Ick’s Pick: En’ A-Free-Ka
Unpredictable.Otherworldy.Fuunnky.Indescribable. The new album from Shafiq Husayn is blowing my mind. En’ A-Free-Ka is an hour long journey through strange sounds, funky Parliament-arian grooves, futuristic hip-hop soundscapes.Seriously, when I listen to this album, it feels like I’m listening to sounds…
Ick’s Pick: Laughin’ and Cryin’ with the Reverend Horton Heat
Jim Heath and his power psychobilly trio Reverend Horton Heat are like the damn Energizer bunnies of rock & roll – they keep on a goin’. It wouldn’t surprise if they’re out on the road 300 days out of the…
Ick’s Pick: Deer Tick’s Born on Flag Day
Deer Tick is a band that I tracked down because of all the buzz – on the blogs, on Twitter, in the pages of Rolling Stone. I guess I assumed they’d be too “indie” for my tastes, but never judge…
Ick’s Pick (Week XXIII): Mos Def’s The Ecstatic
Call it the power of television. I tuned into Letterman on Monday night to take in the entertainment that is Howard Stern in the guest chair. I always enjoy the interaction between Howard and Dave. The musical guest that night…
Ick’s Pick (Week XXII): Ryan Bingham’s Roadhouse Sun
“Bad ass”. If I had to describe the new Ryan Bingham album in two words, those would be them. Show me a more bad ass release this year. You can’t. Because Ryan Bingham brings it on this album. A former…
Ick’s Pick (Week XXI): Grizzly Bear, “Veckatimest”
Hype, the likes of which that have been heaped on Brooklyn’s Grizzly Bear, can be an incredibly tricky minefield to navigate. On one hand you’ve got the ear of the tastemaker, the hipster elite and the blogosphere all clamoring to…
Ick’s Pick (Week XX): Jason Lytle
I got sucked right into grandaddy‘s beautiful space pop when I heard their amazing album The Sophtware Slump way back in old ’00. A couple of albums later, front man Jason Lytle decided to call it quits (after releasing Just…
Ick’s Pick (Week XIX): Steve Earle – ‘Townes’
I’m sitting down to write this after the improbable occurrence of just seeing Steve Earle in the 30 Rock season finale. Oh my, what an ending! It’s a kidney benefit for Jack’s dad, and a We Are the World-esque gathering…
Ick’s Pick (Week XVIII): The New York Dolls – ‘Cause I Sez So
In 1973, the New York Dolls released their now-classic debut album, produced by Todd Rundgren. 36 years and one reunion album later (2006’s One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This), the 21st century incarnation of the Dolls…
Ick’s Pick (Week XV): John Doe and the Sadies – ‘Country Club’
When I was looking through this week’s releases, this one jumped out of the screen at me: John Doe and the Sadies. Now, I’m pretty clueless when it comes to the music of X, and its co-founder Doe. But I…
