Johann Johannsson
Orphee
Deutsche Grammophon (2016)
The Icelandic composer has risen magnificently in the last few years due to his works within the film domain. A prolific artist, Johannsson has contributed with scores for some excellent recent movies, including The Theory of Everything, as well as his frequent collaborations with visionary director Denis Villeneuve, in Prisoners, Sicario and the upcoming Arrival. Johannsson returns now with Orphee, … Read more
John Carpenter
Lost Themes
Sacred Bones (2015)
Having produced the energetic low-budget action picture Assault on Precinct 13 in 1976 prior to laying the foundations of the modern slasher movie with 1978's Halloween, film director John Carpenter positioned himself as a master of frightening and just plain exhilarating cinema with the early '80s trio of The Fog, Escape from New York, and The Thing. 1983's Christine (based … Read more
John Cate & The Van Gogh Brothers
X
American Music Partners (2011)
The newest John Cate & The Van Gogh Brothers album X has been released and I am happy to say it does not disappoint. The album has twelve tunes on it that fit well with what you have come to expect from John and the band, great melodies, three part harmonies, and lyrics that make you think. I have been … Read more
John Frum
A Stirring in the Noos
Relapse (2017)
Technicality in death metal is a very common treat, and it has been present within the genre since its beginnings. Through time this idea has evolved, moving from the likes of Death and Suffocation to acts like Artificial Brain and Ulcerate. John Frum is a new entry in this tradition, formed by members of some elite bands of the extreme … Read more
John Frusciante
Enclosure
Record Collection (2014)
Though he’s primarily known for being the former, on-again, off-again guitarist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Frusciante has long pursued a solo career that’s been full of peaks and valleys. After releasing a pair of somewhat fascinating, but difficult-to-listen-to albums in the 1990s, Frusciante hit his stride as a solo artist in the early 2000s, at one point releasing … Read more
John K. Samson
Provincial
Anti (2012)
It’s already been four plus years since the last Weakerthans record. If I weren’t aging quickly myself, that would feel like a long time. While I’m not sure what’s up with their status as a band, ringleader John K. Samson set aside time in early 2011 to record his first solo record, Provincial. The frontman, known for his somewhat nasal … Read more
John Vanderslice
Cellar Door
Barsuk (2004)
Breaking News: San Francisco's favorite singer-songwriter/space cadet has returned to the home planet for his newest release Cellar Door . As his spacecraft touched down, thousands of loyal fans anxiously lined up outside of record stores to the hear musical renditions of his latest journeys via compact disc. Once the fans had attained their own personal copy of the transmission … Read more
John Vanderslice
Pixel Revolt
Barsuk (2005)
I get the distinct impression that John Vanderslice might be a bit of a flake. But after spending some time with Pixel Revolt, I'm also starting to think that he's hit the nail of urban hipster-dom right on it's untidily coiffed head, and on the whole, it's made a pretty satisfying sound. The songs are a bit cynical, and a … Read more
John, The Void
Self Titled EP
Independent (2014)
Proving that Italians can do the doomy, post-metal thing just as well as anyone else, mysterious and methodical five-piece group John, the Void’s 2014 self-titled EP (which actually runs a bit longer than what I might typically expect from an extended play) features six tracks ranging from two minute ambient pieces to sprawling, nine-minute epics. Throughout this very atmospheric but … Read more
Johnny Cash
American VI: Ain't No Grave
American (2010)
What an undeniably excellent surprise! American VI: Ain't No Grave is the remaining recordings (from the same sessions that produced American V: A Hundred Highways) that Johnny Cash made just prior to his death on September 12, 2003 (wow it seems such a long time ago now that I see that date), and I must admit that it is excellent … Read more
Johnny Marr
The Messenger
Warner Bros. (2013)
The '80s are memorable for many wonderful things, like Pac-Man and Bill & Ted, but perhaps most importantly it was the decade in which a seismic shift occurred in the British alternative music scene that many new bands still consider massively influential today. Enter Johnny Marr, former Smiths guitarist and NME's Godlike Genius, who was an essential player in the … Read more
Johnny Parry
Songs Without a Purpose
Lost Toy (2007)
Applying the finishing touches to a viola-and-recorder composition evocatively recreating the world of Sloppy Joe Riggs-Lattimer (a red-headed scientologist Jew known only to the residents of 1980's Pennsylvania) Sufjan Stevens decides to take a midnight stroll through the brisk fall air. Stopping to gaze lovingly at the moon, he is brutally murdered by a passing hobo who mistakes him for … Read more
Johnny Vomit
Extreme Championship Drinking
NGS (2006)
Disclaimer: Don't read this review if you are offended by four letter words and genital slang. Thank you. Some bands strive to enlighten their listeners with intelligent, philosophical lyrics. Other groups promote vegetarianism, veganism, or the straight edge lifestyle through their music. Then there's Johnny Vomit: five guys dedicated to getting sloshed and playing music. After looking over their album … Read more
Johnson, Will
Vultures Await
Misra (2004)
Will Johnson not only fronts the incestuous bands Centro-matic and South San Gabriel, but he also has a solo career on the side. After recording numerous albums in eight prolific years, Johnson is still not at a loss for words. He suppressed and collected his sorrow over time to relinquish on his solo sophomore album, on which he plays the … Read more
Jon Crocker
The Dust Will Settle
Bluetint (2008)
After his thorough touring of each continental U.S. state (and several abroad) in an apparent effort to sate a sort of Sal Paradisian wanderlust, it is not difficult to begin to mythologize Jon Crocker's career and sonic development. It's interesting then, how nearly every red-meat note and yellow-cheeked syllable Crocker delivers manages to feel so innocuous, while still maintaining its … Read more
Jon McKiel
Jon McKiel
Independent (2014)
An old, black-and-white photo depicts five dilapidated homes slowly crumbling away on an island in the middle of a vast, dismal ocean; the sea's endlessness and archaicness adds a sense of sentimentality to the picture. With such a glum album cover, it’s a dazzling surprise once the effervescent, action-packed “New Tracy (I Will Learn To See)” - opening song on … Read more
Jon McKiel
The Nature of Things
Wednesday (2008)
So it's finally summer, and that usually means an overload of new music. I can't name the number of songs or albums that remind me of a specific summer in my life. Something about the change of pace and warm weather that just makes music attach itself to memories. What does this have to do with this album? I'm just … Read more
Jon Snodgrass
Visitor's Band
Suburban Home (2009)
Jon Snodgrass used a sling a guitar in Armchair Martian and Drag the River but decided to go with the singer-songwriter route and dropped Visitor's Band on us in 2009. I never familiarized myself with the country-fried Drag the River. However, I recall Armchair Martian being a guitar heavy pop-punk rock band that Bill and Stephen from ALL always seem … Read more
