the legendary Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and Todd Rundgren, the eclectic Brian Eno, and the indie cult performer East Village Pipe all come to mind. All of these men share in common an ability to create music that is so breathtakingly beautiful that it can induce tears of joy in the listener. It also seems to be the case that nearly all of these individuals share in common a history of struggling with some inner demon, or personal pathology. In the case of Wilson and East River Pipe, drugs and psychosis; and in the case of the artist responsible for this fine record, a sense of loneliness and lingering depression. It is clear that while Stephin Merritt appreciates love as an ideal state, as an elusive state of mind, he also finds it very hard to manage. The fact of Merritt's being gay is both incidental, as well as essential (in the sense of it pointing him toward certain types of musical and lyrical sensibilities from the past); hence, there are various dualisms to Stephin Merritt.
Perfect
It really is a pity that such a great album is over looked by more popular albums such as 69 Love Songs and various other Magnetic Field CDs. The thing is that a nasty rumor shot around the world that this album was their worst one ever. I don't really think that's true. In truth, I think it's one of their best. Get Lost is a mix of electrical pop, techno and rock songs all of which are pure Magnetic Field music. This album concentrates more around fast, quick moving songs with an extremely high catchy level.
I got started from a cover
I was listening to this on a whim and when "Why I cry" came on I had to have it!!!If you havent heard it covered, look for a cd under the name All-Time Quarterbackwhere "Why I Cry" is covered by Ben Gibbard (Ben, the guy who did ATQ as a side project, sings for Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service)!!!Anything that Ben covers must be GREAT!Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Electronic    3. Indie Pop    4. Indie Rock    5. Lo-Fi    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Sure, he's had like a dozen albums out since disbandingGuided By Voices(including a comedy album!), but this is Robert Pollard's first major solo release since GBV's final tour, so it's kind of a big deal. Do I need to tell you that these twenty-six songs are an eclectic batch, that some are throwaways and others slices of pure pop genius, that some songs were recorded in a full studio with a bnd and others were plopped down to a hissy four-track in a stupor of some sort? "Dancing Girls And Dancing Men," one of those timelessly simple pop ditties that Pollard seems to write twenty of before breakfast, is seriously worth the price of admission, and that's just track three.Recorded in 2004 with Todd Tobias, Chris Sheehan and Scott Bennett, Read more

Reviews (16)

How many songs a year does Bob write?
A lot has been said about this album... perhaps because there is a lot to say.Given:Robert Pollard is a prolific songwriter, with erratic output (not necessarily a bad thing -- his very jaggedness is part of his appeal, veering from lo-fi gold to psych-pop gems that'd make any second- or third-wave British invader proud), critical love/hate (see pitchfork and allmusic -- neither site can come right out and say they love him for his merits, both harp on his perceived faults).
...his first "real" solo record
I've been a fan of Guided By Voices ever since I heard "My Valuable Hunting Knife" on a local radio station in the summer of 1996. Ten years later I'm still listening to Bob Pollard's work (while a lot of the bands that I was into back then seem ridiculous now)."From A Compound Eye" is easily his best work since 2001's "Isolation Drills".In contrast to his last few releases with GBV, his latest outing seems to keep things sharper without all the layered, (sometimes overcomplicated) guitar parts.The vocals are also stellar.If you're a fan of GBV you'll love this cd.Even if you're looking for some great rock music, get this cd.

very good
every pollard solo album has been worthwhile. this is telling as his best was his first, not in my airforce. therefore to continue at a high level is not easy. after breaking up guided by voices it could have been tempting to force the issue and "let it all hang out." bob does not do that here. and in spite of its length, the urge to command mr. pollard to exhibit a little self-editing is not present. well, maybe a little. he always wanted to do a double album. we are all the much better for it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Bill Callahan is one of a number of performers who present their work under the banner of a band name. It's generally just him, other times with various cohorts along. This set is given added punch and sparkle by the quietly incessant rhythms of drummer Jim White (his rolling foundation for "The Well" sounds like a cowboy gallop across the prairie). Also, it's great to hear acoustic guitars being utilized for music not tied to just folk traditions. Callahan's songs are slices of Americana at its finest--from the Yankee transcendentalism of New England forefathers to the sweep of westward expansion and the chokehold of loss and longing. The first song's opening words are "winter weather" and the closing number's final phrase is "thinking of the future." In between lies just about anything you need. Read more

