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MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG

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Lady killers

Vivian Girls find fans, lose shoes
“Maybe over there? Try over there . . . ” The muffled voice in the background sounds defeated.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | October 08, 2008

A place of pure love

Jesse Sykes and her Sweet Hereafter
Far from being morose, Sykes is witty, sharp, and charmingly self-depreciating after each of her lengthy musings on life, energy, and the universe.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | September 16, 2008

The unlikely rise of Does It Offend You, Yeah?
“If I actually stopped to think about what’s going on, I’d probably shit myself,” says James Rushent, singer/bassist for UK electro-rock quartet Does It Offend You, Yeah?

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | August 26, 2008

Unstoppable force

The sludgy juggernaut of the Melvins
“Basically it’s like, if you get what we’re doing, then no explanation is necessary, and if you don’t, then no explanation is possible.”

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | August 08, 2008

Old souls

The Bouncing Souls stay relevant
“The very first Bouncing Souls show was a battle of the bands in high school. We took third place out of four bands. We sucked, though — we were terrible. Horrible ."

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | July 15, 2008

Two for the road

The Watson Twins escape the shadows
Most music fans discovered the Watson Twins — 31-year-old identical sisters Leigh and Chandra — via their backing vocal appearance on Rabbit Fur Coat , the 2006 solo debut from Jenny Lewis.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | July 07, 2008

Polvo give it another go

After a decade-long hiatus, the progenitors of math rock find their chemistry still exists
The North Carolina quartet’s noisy sound was music to a select group of ears.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | June 17, 2008

Twin reverb

Centro-matic and South San Gabriel
For the better part of his prolific songwriting career, Texas singer/guitarist Will Johnson, when not releasing albums under his own name, has donned distinctive hats for his two bands.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | June 09, 2008

Drear as folk

The bleak interiors of Damien Jurado and Jeremy Enigk
It’s that feeling of overwhelming sorrow tempered by the faintest sliver of hope that’s evoked by the music of two veteran Pacific Northwest songwriters and long-time friends who share a bill at Great Scott this Saturday night.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | May 28, 2008

Soul purpose

The BellRays get us all kinds of worked up
The BellRays — whose married core is singer Lisa Kekaula and guitarist/bassist Bob Vennum — have been making music since 1990.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | May 19, 2008

Eastern promises

Balkan trends with DeVotchKa and Firewater

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | May 12, 2008

Band of Horses

Cease to Begin | Sub Pop
Much has changed for Band of Horses and their mercurial frontguy, singer/guitarist Ben Bridwell, since they quietly released their debut album.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | October 30, 2007

Minus the Bear

Planet of Ice | Suicide Squeeze
Minus the Bear are at their best when they let down their guard and allow a little heat to penetrate their Planet of Ice.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | September 18, 2007

The Rosebuds

Night of the Furies | Merge
The title of the Rosebuds’ third full-length refers to Roman mythology, and the accompanying booklet sports Colonial American artwork.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | April 10, 2007

Adult.

Why Bother? | Thrill Jockey
Detroit electro-provocateurs Adult. continue to run away from the catchier, clubbier colors of their early work toward, as they put it, “uneasy listening.”

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | March 27, 2007

King of the hill

Mark Linkous revives his Sparklehorse
“I didn’t think anyone would come to these shows. I figured the venues would be half-empty, and it hasn’t been that way at all,” says Sparklehorse mastermind Mark Linkous.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | February 20, 2007

Making nice

Deftones go on a healing tour
‘If this breaks up, it’s not like I can go sell a Basquiat like Lars Ulrich.’

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | December 01, 2006

Work ethics

Jason Molina and Magnolia Electric Co.
You can file Jason Molina with the über-prolific. Magnolia Electric Co., "Lonesome Valley" (mp3)

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | September 15, 2006

Harmonic convergences

The Futureheads get past the post-punk blues
Beyond their artful, crackling, dueling-guitar geometrics and layers of cunning rhythms, the Futureheads' most distinguishing and potent weapon is their four-part vocals.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | June 28, 2006

Harmonic convergence

The Futureheads get past the post-punk blues
“I don’t know what to do with myself,” Ross Millard mutters, shrugging at his mates as he sets his guitar down at the rear of the small stage at the back of Seattle’s East Street Records and ambles toward his mic stand.

By: MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | June 28, 2006

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