The problem with writing about something like the Troubleman Mix-Tape is that not only is it a compilation, it's a fucking huge compilation. Something like 50 bands contributed to this 2-disc set, which really is arranged more like a mix-tape from Troubleman's humble owner. You've got everything on here from spazzy hardcore to pained emo to lo-fi ( Read more... )

Before talking about Wire - Send -- which, I guess, was their comeback album -- I think I should mention something: I have never heard their "classic" "Pink Flag". I know, kill me now, take away all my cred, etc. But that's just the way it worked out. In 1993 or 94 I guess I was, for some reason, a subscriber (or freebie sub? or maybe I bought it? ( Read more... )

I have tons of CDs I've never bothered to rip for whatever reason. As such, many of them I have not listened to for years. Some of them I've probably not played since before moving to Russia, nearly six years ago. Now while I obviously kept all these discs because I liked them c. end-2001, some of them probably don't necessarily merit another ( Read more... )

I first saw the movie Kids on a pirate VHS cassette overdubbed in Russian sometime in late 1996 or early 1997. I think I probably had the Kids soundtrack earlier, probably based on the strength of the Folk Implosion song "Natural One". In the decade plus since, I have seen the movie once or twice more, but have listened to the soundtrack dozens, if ( Read more... )

I have tons of CDs I've never bothered to rip for whatever reason. As such, many of them I have not listened to for years. Some of them I've probably not played since before moving to Russia, nearly six years ago. Now while I obviously kept all these discs because I liked them c. end-2001, some of them probably don't necessarily merit another ( Read more... )

Spending my middle school years listening to 96.7 WLUV "THE HEAT" FM was often a mistake. Particularly during the weekdays. But on Friday and Saturday nights, for an hour or two, semi-amateur DJ Mark Snodgrass came on, somehow having the only live, locally-broadcast show on this satellite radio network. And from what I recall, he often opened with ( Read more... )

I've long made the argument that in the case of the Violent Femmes, there are only two albums you need: their self-titled debut, and Add It Up (1981-1993), their best of. In high school I listened to this best of so much, that coming back to it now is like revisiting an old friend. I know every song on here by heart, and could play the entire ( Read more... )

I have tons of CDs I've never bothered to rip for whatever reason. As such, many of them I have not listened to for years. Some of them I've probably not played since before moving to Russia, nearly six years ago. Now while I obviously kept all these discs because I liked them c. end-2001, some of them probably don't necessarily merit another ( Read more... )

I'm glad that Two Lone Swordsmen wasn't the only winner this week, as I wasn't so pleased with it. Revisiting the 2001 double-album Unwound - Leaves Turn Inside You was much more up my alley. I don't recall being obsessed with it when it came out, but I recall liking it. Moreover, I had no real memory of how it sounded. The how it sounds question ( Read more... )

I was actually looking forward to listening to Two Lone Swordsmen - Further Reminders, as I somewhat randomly ended up with mp3s of From The Double Gone Cathedral on my iTunes, and I like how their weird lo-fi nature reminds me of The Fall. The odd thing about when I got those tunes though, was that I recalled TLS as an electronic band, not a ( Read more... )