Review
by James Skinner
There are 14 songs here; 14 finer you’ll seldom hear.»
In Depth by James Skinner
It is 9am Eastern Standard Time when DiS calls Sufjan Stevens at home in Brooklyn and he is wide-awake and affable, even as a temperamental connection threatens to derail proceedings. The last-minute, primitive nature of The Age of Adz, outsider art, personal dysfunction, psychobabble, experimenting with the long form, Woody Allen films - and what’s wrong with civilisation - are some of the things touched on within. Like the new LP: it’s a long one.»
Review
by James Skinner
Although not an unqualified success, The Age of Adz is an audacious, eminently enjoyable offering. Peer into it long enough and a decisive, highly personal work reveals itself, from a singer whose deep reserves of curiosity and invention show little sign of dwindling.»
Review
by James Skinner
The thing about Anda Jaleo is, as with with some of the best art produced over the years, it actively makes you want to better yourself. Whether that’s via learning another language, dusting off an old guitar or boning up on history, culture, and all the brilliant, tragic figures who helped get us where we are today – or simply being sure to give yourself the time to listen to music for the sheer pleasure it holds – it’s something worth applauding.»
Review
by James Skinner
Tipping just over the 30-minute mark, Epic is a beautifully formed, sonically engaging work, playing like a celebration and cautionary tale simultaneously.»
In Depth by James Skinner
As part of our week dedicated to solo artists, I corralled DiS writers past and present into sending me some words on one album by a singer-songwriter that has stood out for them over the last ten years. From Bill Callahan to Simon Joyner, Martin Grech to Neko Case, here lie their choices, each accompanied by some means of listening to the artist in question.»
In Depth by James Skinner
By way of Desaparecidos some years earlier, I was already a big Bright Eyes fan by the time I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning arrived in January 2005. In fact I was counting the days until it and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn received their twin release, and upon finally acquiring the pair I played the former so much that my friends and flatmates were frankly astonished.»
In Depth by James Skinner
Kicking off a week dedicated "solo" artists, is James Skinner's look at the most traditional of "solo" musician, that easily defined beast that is the singer-songwriter... He says: It’s a term that will send many music fans scarpering; one that a lot of singer-songwriters are seemingly tired of hearing themselves. But whenever people ask me that dastardliest of questions it is generally what I tell them.»
In Depth by James Skinner
Our first local scene report from our DiSser in Barcelona...»
Review
by James Skinner
Vulnerable or headstrong – and M.I.A. is often both over the course of her self-titled third – she sets her stall pretty clearly. “I got something to say” she hollers in ‘Born Free’. As long as her music remains as bold, inventive and occasionally thrilling as it is here, long may that continue.»
Review
by James Skinner
Mike Hadreas cuts a slight, androgynous figure in the few press photos circulating for Perfume Genius, sporting a black eye in one shot and darkened neck in another. Learning is a likewise bruised and suggestive affair; one of catharsis and rare, redemptive beauty, which ranks as one of the most uniquely endearing and quietly forceful debut albums of recent years.»
Review
by James Skinner
What We Lose in the Fire… is a rich and focused debut album that sounds great from the offset and even better on further listening, Richard Swift’s production fantastic and Laura Burhenn’s vocals genuinely spellbinding.»
Review
by James Skinner
At their best, Stornoway recall a less austere, transatlantic Shearwater: the jumping-off points are the same, but these are songs purpose-built for whistling, not contemplation.»
In Depth by James Skinner
DiS didn’t actually really meet She & Him this time round, but we did get the chance to send Zooey some questions.»
Review
by James Skinner
It is a wild, vivid romance that The National make their own, and on High Violet it sounds just as striking, just as wild, just as vivid as ever.»
Review
by James Skinner
Hadestown is nothing short of awe-inspiring, aligning Anaïs Mitchell with the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Joanna Newsom via its sheer, brain-welting ambition.»
In Depth by James Skinner
A humbled Megafaun wrap up their European tour with a fantastic show in Barcelona. »
In Depth by James Skinner
DiS meets Kristian Matsson (a.k.a. The Tallest Man on Earth) in Barcelona.»
Review
by James Skinner
While the new songs furnish One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels with a front-end that’s both muscular and unfamiliar, they also spin it into something grander and harder to ignore.»
Review
by James Skinner
It is rare that concept albums are such terrific fun as The Monitor, which squares up against colossal odds and overcomes them with ease.»
Review
by James Skinner
Coconut is a baffling, dirty, even exhausting listen at times, but never less than engaging throughout. When it peaks it exudes wild, untrammelled invention – an explosion of ideas barely kept in check by its makers, but kept in check all the same.»
Review
by James Skinner
It’s easy to be cynical from a distance with a band like Arctic Monkeys, proffering withering dismissal in the wake of such outright, mainstream success. As concerts such as this one prove, though, it absolutely shouldn’t be.»
Review
by James Skinner
That Midlake seem poised to break out with a record as dark, strange and bewilderingly out of step as The Courage of Others is a real victory.»
In Depth by James Skinner
Every year we ask our staff to submit their records of the year and every year, writers put records in their lists that seem to have been somewhat overlooked both within the realm of DiS and/or across the board. Rather than leave these records as forgotten footnotes, last year we launched our imaginatively titled Lost 8 of '08 (see the 8 highlighted records here) and this year it returns, one year older 'n' wiser, as the Lost 9 of '09. Once again this little list intends to do much the same neck-out-sticking for some of our staff's personal favourites. »
In Depth by James Skinner
Felix are Lucinda Chua (classically trained musician) and Chris Summerlin (him from Lords). Makers of the utterly strange, utterly wonderful October-released You Are the One I Pick, they do make for an odd pair. We asked them to write to us and clear up a few things. They complied... »
Review
by James Skinner
Thriving off the energy channelled their way, Bowerbirds are absolutely exhilarating this evening.»
Review
by James Skinner
The lead track on Felix’s debut album is called ‘Death to Everyone But Us’. It’s a brave opening gambit and seductive invitation to their dreamily pretty, bizarre world.»
Review
by James Skinner
Perhaps the best place to begin with the new Sufjan Stevens album is to state that it’s not, really, the new Sufjan Stevens album. It is, however, unmistakeably Sufjan Stevens: a lush, sweeping fantasia in turn virtuosic, opulent and quietly affecting.»
Review
by James Skinner
Port O’Brien's latest sees the band substitute bravado for dreamy, bereavement-informed reverie, on a record that warms and chills with profoundly magnanimous intent. »
Review
by James Skinner
At their best, The Get Up Kids don’t so much transcend the pop-punk template as they do command it. Guitar-based sugar-rushes of melody and feeling don’t get any better than this.»