Reviews (16)

Buy this album.
I love Smog. Smog is original to himself and has a sort of unpretentious tenderness that only he can get away with. His voice is different and even when being simple he is complex. makes you feel the isolation and tenderness of life. life. generally speaking. starts off with palimpsest- a song that makes you feel like we do understand eachother. " why is everybody looking at me like there's something fundamentally wrong. like I'm a southern bird, that went north to long. with winter exposes the nests and I'm gone." not to make this review into some piece to listen the emotions of this album. But I feel like Smog expresses something that no one else can. Using simple melodies Smog can still keep a song interesting. unique voice. touches a dark warm spot. sult innocent introspection. rock bottom riser, rock bottom riser, and say valley maker best songs. a humanship that we understand when we search. lively humbleness and realization. raw yet together thoughts, like someone self assured is speaking from the heart. in touch with nature album. truly amazing.

Hey, this is like Sparklehorse. BUT GOOD!
Heard one of Smog's tracks on a free magazine disc years ago, and without the tracklisting have been hunting like an obsessive since for the artist. When I found out who it was I bought a couple of albums at random (never a good way to do things, I know). However I was pleasantly surprised. Callahan delivers his stoner lyrics with ease and is perfectly accompanied by simple melodies. 'The Well' is a fantastic example from this album - addictive and in the same vein as Peter Hamell's music (listen to it and then put on 'Uncle Morris').
river deep
'a river ain't too much' is the kind of album that creeps up on you. At first it seems that there's not much to it. Simple strummed guitar parts, dead pan delivery, the mood is low key, rather than lo fi. After a few plays this changes and you realize this is the closest you'll get to johnny cash now he's no longer with us. The songs feel personal and revealing. And though the overall mood is some what melancholic, there's no little humor there too.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Sadcore    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Reviews (4)

Really enjoyable psychadelic record that is even more enjoyable if you can appreciate the sound collage.I can't do the long piece, The Bark and Below It, but the experiments are interesting and interwoven.You really probably won't "get" them until you've heard them quite a bit, but the album itself is enjoyable, and it is rewarding when the collage becomes cohesive after you've spent time listening to and enjoying the music.
Not dazzling
After reading the deluge of drool from fans of this band I cracked and bought the album . Got to admit to a certain amount of disappointment .
"Black Foliage" is a harpsichord canvas
Hardly anybody does psychedelic space-rock the way the Olivia Tremor Control do -- and their second album "Black Foliage: Animation Music" is no exception. It sounds like the soundtrack to an acid party on Mars, with their elaborate tapestry of electronica, tape tinkering, and jazzy psychedelic pop. It's one of those rare albums that cannot be compared to anything else, only to itself.
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Subjects:  1. Experimental Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Neo-Psychedelia    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (3)

An exciting American debut
The Figurines, like other great groups such as Blonde Redhead and The Arcade Fire,cannot be easily pigeonholed. Nor should they be. Together since 1995, this is their first American release (though they have released earlier CD's in Europe which can be ordered through any good record store). Tracks 1 through 12 are very strong, displaying their musical and instrumental prowess. The vocals are outstanding.

