Notwist
Different Cars and Trains
Domino (2003)
In many cases, EPs of new material from bands who have released prolific albums in the last couple of years are enfuriating teases and rehashes that offer the faithful listener little new material if any at all. It's also difficult to accept an artist's re-rendering of some of your favorite songs. In most cases, tracks are placed in unfamiliar hands and the results are unpredictable, and usually unsatisfactory. The Notwist have done the same with Neon Golden, except this time the tracks are given to familiar bands such as Four Tet, Manitoba, and The Notwist themselves. That doesn't suggest, however, that actual members of the Notwist crew don't do more damage to their tracks than the artists to whom songs that aren't theirs are entrusted. The best part about 2002's Neon Golden is The Notwist's ability to make catchy electronic songs while still staying in control of the original material. In an era where bands like The Faint and The Postal Service retain the indie dance crown via unconscious retrorehashes or densely-programmed iMac beatz, respectively, Neon Golden brought something completely new to the table. One of the best tracks from the album and possibly the best song of that year, … Read more
Ani DiFranco
Educated Guess
Righteous Babe (2005)
Ani DiFranco is, without a doubt, one of the most active singer/songwriters in music today. Since her 1990 debut, she's … Read more
None More Black
File Under Black
Fat Wreck Chords (2003)
Somewhere around the turn of the millennium, Fat Wreck Chords decided it wanted to be the best punk label around. … Read more
In Control
The Truth Hurts
Indecision/Martyr (2003)
When I first got into hardcore, I was exposed to the old shit'you know, Bad Religion, 7 Seconds, Minor Threat, … Read more
