All music discussion goes here, kiddos.
Kayo Dot are the weirdest, most confounding band in the world, and possibly ever. Each of their 9 bizarre albums has its own distinct mood and personality, to say nothing of how they actually sound. At times, the band appears … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Kayo Dot
“If I could kick his head in, fickle little boyfriend, I’d be satisfied If I could smack some sense into his senses, I might feel alright” Lines from ‘Wishing He Was Dead’ there, a song which encapsulates what I love … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: The Like
You know those Youtube videos that are just like “How every _____ song is written”, where some guy walks you through the recurring themes and formulas a certain artist tends to return to over and over again? If they ever … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Phantogram
Although music is very important to me, I rarely bring it up on the Avocado. For one, I don’t know that I’ve listened to much of anything that anyone else here has. There’s the Beatles and the Stones, and then … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: The Capstan Shafts
Here they are, creators of the Avocado’s “Best” “One-Hit Wonder” song. Continue reading Get The Groove In Your Heart — Deee-Lite Artist Spotlight
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch (b. July 2, 1983) is not a tragic figure. Her achievements in the recording industry — teenage stardom, multiplatinum certifications, mainstream crossover success, even a goddamn Grammy — are nothing to sigh for. It feels weird … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Michelle Branch
Richard James is a fairly common name…even in music. Today, however, I am talking about Richard David James, who is mostly known for his electronic music. He goes by many monikers such as AFX, Caustic Window, Polygon Window, and The … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Aphex Twin
When one thinks of iconic rap groups of the 90s, several names should immediately leap to mind: Wu-Tang, Tribe, De La Soul, maybe Outkast (arguably more of a 00s phenomenon), if we’re feeling ambitious, maybe Company Flow. Yet if that … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Following the acrimonious break-up of transcendent Minneapolis punk band Hüsker Dü, guitarist Bob Mould was at a musical crossroads. Despite making two resentment-packed solo albums and opening for acts such as Nirvana and Dinosaur Jr., Bob was flat broke. He … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Sugar
Artist Spotlight courtesy of Makomore “Please don’t write that I look like I’m about to burst into tears. That’s just my resting face.” – New York Times interview, 2014 No Shape, Perfume Genius’s fourth album, is out tomorrow, so it’s the … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Perfume Genius
In the context of music, the word “pop” is short for “popular”, and is often used to encompass both anything that actually achieved widespread success, or seems like it could or should have. In this post, we’ll focus on a … Continue reading Scene Spotlight: Power-Pop
Anyone for some Drum ‘n’ Bass? My previous few Artist Spotlights were on musical acts that changed over time. This one, however, is about a musical act that found its lane and pretty much stayed in it. And that lane … Continue reading Artist Spotlight – Lightning Bolt
I originally approached this Spotlight with a bit of snark, wanting to draw the reader in with jokey shenanigans. But I realized that’s dishonest. I don’t enjoy the distancing effect of irony or insincerity when it comes to things I … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Michael Bolton – (Yeah, You Heard Me)
Gor’ blimey, strike a light and welcome to the artist spotlight of Chas n Dave. Pioneers of ‘Rockney’ music, which is rock and roll, pop and boogie woogie thrown together. In a Cockney accent. They are a weird act in … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Chas and Dave
Review courtesy of Pauli The Mars Volta are a polarizing band. Rarely will you come across anyone assessing their ambitious mish-mash of prog, post-hardcore, Latin, metal, funk, and whatever else with an “Eh, it’s alright.” Either you are transported into … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: The Mars Volta
“It seems to be OK for musicians to act, but it doesn’t seem OK for actors to play music.” — Rob Mailhouse, Dogstar Is Dogstar a celebrity vanity project? Or is it a legitimate musical act, hampered by the celebrity … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Dogstar – Not That Terrible After All
This Spotlight has another long tangent that is more about me than the music, so you can skip the first few paragraphs and start where I say OKAY if you wish. Over a year ago, I posted my first Artist Spotlight about … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Bonnie Pink (Redux)
After few more chapters the 40 minutes long dystopian arthouse movie used to open the latest tour is over. Just when the metaphor for Distorted Angels and the messiah about to save the world settles in your mind, a rather … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Archive
Bill Irwin is a perhaps unique multi-hyphenate in an entertainment field full of people who claim to do multiple things. Sure, plenty of actors have co-written scripts or directed an episode of a TV show, but how many of them … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Bill Irwin – Robot Clown Tony Winner
Album: Knock Knock Artist: Smog Released 1/12/99 Knock Knock, the seventh album from Smog (AKA Bill Callahan), ranked #233 on our Album Poll. I think only two of us voted for this. In fact, that other person’s inclusion of Knock … Continue reading Album Club: Smog – Knock Knock
When the album poll results came out, I realized that not enough of us are fans of Adam and the Ants. Kings of the Wild Frontier was way down at #100 on my ballot, and there was no Ant representation anywhere on … Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Adam and the Ants
