For the love of music
2012 has undoubtedly been a great year for micro-labels. Whilst some of the leading lights - such as The Great Pop Supplement and Second Language - have defined themselves through leaning towards close-knit scenes, recurring visions and shared aesthetics, the still fledgling Critical Heights label has demarcated itself more through expanding … [Read more...]
Wooden Wand’s James Jackson Toth on… The Baptist Generals’ No Silver/No Gold (Sub Pop, 2003) No Silver/No Gold is the best album Sub Pop ever released. It is a perfect American record, and a huge inspiration. I don’t remember how I heard about Baptist Generals, but I was on board pretty early. I think the album was in a crate of … [Read more...]
Dean Wareham (Dean & Britta): Various Artists - Drive (soundtrack) My favorite album of the year is the soundtrack to my favorite film of the year - Drive. I came out of the theatre with a few songs stuck in my head -- the synthy cues by Cliff Martinez, but above all the track "Oh My Love" by Riz Ortolani and Katyna Ranieri. I am not the … [Read more...]
Owen Tromans on... Magic Lantern’s High Beams (Not Not Fun Records, 2009) For me the album is a sacred form, perhaps not for those who have grown up with iTunes and YouTube, but I feel that a great album is a mystical object, best enjoyed as a whole. So much of my life is tied up with particular albums that their lyrics and sounds … [Read more...]