the best of the retro trend
well, interpol is pretty darn good! but, comparing this to say franz or the killers or futureheads, this record is soild. very solid. there are a couple so-so tracks (back in the day, ghost town. i guess this sounds cool in denmark, here it's just hokey.) the best songs on this disc are terrific examples of great songwriting, performed in a high energy style with an interesting singer. sometimes it's easy to forget that the vocals on any record are so critical. if they weren't i guess we'd all be listening to instrumental stuff. the point here is that though danes, tracks like i remember and the wonder are universal in their immediacy and intimacy. these guys are really close to becoming a majorly great band. tighten up, boys. focus on crafting an album sustaining the lofty highs reached at times on skeleton! and the world will be yours.

david fricke? what band were you listening to?
I love this record.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Denmark    3. Emo    4. Indie Rock    5. Lo-Fi    6. Noise Pop    7. Pop    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

It was only a matter of time before the return of the sensitive singer-songwriter. However, the 1990s style requires that the introspection be broken up with a little tomfoolery. Sebadoh are masters of the game. Lou Barlow is the inquisitive and earnest leader who delivers the heartfelt "Not a Friend" and "Together or Alone" with all the hurt and pain he can fit on his sleeve. Jason Loewenstein is the guy with the captivating guitar line. Put together, they're something like Donny and Marie--one is a little bit sensitive, the other a little bit rock 'n' noise. And just to prove they're a democracy, they give drummer Bob Fay some with his lone composition, the surprisingly tuneful "Temptation Tide." Read more

Reviews (23)

Sebadoh best
Please listen to this dark masterpiece, guitars flow so beautifully into Barlow's words, the sometimes Sub Pop grungy of III disappeared completely, instead we have an Sonic excursion. In my bedroom next to Dinosaur Jr's first three.

My First, Their Best
1994 was a good year. A very good year.
Dirty
This is invariably the best Sebadoh album. It gives you all of the jagged, messed up guitar parts you could ever really need. You really have to love the erroneous discription given below: I am also dusting off my copy of Bakesale, having not listened to it in a long time, and I can assure you that there is nothing hi-fi about it. If you're not convinced, you only have to listen to the first two seconds of magnet's coil to realize: those are acoustic guitars being played through distortion. Nice. I just would have liked to see these guys before they split. Oh, well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

One of the more hauntingly visionary indie-rock artists, Bill Callahan, a.k.a. Smog, writes sparse, poignant songs that shimmer with solipsistic grandeur. His sixth full-length disc, Read more

Reviews (17)

Bill Callahan as Franz Kafka...
I'm specifically referring to the third track, River Guard.He makes every sparse line jump out in importance.He starts by "taking the prisoners swimming," which immediately puts him in the role of providing comfort to all of us having been found guilty.Of course that is part of the human condition as Kafka, Camus and others have suggested.We're born into this.Callahan, the philosopher.His Guard sits "in the tall grass" and looks "the other way."Wonderful simplicity.How conscious he is of this aspect of being in an embarrassing situation and not wanting to be constantly watched.To be given a moment of reprieve.Even without these poignant lyrics, it's a beautiful song.With them, it's a masterpiece of popular music.The chorus seems to ask the question, would we know what freedom is if we weren't born into this existence?No, freedom would have no meaning.He continues the theme within the guitar crunchiness of No Dancing: "there's always some bird dog snufflin'... always some turtle snappin'."Later in the album he sings, "I don't know where I'm going/All I know is I'll hit the ground runnin'."It's the secular humanist and the singer/songwriter at his very best.Listen to this album along with his other moments of brilliance found on the albums Dongs..., Supper, The Doctor..., A River..., and Red Apple...Not only does he continue these same themes, he does it in a very catchy, musical, emotional and often rocking way.And go see (Smog) live.He might provide the "cold blooded clarity" we all need.

