To all the end of year top-list haters out there – there is one function of the year end list that is hard to deny the value of, and that’s that it gives us the …

It is often difficult to gain a balanced perspective on an album after reading a single summary of the music. Bias can tilt the review, as can personal taste, history and just about everything else …

2007 was a great year to record albums by yourself in isolated cabins in the winter time. First Justin Vernon’s fantastic debut as Bon Iver, and now Alaska in Winter’s Brandon Bethancourt, who saw his …

Once again it has come time for music critics to look back on the past year and create endless lists of who did what in 2008, from “Top Indie Christmas Records” to “Best Songs by …

Rock/Rap collaborations have never really been my thing. For every quality band like Heiruspecs or Crescent Moon is in Big Trouble, it seems that there is a Limp Bizkit or Kid Rock who is infinitely …

It is often difficult to gain a balanced perspective on an album after reading a single summary of the music. Bias can tilt the review, as can personal taste, history and just about everything else …

First he collaborates with Atmosphere on last year’s When Life Gives you Lemons… and now Tom Waits is lending his growl to N.A.S.A.’s “Spacious Thoughts,” (alongside Kool Keith no less). How long before we can …

Delroy Wilson, one of the founding pioneers of the Reggae and Rocksteady styles, has sadly largely been forgotten in contemporary music history. The volatile singer got into the business at age 13, and left his …

Photo coverage from Jan. 3 of Vampire Hands, the Blind Shake and Birthday Suits at the Turf Club in St. Paul, MN.

Photo coverage of El Guante and Big Cats! from Eclipse Records on Jan. 2.

Photo coverage of Meredith Fierke and Mary Everest from Jan. 2 at the 400 Bar.

I am not sure if Bill Baird’s project is still under the radar, totally hyped, or last year’s news. Regardless, they are good.