Aesop Rock, early 2000s. (mushrecords.com) “People can label me whatever they like. I don’t really care any more…I get told that I’m weird—but you forget that the whole reason you liked [Boogie Down Productions] in the first place was because you never heard anything like that before.” – Aesop Rock, quoted in the Harvard Crimson, 2003 As Ian Bavitz was writing the songs that filled out the 70 minutes of Bazooka…
Silvertone, 1989 Hello, ZME. It has been a while, hasn’t it? You’ll have to forgive me. I fell off the face of this benevolent cyber-planet due to some bizarre misconception that I had anything better to do. Fortunately, a complete and utter submersion into academic navel-gazing had recently gifted me with the epiphany that, contrary to the elevated sense of self with which coming of age in the 90’s injected me, I really…
For those of you who missed the story on Pitchfork yesterday because it was buried underneath a bunch of non-stories about bands like the Neckbeards, the Dirty Projectors, and Swamp Guzzle (I know only one of those bands is real), (very) British rockers Supergrass announced that they’re ending things after seventeen years. Considering how we’re more than a decade removed from John & Kate Averageamerican caring about ‘Britpop’ as it was, it’s not a huge…
I’m back! Did you guys miss me? No? I’m honestly not surprised, but I do feel bad about falling off the radar yet again. That’s not to say my interest in writing these columns has waned at all. I wanted to publish something this month, and today may be my only good chance to do so. I wrote this last July after returning from a whirlwind trip to the UK, but I’m just bringing it…
Hey ZME Universe, I’m sorry I’ve fallen a bit off the map in terms of my columns, but I’m excited about these end-of-decade lists. I’ve been preoccupied with my own list of best albums of songs. I love the lists that the ZME crew is putting together, but something tells me no one else on the staff would have the proper appreciation for the Portland, Maine power-pop trio The Leftovers. I can understand, though. While…
The Dead Milkmen, a Philadelphia quartet known for their quirky underground hit singles such as “Punk Rock Girl,” “Dean’s Dream,” and “Stuart,” spent years making an art form out of not taking things too seriously during their late 80’s heyday. Twenty years later, the world hasn’t forgotten them. There could have been little more proof of that than the string of sell out crowds at the sporadic reunion shows they’ve played since November 2008. On…
Are you ready to feel like a piece of shit? Gordon Gano was 19 when the Violent Femmes recorded their self-titled debut album. True story: the trio borrowed $10,000 from bassist Brian Ritchie’s old man and ground out one of the great American rock albums of the 1980’s, and certainly one of the most unmistakable. Gano’s age shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering how (sometimes disturbingly) well Violent Femmes encapsulates the iconic rage and frustration…
I just got word from an old friend who currently lives in Beijing about this really cool tour about to come through the US. Five of the most highly regarded indie and underground acts from the Chinese city are coming through for a set of US dates. They include P.K. 14, Carsick Cars, Xiao He, White, and Snapline. Information about this tour, as well as tour dates and links to all of the bands and…
They’re Jawbox and they’re back! At least for a spark around Thanksgiving this year. According to Billboard and Reuters, the massively influential DC indie/punk quartet Jawbox will be reuniting for a December 8 performance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” The performance is largely to promote the band’s (finally) reissued 1994 touchstone LP, “For Your Own Special Sweetheart.” Fallon recently (and giddily, which made my respect for the guy shoot up) hosted equally influential emo…
[Sorry I was unable to write a new “Polarity” this week, but it should be returning next time. This is a piece I wrote recently in honor of the start of another National Hockey League season last night, and my inability to not connect it with music in some way. If you have any other suggestions on top of my five, hit me with them in the comments!] John Buccigross, hockey analyst for ESPN, is…
Tyler Sonic