Bill is his real name
Yep. That's right folks. Bill Callahan to be exact. The man who calls himself Smog on all his records. A hero to the lo-fi world. An obsessive four tracker in his early days. A soothing easy listening singer/songwriter as of late. Most people don't know that he's been making albums for the past 15 years. A very prolific artist indeed. This album, in particular, is his pinnacle. The best overall work by him. He's come full circle from the early days of the Julius Ceasar LP. I'm not sure what the highlights are to me. Each song flows so well, it almost works as a rock opera epic to me. If I had to pick one I'd say its "Teenage Spaceship." Although being downtrodden it has this tender feeling that not many other Smog recordings have had in the past...or future for that matter...since I'm writing this now and not when it came out. This album is one of his more eclectic works in his extensive collection. He has a band backing him on some songs this trip around. We hear a childrens choir, bill dabbling with alt-country, sax's, and strapping on that plugged in electric. He often gets described as a depressing artist, but this is his most hopefull release or certainly in the running for first place. I don't think Bill will ever dissapoint me. Which is fightening not only from a musical standpoint, but for my wallet as well. If you haven't bought a Smog record yet, make this your first.

I HAD TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY
In the past, Smog has created dark and introspective releases, relying too much on meloncholy and self absorbtion to try and convey emotion. On this album, he takes a witty, almost cheeky, approach to much of the subject matter.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Sadcore    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Reviews (34)

Simply Amazing
I bought this on a whim from another website, and it has become one of my favorite cds, despite its frustratingly short play time. Mr. Murdoch's full length album is out now, and I will be buying it no questions asked, simply based on these four songs. This album has a very simple sound; it is clean and has just the right amount of polish. Orange sky is the highlight of the album, but I never find myself skipping the preceding songs to reach it.

Simply Wonderful
I'm going to only give this EP 4 stars because there's only 4 songs on it, but what an incredible debut. I was in Tower Records yesterday and saw that he had just released his "debut album," my only two problems being "why did it take so long?" and "how come there are 11 songs on it, 3 of which are on his 4 song EP?" What makes this EP wonderful is the combination of beautiful melodies and wonderful lyrics. 'Orange Sky' is the song everyone either knows or has heard on the radion before, but the other three songs are just as strong. It's the kind of music you can listen to on its own, absorbing the lyrics and the music or the type of music you can read a book too. People have compared it to Nick Drake, which is a good comparison, but he may be closer to Badly Drawn Boy or a male version of Fisher. This guy is going to be huge if he puts out music on a more consistent basis. Buy this and enjoy.

I enjoyed it
This album has only four songs, but I think it is rather well done. The songs are simple, but very well-composed and heartfelt.
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Subjects:  1. British Folk    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Rock/Pop    5. This highly praised beautiful debut collection of dark folk songs from newcomer Alexi Murdoch is CDBaby's all time best selling record. (*LIMITED EDITION-GOING OUT OF PRINT SOON.*)   

Features

Reviews (5)

The first non-electronic Mag Fields EP is a must-buy
House of tomorrow is a must buy if only for one song: Love Goes Home to Paris in the Spring. The first time I heard it, on a 45, I cried, as did everyone else in the room. Sure it's another patented Stephin Merritt heart break/love song, but the tone is more final and certain compared to later songs: "I've had enough/you never give me anything/Don't you know love/goes home to paris in the spring?"
12 Minutes of Pop Perfection
It may only be 12 minutes long but it is a perfect disc.Every song is a gem, none more so than the last song.Stephin Merritt writes better songs than anyone else even within the strict formal constraints of this disc(each song is built on a repeating chordal/rhythmic loop).Buy this and Holiday which is better than 69 Love Songs, as far as I'm concerned.

Id love to move in to the house of tomorrow
If you measure how good an album is by the play time, Im guessing your playlist is made up of ...Stairway to Heaven, Heard It Thru the Grapevine and American Pie. Dont get me wrong, these three amazingly long songs areSUPER , but there are some really tasty tunes out there under 10 minuteslong. This CD is holding 5 prime examples.... At one time I lived in areally small town and the big treat would be to go to chapel hill and hangout for a few days with pals. So me and my pals would pile into the carwith snacks and soda and mix tapes and books and just drive and drive inhopes that something fun and exciting would happen. My friend patty hadsent me a copy of a seven inch single that contained most of the songs onthis album, and when we heard the amazing sound of Stephin Merrit and hisbrood it just blew us away. The first track on this CD is Young and Insane,and it instantly became our theme song. We would rewind again and again tohear the haunting lyrics ... "We're young and insane and we're runningaway for the summer..." It was just perfect. The other songs have thesame hauntingly fun sound that you have grown to love the Magnetic Fieldsfor. Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Electronic    3. Indie Pop    4. Indie Rock    5. Lo-Fi    6. Pop    7. Popular Music    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (30)

