Xiu Xiu “Famous Muscles” (5 Rue Christine) Commonly pronounced “shoe Shoe,” or “show show” like the Joan Chen movie of the same name. It’s folksy, it’s electronic, it’s eclectic, it’s schizophrenic. The music ranges from minimal and acoustic, to caustic…
Yeah Yeah Yeah’s“Fever to Tell”(Interscope) Hype is a strange thing. There gets to be a point when almost everyone on some level has to say to themselves, “Look, NOTHING is that good. Even the Mona Lisa, the Beatles and Shakespeare…
(this interview originally appeared as the cover feature for issue #41 of Modern Fix Magazine in 2004). – interview by Gordon Downs Sitting a mere stones throw away from Interstate 5-North, I find myself sitting with John Dwyer and…
Panthers “Let’s Get Serious” (Dim Mak) The second release from New York’s Panthers and easily the better of the two. “Let’s Get Serious” expands upon and develops what they were doing on 2002’s “Are You Down?” and showcases a band…
The Red Channels “Self-Titled” (Silver Girl Records) Don’t let this one fool you, after listening to this album for the past few weeks all I want to do is go jump off a building because I’m so fucking dejected. Eliana…
The Shocker “”Up Your Ass Tray”” (Go Kart Records) Reminiscent of the late great Betty Blowtorch, the Shocker features the same kind of poppy/punk with comedic lyrics to make you smile. This band has more hooks than a tackle box…
The Silence “Audio Alchemy” (Whiskey Records) This thing started out with a tricked out ladies’ voice whispering, “Now children, are you sitting comfortably?” and then faded into a little synthesized beat and I was like, “Damn, man, more techno.” T…
Various Artists “The Sound of San Francisco” (Alive) This not merely a sample of San Francisco bands. Each track here was recorded especially for this release. The selected band converges on a ’60s-inspired edgy garage rock feel. Whether it be…
This Runs Through “Until Forever Finds Me” (Indianola Records) I like to have fun with bands that have grunting vocals. You see, I can never make out what these guys are trying to say, so I just make up my…
Ulver “A Quick Fix of Melancholy EP” (Jester / The End Records) Sometimes music defies classification and it just merely exists. You don’t really know what the hell to think of it or how to describe it. Ulver’s latest offering is much…