Just reviewed Mercury Rev’s marvelous new album The Light In You for Whisperin’ & Hollerin’. You can read it here.
The album is out on Bella Union Records on October 2nd.
I am really looking forward to seeing the band on their one and only date in Italy at the Bronson Club in Ravenna in November.
Here is the video to the single. Are You Ready? is the question. Yes is the answer.
White Hills got a cameo spot in Jim Jarmusch’s Vampire flick ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ and being a cult band in a cult movie is as close to superstardom as they are likely to get.
Undeterred by a lack of mass following, they continue to put out great albums, the latest Walks For Motorists (which I reviewed for Whisperin’ & Hollerin), is well represented in the show tonight. From it, they kick off with the punchy No Will which morphs into the motorik drone of Lead The Way. Continue reading
Just enjoyed reviewing Uncle Tupelo’s No Depression which is reissued tomorrow for the second time.
This time around it has gained the prestigious status of a Sony Legacy Edition and is bulked out to a hefty 35 track double CD.
Many of such releases aim to get punters to buy records they already have, often with some scrappy outtakes that never made the final cut for a good reason. This Sony product, however, includes tracks that any true fan of Alternative Country (whatever that is) needs to hear.
The rough around the edges demos prove what a dynamic band UT were in their day – full of youthful punk attitude yet had a healthy respect for the rebel music of the past. Blues Die Hard is particularly great and ,for once, the alternate takes merit inclusion.
The whole package had me listening again to Uncle Tupelo’s back catalogue along with The Flying Burrito Brothers & Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music. Alt.Country’s not Dead.
Check out the grainy quality of Uncle Tupelo’s first TV appearance and feel the energy:
In 2013 I wrote 170 reviews for the webzine Whisperin’ & Hollerin’, an average of just over 14 a month.
In terms of the total releases overall this is a drop in the ocean but for what it’s worth these were my favourite ten albums together with some honourable mentions.
There are links to my reviews of you want to know why.
1. MUTUAL BENEFIT – Love’s Crushing Diamond
2.ÓLöF ARNALDS – Sudden Elevation
3. ANNABELLE CHVOSTEK – Rise
4. ORLA WREN – Book Of The Folded Forest
5. OLIVER COATES – Towards A Blessed Island
6. SAM AMIDON – Bright Sunny South
7. ALASDAIR ROBERTS & FRIENDS – A Working Wonder Stone
8. ADAM STAFFORD – Imaginary Walls Collapse
9. VARIOUS ARTISTS – The Outer Church
10. SAMARIS – Samaris
BUBBLING UNDER – 10 HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order)
Inspired by the single on One Little Indian records by Big Hard Excellent Fish which I reviewed today, I compiled my own random Sunday list of pet hates:
 | Anonymous on No tears for Mark Lanegan |
 | MaleFriends on IN PRAISE OF THE HAIRY CHEST |
| Anonymous on COPYCAT KILLER IN DUMB MOVIE |