Well my Brother was right....again
somehow my little brother is capable of reading ppl and reccomending the perfect song to hook you to any band he thinks is pure genius.Once again all he had to reccomend is "so much beauty in dirt" and I was hooked.Now whether or not this is modest mouse's best doesn't matter to me, this is the cd that hooked me and will forever be my gateway to indie rock with such mastermindes as "The Weakerthans" which I highly reccomend to anyone who liked this album.

drink a beer and throw this on
this is my favortie modest mouse cd, first relized they existed when i heard "float on" which is a good catchy song but in no way reprasents their music. i quciky bought evertything they put out. they are original good humor, good lyrics though a lot is ridiculus.next to the "fruit that ate itself" this is a very short album, but worth it. track three sounds like they just got drunk and played a song. it is very good.the only reason this doesn't get five stars is because the last song isn't as good as the rest and track six is good but too f*cking short... this reveiw sucks but by the album.

Everywhere and his Nasty Parlour Tricks
The great thing about Modest Mouse is that they change their style so constantly, yet unequivocally maintain the music that makes them modest mouse. They range from the consistently brooding Moon and Antarctica, the psychadelic Lonesome Crowded West, the lyrically genius Building Nothing out of Something, and a mix of all three
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Ambient Pop    3. Emo    4. Indie Rock    5. Lo-Fi    6. Noise Pop    7. Pop    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Lo-fi no longer, Lou Barlow and friends come on like early R.E.M. with their most melodic, produced and likable album. Read more

Reviews (18)

The genius of Lou
The main thing that has been in the way of Barlows excellent songwriting were other bandmembers. Now also only half of the songs are from his hand while the others were penned by Jason Loewenstein. Loewenstein certainly not is a bad writer, he just is not in the same league as the fragile songs of Barlow.
Different sound, same songwriting
After the semi-success of Folk Implosion in 1995 with the song Natural One. Fans were eagerly waiting to see what Lou Barlow would do next. The result is this. harmacy equates harmony
Prior to purchasing this album, I had heard so much exasperated to-do from other fans about how it was "below" anything else Sebadoh had put out, that I became all the more attracted to it, and knew it was likely to be favored by my unconventional self. Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (13)

It was dropped, simply due to the fact that it was hot
This is one killer album. I enjoyed it from cover to cover and it opened my ears to another style of acoustic guitar in music. Although it is not nearly limited to the strummy strum of Phil Elvrum, the advent of headphones in such situations is helpful, if not only due to the fact that the nuances found in the stereo sound is helpful. Just be careful to not turn the volume all the way up to experience every little nook and cranny, simply because the album is so well paced and varied that you will go from drifting down stream to flying past comets within moments of eachother.
"We Can Sing Off Key and You Can't Do Anything About It".
This should have been the title for this release.This is the absolute last time that I buy something based upon recomendations from strangers - my bad.I have to say that there are some brief snippets - very brief - of song ideas, but no fully realized listenable compositions.Frequently, when it seems like something listenable comes along - there they go again - harmonizing - or so they think.11 minute sonic spectacular?Have any of these reviewers ever listened to Pink Floyd? Or Frank Zappa? let's face it together
Something I realized about the Microphones: They're not that interesting ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Experimental Rock    3. Indie Rock    4. Lo-Fi    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Since so much three-chord punk has gotten stale, this Portland, Oregon trio often strips down to just two chords--which makes those moments when they do splurge on that third precious bundle of notes staggeringly climactic. The Thermals have just one basic melody, but it's a great one, and like the finest bluesmen, their brilliance is in the variations they work over these standard changes. Except these variations aren't solos--they're gradations of emotional tone and feedback burst and Hutch Harris' clearly enunciated rants. There's a political underpinning to this all--the lyrics on the elliptical yet scathing "God and Country" ("Pray for a new state/ Pray for assassination") draws the line pretty clearly. But even here, Harris chooses not to rail against the powers that be, but instead to express solidarity with a likeminded constituency, declaring "History will show our progress is slow/ When we win/ We win in inches." Read more

