New Order
Waiting for the Sirens' Call
Warner Bros. (2005)
The past year or two have been interesting times for bands that mattered more in the 80's. In 2004, The Cure and Morrissey both released albums that earned them more attention (read: blind praise) than they'd seen in years. Apparently, 2005 marks New Order's turn. The term "washed up" once again comes to mind, but to me it seems like … Read more
New York Dolls
One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This
Roadrunner (2006)
Okay, let's run down the list, shall we? Billy Murcia (1951 - November 6, 1972) Johnny Thunders (July 16, 1952 - April 23, 1991) Jerry Nolan (May 7, 1946 - January 14, 1992) Arthur "Killer" Kane (February 3, 1949 - July 13, 2004) For you young'uns out there bear in mind - those dates signify deaths, not roster changes. For … Read more
NEW YORK JUNK
DREAMING EP
Tar Beach Music (2021)
Hand-tossed New York pizza is served traditionally with a specially blended, highly guarded-in-secrecy sauce and topped with a healthy dose of mozzarella cheese. The wedge of delight is easily folded and shoved down your gullet. Feel it as it slides over your pallet barely touching your incisors, molars, and eye teeth.Standing on any New York street corner chewing out a … Read more
Newspapers
Lakeview EP
Montgomery (2007)
Before even listening to Newpapers' Lakeview EP, everything about them screams, "Hate me." It could be the fact that their album cover seems to be like a bad Simpsons rip-off, featuring a lake spewing out things like an old love bus, a factory, and what one can only assume are cheap beer cans with angel wings. It could also be … Read more
Nick 13
Self Titled
Sugar Hill (2011)
Many were intrigued when Tiger Army frontman, Nick 13, first announced he’d be releasing a solo country album. It was a sound that fans were already familiar with from Tiger Army songs like “Outlaw Heart” and “The Long Road.” However, I’m not sure everyone was prepared for the genuine country vibe that Nick 13 managed to execute on this record. … Read more
Nick Cave
The Complete Lyrics 1978–2022
Penguin Publishing (2022)
The staying power of music is partly due to how timeless the lyrics are as they capture confused or illicit passions and channel love, lust, rage, desperation and everything in between. Ideally, lyrics are like paintings as colorful images are painted with language, altering and changing whatever preconceived notions the listener might have. One of the finest contemporary songwriters is … Read more
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Ghosteen
Bad Seed LTD. (2019)
There’s nothing more personal than grief. It affects us all in different ways, but the one commonality often tends to be the insular. We retreat into ourselves, finding little comfort in the company of others. It’s selfish, in a way. But it’s also a necessary part of the grieving process.It’s this truism that makes Ghosteen such a remarkable and selfless … Read more
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
One More Time With Feeling
Independent (2016)
There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief - that is how ancient Greek tragedians put it. Grief and beauty. Parallels between the literate wisdom, apocalyptic imagery, emotional and romantic density and weight in Cave’s oeuvre and the emissions of the ancient Greek are manifold. The expression of love that no pain can erode.One … Read more
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Push The Sky Away
Bad Seed LTD. (2013)
Nick Cave is an uncaring bastard.He doesn't care if you buy his new album Push The Sky Away, nor does he care if you like it. Of course, this is not what makes him a great artist. What makes him a great artist is the uncompromising nature of his work. The man does whatever the hell he wants to, and … Read more
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Skeleton Tree
Bad Seed LTD. (2016)
When it was announced that Nick Cave was releasing a new album Skeleton Tree to accompany the release of his documentary One More Time With Feeling, it felt decidedly unnatural for a couple of reasons – first and foremost, marketing tie-ins don’t really come to mind, when it comes to an artist like Cave. And two, it was all coming … Read more
Nick Jaina
Primary Perception
Fluff & Gravy Records (2013)
Nick Jaina added a full length album to an already impressive and diverse portfolio of sound in April of this year. Primary Perception joined a repertoire of 8 albums (available on bandcamp), multiple scores for theater, dance, and film, and a collection of prose and poetry. Taking into account his many diverse talents and works,Primary Perception is surprisingly focused and … Read more
Nick JD Hodgson
Tell Your Friends
Prediction Records (2018)
Erstwhile Kaiser Chief Nick Hodgson has spent the past five years penning songs for the likes of Mark Ronson and Shirley Bassey, basking in being out of the limelight and no longer having to endure a punishing touring schedule as part of one of the UK’s most successful indie bands. The 40-year-old spent much of his 20s and 30s perched … Read more
Nicole Atkins
Bleeding Diamonds
Columbia (2006)
What is it with the recent explosion of male singer/songwriters? Almost like buses, none show up for ages and then all of a sudden a billion swarm you and the one that everyone jumps onboard turns out to be James Blunt. And where have all the female singer/songwriters gone? It seems that when there is a rise in one sex … Read more
Niecy Blues
Exit Simulation
Kranky (2023)
The allure of ambient music and its applications in pop structures has always been an important topic for Niecy Blues. It has been a conjunction that the artist has been playing with on shorter releases, in both the 2020 EP CRY and the 2021 single Bones Become The Trees. But, it is with this full-length in Exit Simulation, that Blues … Read more
Night Birds
Born To Die In Suburbia
Grave Mistake (2013)
Releasing the 7” teaser Maimed for the Masses certainly helped introduce the increasingly prominent surf guitar in Night Birds. Still, the opener “Escape from New York” is a holy shit moment as it perfectly blends surf lines with punk aggression. After their debut, The Other Side of Darkness, I was wondering just how far the band could take their sound … Read more
Night Birds
Maimed for the Masses
Fat Wreck Chords (2013)
For how active a band Night Birds is, they still only have one studio full-length to their name. Instead of releasing the long-players, the band has focused on short-form EPs and Maimed for the Masses, on Fat Wreck Chords, is yet another to add to the band’s discography. This one has four songs, notably the opening title track. It doesn’t … Read more
Night Birds
Mutiny at Muscle Beach
Fat Wreck Chords (2015)
It’s getting tough to find new things to say about Night Birds. They’re as great as ever with third LP Mutiny at Muscle Beach, it’s just that the sound hasn’t changed all that dramatically from day one. Album #3 is supposed to be when they go all avant on us.Their career has filled out nicely, with textural differences and a … Read more
Night Birds
Roll Credits
Fat Wreck Chords (2018)
Roll Credits is an 8-song “mini-album” homage to the classics. Night Birds--the now veteran band of 10 years--says it was made thinking of short-play classics like Negative Approach’s Tied Down and Minor Threat’s Out of Step. Short, fast, loud.It’s a good starting point for their approach, but first, more about the release. In addition to being a 12” EP, Fat … Read more
