BRANDON’S TOP ALBUMS OF 2023
10. Wild Nothing – Hold Here Jack Tatum emulates the sophisti-pop sounds of artists like Paul Weller’s The Style Council (Weller was formerly in the Jam and also has an exc
REVIEW: THE STROKES – THE NEW ABNORMAL (2020)
The Strokes have always been indebted to the New York bands that came before them. The city is ground zero for the founding of numerous musical movements and has been claimed to be
BRANDON’S TOP ALBUMS OF 2019
10. Julian Lynch – Rat’s Spit The Madison via New York ethnomusicologist offers his first solo work since joining Real Estate. The new role brings clarity to his
BRANDON’S TOP ALBUMS OF 2017
10. Feist – Pleasure Feist returns after a six-year hiatus with a record about everything life gives and takes from us. Personnel from Broken Social Scene featured
REVIEW: JUICEBOXXX – HEARTLAND 99 (2015)
The first time I ever saw Juiceboxxx was at the now defunct Darling Hall in Milwaukee in 2006 (it was close to Conejito’s if you know where that is). His live performance was an
REVIEW: SURGEONS IN HEAT – DISASTER (2015)
It is quite serendipitous that Milwaukee/Madison musician John Mayer has the name John Mayer. In his band Surgeons in Heat he has a strong ability to write catchy and smo
REVIEW: GROUP OF THE ALTOS – R U PERSON OR NOT (2015)
Sometimes it is impossible not to be derivative in music. The Group of Altos, structurally and sonically, seems largely influenced by Canadian post-rock ensembles Godspeed You! Bla
BRANDON’S TOP ALBUMS OF 2014
10. St. Vincent – St. Vincent Drawing from her work with David Byrne, Annie Clark combines social analysis with complex and almost alien sounding music. 9.&n
REVIEW: PEAKING LIGHTS – COSMIC LOGIC (2014)
Peaking Lights is made of married couple Aaron Coynes and Indra Dunis. The pair used to be based in Madison and ran favorite local thrift store, Good Style Shop. The space was loca