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• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (9)

Wowsa
The Thermals rip ugly. If you like any of the bands listed up there for "similar artists", I personally guarantee that this CD will be the best six bucks you ever spend. It is a fantastic breed of almost melodious "punk", these guys are no Yellowcard folks.

Great CD
One of the greatest band around right now. All of there songs are fast and energetic. If your looking for a new artist to listen too, the thermals is it. Listen to "How we know" I like that one the best.

AWESOME
The Thermals kick my ass every day with brutal sonic punishment, and I love it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

The Folk Implosion duo Lou Barlow and John Davis offer a kaleidoscope of tracks on Read more

Reviews (39)

I thought I was crazy...
because I loved this CD so much, until I saw the comments below. Nothing to add but my vote for this desert island disc.

Most overlooked
The fact that this album wasn't huge amazes me. Not that quality can necessarily be gauged by popularity, but everyone I've known who's listened to this album has loved it. Songs from this album make it onto just about every mix CD I make and everyone asks about it. I love it. I guess you can tell. You probably will too.

incredible
one of the finest records of the 90's, for sure, it's incredible that it spawned no hits. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (4)

Arguably the finest release of Mac's career
Or at least the best release of Portastaic's career. I've been a huge Superchunk fan for years, but I admit I had written off Portastatic as nothing more than an outlet for Mac to indulge in his more experimental urges. I had only previously owned Portastatic's "Nature of Sap," which, though I enjoyed it enough, was most defintely experimental in nature and I never felt compelled to play over and over. In an attempt to fill the huge void of a lack of new Superchunk material, I decided to give Portastatic another chance. I had read about Bright Ideas on other review sites and decided to give it a shot. Bright Ideas is every bit as good as Superchunk's best material, and Mac has really matured into a first class songwriter. There's not a bad song on it, every song is catchy and memorable. Buy it and keep indy music alive.

Portastatic's second great pop rock album - fans will definitely love it
Portastatic is the new project by ex-Superchunk member Mac MacCaughan. Though I haven't heard any other Portastatic albums and although this is their seventh (wow) studio album, I think I can be knowledgable in saying that this is a great good album. The album starts off well with several great tunes like the title track "Bright Ideas", "Through With People" and "I Wanna Know Girls". The rest of the album isn't as easy to get into, but they'll definitely grow on you. It's kind of cheesy at times, but not so much so that it'll turn you off. The singing is similar to Superchunk although Mac seems like he's whispering with a raspy voice most of the time. Lyrically the songs are pretty memorable if not eventually forgettable. They're relatively simple and easy to sing along with. The production is very good as well as the musicianship. I'm giving this "5" stars because every track here is very good, and the first three songs are great. Not everyone will like it but I think Superchunk and indie/pop rock fans will really enjoy it Highly recommended!
The gray area between Superchunk and Portastatic
Portastatic has always been an interesting side project, prolifically releasing albums and EPs full of 4-tracked bedroom recordings, experimental gems, oddball covers and quirky production explorations.The last few years has seen Mac's "band" picking up steam, offering consistently more streamlined CDs like 2003's rewarding "Summer of the Shark" and the "De Mel, De Melao" EP of tropicalia covers.
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Subjects:  1. Indie Pop    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Always acknowledged as sloppy, laissez-faire geniuses of the indie set, Pavement continue to refine their singles-to-noise ratio on Read more

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• Enhanced

Reviews (157)

Bad
What is this?Worst ever.This should never have been recorded.An embarrassmenrt...

