Stone Gossard: Moonlander

Stone Gossard
Moonlander
(Monkeywrench)
A dozen years after his funky first solo album Bayleaf, Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard returns with Moonlander.
The captivating 11 tracks from the album were recorded from 2003-2011. Scouring through his hard drive of …

Grave Babies: Crusher

Grave Babies
Crusher
(Hardly Art)
Grave Babies sound goth to me although I hear they deny that labeling. It could be argued that they are closer to sand-in-their-joints noise than most of what is known as goth. Their …

Patty Griffin: American Kid

Patty Griffin
American Kid
(New West)
Patty Griffin has been making excellent genre-bending music since her 1996 debut Living with Ghosts. Her latest release, American Kid finds Griffin at her most bare with acoustic guitars, mandolins, and violin, …

Here Come the Mummies: Cryptic

Here Come the Mummies
Cryptic
(Sphinxter)
Cryptic, like Here Come the Mummies a 12-person funk/R&B outfit known for appearing on stage in full mummy attire in an effort to hide their true identities (since several members of the …

Hollis Brown: Ride on the Train

Hollis Brown
Ride on the Train
(Alive)
Every few years, a tell-tale sound re-emerges in the annals of the radio waves. Never fully gone, the form fades away before asserting itself into our collective ears again. This guitar-driven …

Various Artists: Sweet Honey in the Rock: A Tribute

Various Artists
Sweet Honey in the Rock: A Tribute
(Appleseed)
The cover of this two-disc album lists it as being a live recording of jazz music at the Lincoln Center. Unfortunately, it’s not. It’s actually a celebration …

I:Scintilla : Marrow 2

I:Scintilla
Marrow 2
(Alfa Matrix)
Chicago’s hart rock band I:Scintilla |has a track record of putting out an album, whether it’s a full length or EP, then following the release with another album of remixes.
A few months …

In Cahoots: Boxed Wine Country

In Cahoots
Boxed Wine Country
(Critical Sun)
Seattle band In Cahoots accurately describe their sound as ‘sweet and sour power pop rock,” and give us a tasty sample on their new six song EP Boxed Wine Country. The …

Lordi
To Beast Or Not To Beast
(The End)
Though Finland’s Lordi owe a great deal to GWAR when they look in the mirror, the product they put to wax is more a mixed bag in terms of …

Louder Than Bombs: What Resonates

Louder Than Bombs
What Resonates
(South Division)
Even with the obvious Hot Water Music worship, Louder Than Bombs is a band to watch, and no, it’s not just because of the overt Smiths reference. Alternating between gruff melodic …