Tag: music review

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Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children: Cinematic psychedelia, dope beats and audio therapy

This is a revised and expanded version of an article I wrote for Tone Deaf in 2018 (and which was later republished by Classic Album Sundays) Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children is without question the album I’ve listened to the most in the past 21 years. I can’t think of what … Continue reading Boards of Canada’s Music Has the Right to Children: Cinematic psychedelia, dope beats and audio therapy

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Khruangbin live at Sydney Opera House: Sublime space-funk in the grandest of settings

In the weeks before seeing the mighty Khruangbin in the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House last Friday night (the first of three sold-out shows for them there, and my first time seeing them), I told several friends I wasn’t so sure how appropriate a venue it was for them. I’m sure this might have … Continue reading Khruangbin live at Sydney Opera House: Sublime space-funk in the grandest of settings

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Wet Leg’s debut LP is a raunchy, joyous treat and an instant rock & roll classic

Early this year, in my write-up of the best albums of 2021, I wrote this about young hyperpop artists like Banoffee and Charli XCX, who are making some of my favorite sounds lately: “I’m a 51-year-old dad and house DJ and this music is not made for me; the target audience is decades younger, not … Continue reading Wet Leg’s debut LP is a raunchy, joyous treat and an instant rock & roll classic

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Tame Impala’s Currents: A contemporary classic of epic, obsessive psychedelic pop

This essay is adapted from a presentation I gave at our Classic Album Sundays Sydney listening party celebrating Tame Impala’s Currents earlier this month. I’ve included a playlist, embedded below. There’s a paradox at the heart of the massive appeal of Tame Impala’s third album: it’s without a doubt a pop album, a conscious effort … Continue reading Tame Impala’s Currents: A contemporary classic of epic, obsessive psychedelic pop

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Bright Lights by Susanna Hoffs: A collection of warm, intimate, impeccably chosen covers

Bright Lights, the new album by Susanna Hoffs, and her first in nine years, is an unexpected treat for me. Its release — on Hoffs’ own label, Baroque Folk — was only announced a few weeks ago. From what I can gather from interviews and from Hoffs’ social media, she experienced some frustration in getting … Continue reading Bright Lights by Susanna Hoffs: A collection of warm, intimate, impeccably chosen covers

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Gillian Welch’s Time (The Revelator) at 20: A timeless masterpiece of apocalyptic country

Gillian Welch’s third album, Time (The Revelator), was released 20 years ago this week. That’s jarring on a number of levels. First of all, it never really left my rotation. I still think of it as new music. There’s this weird compression of time in the internet era. In 2001, music from 1981 sounded a … Continue reading Gillian Welch’s Time (The Revelator) at 20: A timeless masterpiece of apocalyptic country