Lo fi go Hi fi
Pavement's last album(or arguably Malkmus' first solo record)sees them embrace a fuller,more streamlined sound that surprisingly (since their initial charm was their roughness)works in their advantage giving Malkmus' songwriting a more refined tone and enhancing the band's challenging musical detours.
bittersweet ending
The best band of the 90's, arguable yes, but many share the same feeling. Malkmus took over songwriting here, as if it should have ever differed on the past albums so it feels more like his first solo album rather than a Pavement record. This album is missing something that all the previous albums had and the strangest thing is that its not missed what so ever. This album is the most endearing work Pavement did in their 12 years of being a band. It's nearly impossible to not give this album anything less than 5 stars because, simply put, this is the album where Pavement sounded like a pop genius rock band. The only thing that is a downer on this album is the fact that it's the fairwell, swan song album. Even with that considered, the material is so wonderfull that you almost forget this is the end of the journey. It's like crying happy and sad at once. Pavement was once sloppy and imperfected which is what made their early records such a treat to listen to and, more often than not, a strange and difficult listen. It's amazing to me how much this is an improvement from the least consistent album by Pavement, which in my opinion was "Brighten the Corners." It wasn't a bad album, just not complete sounding. Terror Twilight is not only a huge rebound, but it's where Pavement shows they were always as good as the Beach Boys or the Velvet Underground. I never understood the "cool kids" who said they liked Pavement's early records and lost interest in the later material. Terror Twilight stands as tall as any of the first three full lenghts and any of the early 7 inches and EPs. The album is so good, that a track by track review is pointless. Take this as a pill and swallow it whole. You won't believe your ears or anything else around you. I'll leave you to it now as S.M. says..
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Lo-Fi    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Features

• CD-single

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Features

• CD-single
• Original recording reissued

Reviews (2)

"Everything Is" excellent
Buzzing, staticky voices open the "Everything Is" EP, followed by a staticky, buzzing drum solo. Neutral Milk Hotel is in fine form here, with frontman Jeff Mangum providing his usual hallucinatory innocence to the offbeat songs and catchy, fuzzy music. vintage early E6
This is a rerelase of the "Everything Is" single from 1994, plus one bonus track, "Tuesday Moon." Although the depth of Neutral Milk Hotel's two full-lengths hasn't really been developed yet, there's some very accomplished songwriting here, and some rather nice lyrics ("Won't you stay awhile? We can close the door and sleep all day"). The best track by far is the warm, fuzzed-out, lo-fi title track, which is clearly the product of the same collective as early Olivia Tremor Control tracks like "Beneath the Climb" and "Fireplace", although a bit more melodically sophisticated. Weirdly, though, Jeff Mangum doesn't really sound like himself on most of these tracks. You can hear the roots of his distinctive vocal style on "Everything Is", but he has something akin to a California surfer accent on "Snow Song Pt. 1", and "Tuesday Moon" sounds more like the crazier side of Of Montreal ("Coquelicot", for example) than anything else. "Aunt Eggma Blowtorch" is not a song but a bedroom sound collage in true, self-indulgent-but-fun Elephant 6 fashion. Crying babies, vocal samples, out-of-tune piano noodling and random assorted noises combine into an entertaining, if a bit pointless, composition.Read more

Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Lo-Fi    3. Neo-Prog    4. Neo-Psychedelia    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Feist's diverse musical talents have taken her on many paths, from band member (Broken Social Scene, By Divine Right) to guest performer (Peaches, Jane Birken) to respected solo artist. Whatever the project, there has never been a question that the Toronto musician is heavily respected by her peers. When the call went out to remix Feist's work, her respected contemporaries were quick to come on board. Such is the basis of