Some of my favorite indie rock in recent years has come from Australia and New Zealand, though I haven’t been able to tell whether this constitutes any kind of defined scene. The most prominent example is Tame Impala who, when not selling out stadiums or headlining festivals, is one Australian guy named Kevin tinkering in…
All posts in December 2019
“A Little God in My Hands” – Swans
Swans had their first ever top 40 record in 2014, more than 30 years after the release of their debut LP. No one said “it’s about time,” because Swans is not the kind of band that was ever supposed to be in the top 40 of anything. In their early years, Swans were best known…
“Brill Bruisers” – The New Pornographers
I’m a power pop guy at heart. Big hooks over manic drums and surprise minor chords? Can’t beat it. That’s my disclaimer before I call The New Pornographers the best band of the last 20 years. It’s not a popular choice, generally well-liked though they are. But to my ears, no one can match the…
“Surgeon” – St. Vincent
For all the hand-wringing about rock’s demise in the early aughts (and the absurd pressure on unassuming post-punk revivalists like The Strokes and The White Stripes to save it), come the ‘10s, rock ‘n roll had disappeared from the charts and nobody seemed all that bothered. Gen Z has fully moved on, but it was…
“King Kunta” – Kendrick Lamar
There are three schools of thought on who the artist of the decade was. Beyoncé brought high art to poptimism, pushing the boundaries of how music is consumed while continuing to be the biggest star on the planet. Frank Ocean became a generational icon, driving what became the dominant sound in ‘10s R&B and achieving…