Sub Pop 20: the DiS review
DiS crosses the Atlantic to join the celebrations at Sub Pop's 20th Anniversary, at a country park near (of course) Seattle»
Articles
Smallstone has written the following articles:
Mudhoney at London Kentish Town Forum, Thu 31 Jul
Twenty years - it really is that long. But Mudhoney have aged well, their grunge-sparking punk as passionate today as it was in '88»
Wooden Shjips - Singles Compilation Vol 1
Wooden Shjips buck the trend of your typical West Coast psych band, holding little truck with their historical predecessors»
Howlin' Rain - Magnificent Fiend
Whereas Comets On Fire re-arranged standard rock song structures and seemingly attacked the essence of what makes a great rock tune, Howlin’ Rain step back a little and re-address what gets you off in the first place»
The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
The partnership of Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan makes up the tongue-in-cheek but aptly named Gutter Twins. Saturnalia, their debut album, has been five-plus years in gestation, but it’s been worth the wait»
Earth at London Camden Underworld, Tue 12 Feb
On hearing of the shocking news that Camden Market was on fire, and that the Hawley Arms had been gutted, my first thoughts were if the Earth show would be cancelled. Call me doomier than thou, but this weighed somewhat heavily on my mind»
Earth - The Bees Made Honey in the Lions Skull
With the myths and legends left in the past long ago, Earth have been allowed time to evolve into a truly great band, both live and on record. This is music to lose yourself in; a soundtrack to Dylan Carlson escaping the ghosts that previously haunted him and pushing his musical vision forwards»
Sunn O))), Earth, Boris at London Kentish Town Forum, Mon 10 Dec
This post Portishead ATP show has long looked on paper potentially a front-runner for gig of the year. Three of the most visceral bands on the planet, together in one venue, with Boris and Sunn O))) not only playing a set each but also playing their mighty 2006 collaboration Altar live for the first – and possibly only – time»
White Hills - Heads On Fire
White Hills have fashioned an album that pulses and throbs with heads-down astral power that takes one quite literally far out. Set those controls, then, and we'll see you on the other side»
Six Organs Of Admittance - Shelter From The Ash
Here we find Six Organs lynchpin Ben Chasny indulging himself and stretching out more with the help of some notable musical collaborators»
Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals
It’s been a while since an album has come along that can portend a paradigm shift in the musical firmament, but Brooklyn four-piece Yeasayer’s debut All Hour Cymbals is just that»
Wooden Shjips - Wooden Shjips
Think Loop circa their acid-fried masterpiece Heavens End with a clear nod to the ‘communal living’ end of the Krautrock spectrum and the two-fingered musical salute of Suicide. Wooden Shjips is a timeless shout out from the heart of the new West Coast weird underground...»