Damn Rob and Sean, go off! Out of all their early digs, self-titled Lego Feet surprised me the most. The release plays like a collage, switching quite rapidly between moods and ideas: messing with your head, asking you to dance, smirking from the DJ booth, shaking up electronic dance music and reshaping it in their eclectic moody vision. There’s atmosphere here that begs to revisited by electronic dance music listeners, particularly by fans of early Aphex Twin, or Rob Brown and Sean ... read more

Wow. I love this. The first time I listened to this, I was extremely angry and looking for some music to channel it into — this certainly did the trick as I walked home from a rough, weird day at work, and I’ve listened to it multiple times since. It hasn’t disappointed yet.

A whirlwind of blades and bloody flesh. A stimulating barrage of overwhelming aural assaults. This is so much more raw than the band’s later stuff, and in my opinion so far, better for it. Extremely ... read more

hot summer day making music with your friends and smoking weed around town cuz there’s nothing better to do.

every time i think a pavement album is my favorite, I just listen to a different one and I am reminded that one is also my favorite. I love this band.

so chill and so weird at the same time.

amazing songwriting that sounds like it’s just barely forming through a haze of marijuana clouds and slacker attitudes.

“summer babe” and “here” always get ... read more

Wowza, what a cool album. Rich with strange and fun songwriting turns and lovely production. “Garden of Earthly Delights”, “Mayor of Simpleton”, and “The Loving” were on repeat for days after discovering this record, but admittedly every track here is good. My only complaint is the placement of “Here Comes President Kill Again”, which absolutely destroys the lively pop pacing of the album, but the song is fine. “Chalkhills and ... read more

I’m sure my listening is colored by nostalgia, but this is an excellent soundtrack compilation. A bunch of vaguely psychedelic and dreamy late 00s “emo” and alternative rock, laced with a dangerously sweet intimacy. It’s a combo that worked for me in middle school, and it works for me now, over a decade later! I’d say the Rob Pattinson tune is the weakest link, but everything else is banger city — even “Bella’s Lullaby” is a mesmerizing ... read more

Not as good as the first soundtrack, but still solid — I usually get a little lost around the 50-75% mark. I love the more solemn, laid-back songs on this one, especially “Possibility”, “Hearing Damage”, and “Satellite Heart”, but there’s some great rockers still present (albeit more fuzzy around the edges) like “Friends” and “Meet Me On the Equinox”. I’ve always had a soft spot for the extra-dreary Editors track, ... read more

Experimental vocalists are seemingly one of the more under-appreciated type of avant-garde musicians — but there is absolutely no reason for this. Just like Coltrane squealing, or Tony Williams bashing, Sun Ra smashing, or Fripp shredding, Meredith flies into the far reaches of the human voice. Sometimes it’s funny and absurd, sometimes it’s endlessly joyous, and other times absolutely heartbreaking. “Biography” in particular has this horrifyingly tragic edge to it ... read more

It's hard for me not to like this on a base level, as I’m a big Jerry/Dead fan. Their music is like comfort food to me.

There’s not too many standout moments here, but when they sizzle, they’re hot! Bela Fleck’s appearance is certainly welcome, and his noodling is plenty psychedelic and virtuosic! I wish he was higher in the mix though. Melvin’s organ tone and soloing throughout the record are also worth mentioning, both sturdy and gurgling.

This version of ... read more

This is an alright show — not sure what everyone else is going on about. It’s good, but not great, and definitely not top of the heap.

Nonetheless, there are great moments! “Sugaree” clearly wins out as the major highlight, with Jerry’s magnificent soloing and the band’s magical interplay really simmering. “Row Jimmy” and “Wharf Rat” are also excellent though, with their laid-back psychedelic improvisations and Jerry’s tender ... read more

I can tell this is just as good, if not more inventive then their practically perfect debut album. It’s even darker, colder, creepier, and sharp as a knife, while still being drugged-to-hell. The electronic flourishes and twitchier songs suggest a rough time personally for the band, but I think their art comes through even stronger after cutting their teeth on their first full-length album. I can’t wait for what’s next.

Amazing lil indie neo-psych record. This never gets old and I love the uniformity of the sonics and songwriting here. Helps even more that it’s short and sweet, with a mysterious, magical, and moody edge.

Certainly not my favorite Cocteau Twins EP, but a great starting point! It was pretty much mine. It’s an awesome summary of their signature dream pop sound in 3 (or 4 if you count bonus track “Orange Appled”) stunning tracks! Soaring gibberish melodies from Elizabeth’s voice, Guthrie’s guitars warble and wash all over the place, along with glassy synths, and hard hitting drum machines. It’s never stuck with me like some of their other projects, but it’s ... read more

Magic music. Truly beautiful and haunting. This collection of early Cocteau Twins songs is a tome for fans of dream pop, post-punk, and shoegaze. Amazing stuff. The vocals are chill-inducing, and the instrumentals remain as surreal, expansive, and propulsive as ever.

I thought this one was special on first listen, but it’s been ages since I got back to it. What a massive statement. So many absolutely surreal and cavernous tracks. All sorts of textures and wonderful melodies. “Sugar Hiccup” is a beautiful bright bubble in this turbulent ocean of sounds. Each song is such a distinct idea. Amazing stuff. The sound of the drum machines here is impeccable. "Musette and Drums" will blow you away.

A real revelation of a record. Record 1 is very rhythm oriented, and damn does it groove! The entire A-Side is bangers. “Halleluwah” is an amazing jam journey. Record 2 shoots listeners into space, with its wild and unpredictable explorations of sound — “Aumgn” and “Peking O” are undeniably amazing sonic collages.

Can forever.

Hadn't realized just how soundtrack-like this one was until now. It's laced into every aesthetic, from the album art, to the sonics, the song titles, and the vocal sampling. There's certainly an atmosphere, or rather, the absence of one -- an empty, uncertain, desolate world. At least there's still music.

“Like a Rolling Stone” must be one of my favorite songs ever — what a steamrolling journey of music and lyrics. “Ballad of a Thin Man” remains one of my favorite Dylan tunes and haunts me to this day. “Queen Jane”‘s longing never fails to tug at my heart. “Desolation Row” always enchants me with its imagery. An incredible selection of tracks from the bard himself.

I recommend checking out the mono mix if you haven’t — ... read more

Not only is it short, but it’s jaunty, pretty, and sounds great! An excellent Dylan record — the Cash duet is great, while “Lay Lady Lay” has Dylan’s tenderness at a high, and “Country Pie”, which feels like the ethos of the record. “Nashville Skyline Rag” is one of my favorites, a slick and jumpy sidestep from the songwriting on the brief album. “I Threw It All Away” and “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” ... read more

Clearly a bit of seasonal fun, with tracks like the classic “Here Comes Santa Claus”, the goofy jaunt of “Must Be Santa”, and the holiday-getaway of “Christmas Island” lending to the festive atmosphere. But as this is the modern bard himself, Bob gives his absolute best and reshapes this classic winter songbook in his own image. His grizzled and tuneful voice carries these classics with such a unique feel of texture and depth, imbuing songs I previously ... read more

Bob totally aced this triple-threat of pop standards. A great late-nite / early morning feel, and a sense of constantly drifting nostalgic, contemplative haze. Each cover is executed perfectly, with Bob’s voice as textured and gruff as it may well ever be — but still, he also delivers one of his most layered and pained performances here, accompanied by a butter smooth backing band that only interjects when absolutely necessary. Occasionally, Bob sounds so goddamn lovesick, he can ... read more