As a true indie rock supergroup – featuring members of Sleater-Kinney, Quasi, Helium and the Minders – Wild Flag’s debut album has a lot of past to live up to. Fortunately, the results are nothing short of astonishing.
ReviewsAuthor Alex Wisgard
“I think my brain is working on another level…” – Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle revisits The Sophtware Slump
Alex Wisgard speaks to Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle about the reissue of his cult record The Sophtware Slump, as well as his thoughts on nature, Jed the Humanoid and…Pearl Jam.
Baxter Dury – Happy Soup
Six years on from a bleak second album, Baxter Dury is back – on a major label, no less – with Happy Soup, an album on which a little bit of sunshine infiltrates his unique brand of Cockney miserablism.
Moonface – Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped
Post-Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, it seems like Spencer Krug is entering his nomadic Damo Suzuki phase, following his muse wherever it takes him – in this case, to an all-organ minimalist pop tour de force.
Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
A quarter of a century on from being granted their License to Ill, the Beastie Boys have pretty much earned the right to do whatever the hell they want; and that seems to be giving the world a tantalising glimpse at how hip hop could grow old gracefully.
Mick Harvey – Sketches from the Book of the Dead
Mick Harvey’s first entirely self-penned effort, sees the former Bad Seed tackle death from all angles – no small feat, but does he rise to the challenge? Alex Wisgard investigates.
Low – C’mon
From its title on down, new LP C’mon certainly seems to suggest a more welcoming, inclusive experience. However, this being a Low record, there’s still some glass left hidden in the grass.
Glasvegas – EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\
In spite of James Allen’s heart-on-sleeve lyricism – bland sentiment seems to take over from any form of true emotion. And over the course of the album’s fifty minutes, that void leaves a pretty big echo.
Josh T. Pearson – Last of the Country Gentlemen
Having located the USA in Jerusalem on his last album, Josh T. Pearson’s astonishing debut solo LP tries to find the ‘me’ in America. Alex Wisgard attempts to do justice to an instant classic.
J Mascis – Several Shades of Why
The beauty of Several Shades of Why is just how unexpected it sounds coming after Dinosaur Jr’s two kick-ass comeback albums – it’s a homespun acoustic gem, on which Mascis stands more exposed than on anything else in his back catalogue.
Wye Oak – Civilian
Wye Oak’s third long player has a captivating atmosphere that is entirely its own. Alex Wisgard gets charmed by the Baltimore duo.
Scritti Politti – Absolute
What do Miles Davis, Robert Wyatt, Shabba Ranks and Mos Def have in common? They all show up on Scritti Politti’s first “career-spanning” best-of, which Alex Wisgard deconstructs.
