It used to be easier to pretend that an album was its own perfectly self-contained artifact. The great records certainly feel that way. But albums are more permeable than solid, their motivations, executions and inspirations informed by, and often stolen from, their peers and forbearers. It all sounds awfully formal, but it's not. It's the very nature of music — of art, even. The Six Degrees features examine the relationships between classic records and five… more »
The three monumental bands who put Minneapolis on the indie rock map in the 1980s - the Replacements, Soul Asylum and Husker Du - all found greatness along the same path, climbing out of hardcore's narrow trench with ambitions far beyond the basics of simply railing against Reagan or bitching about school and cops. Of the three, Husker Du clung most tightly to punk's visceral force, but added sensitivity, melody or depth to the roar.
Bob… more »
When a remarkable band breaks up at its peak, its fans rarely look to the drummer for salvation. Such was the surprise, then, accorded the emergence of this classic post-punk Boston trio in 1985 - the exciting consolation prize to an enlightened few still mourning the sudden, premature demise of Mission of Burma. (Burma, America's louder, heavier answer to Britain's obtuse Wire, were not the victim of the usual creative differences, burnout, road fatigue, instability… more »
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