indy cd & vinyl

DEVENDRA BANHART—SMOKEY ROLLS DOWN THUNDER CANYON
 
Banhart has become one of the main faces of the neo/freak/psych folk revival of the new millennium. With his quavering, vibrato-led voice being an instrument of beauty, and his undeniable song-writing talent, this is no accident. But on Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon.” his fourth or fifth album (depending on […]

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NEIL YOUNG—CHROME DREAMS II

Demonstrating his usual off-beat attitude, Young’s new album is titled as if it were a follow-up to Chrome Dreams. Problem is, there never was an official album called Chrome Dreams. Originally slated to be released in 1977, Young reputedly shelved it after Joni Mitchell criticized it as being too “all over the […]

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THURSTON—TREES OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY
 
Sonic Youth’s guitarist/songwriter Thurston Moore delivers his first solo work since 1995.  Leaning heavily on the “folky” side of his songwriting, Trees Outside The Academy delivers acoustic strumming and picking, tender violin, piano, and a number of short but blazing electric solos (some supplied by J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr).  The songs […]

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ROBERT PLANT/ALISON KRAUSS—RAISING SAND

This is NOT your father’s type of duets album. Whereas most such albums are time- (and pocket-) fillers for the artists involved, this work stretches far beyond such boundaries. Indeed, it is one of the best albums of the year. The unlikely pairing of former Led Zeppelin frontman Plant and bluegrass […]

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