With the “Matador at 21” extravaganza set to start later today, here’s another archival interview with one of the featured performers: Liz Phair. Conducted April 30, 2003, she talked about her then-upcoming self-titled release with Capitol; her Matador-issued debut, Exile in Guyville (“obviously my most important work”); and being “heartbroken” after the master tapes for that record were misplaced by Matador, Capitol – or someone else. Continue reading
Any indie-rock fan worth their salt is either talking or thinking about Matador’s big “Lost Weekend” in Las Vegas, which starts tomorrow. The lineup is the record label’s equivalent of MLB’s All-Century Team, feature the likes of Pavement, Guided by Voices, Superchunk, Yo La Tengo and oh-so-many more. Continue reading
The Bad Penny published this transgressive – perhaps even transcendental – article in December 2010. Given the social and political upheaval happening in the U.S., Orphaned Land’s place of residence, and the Middle East, we hope Bad Penny readers might value the viewpoints that the musicians shared from their heart 16 years ago. (ed.-11:08p.m., 7.15.26)
Metalheads are fickle when it comes to approving a band’s metal cred. But it’s safe to say that your group qualifies if: 1) Fans can get arrested for listening to you; 2) You get arrested trying to record an album; and 3) You preach a message so radical that it makes some metalheads cringe.
Enter Orphaned Land, a metal band from Israel that meets all those criteria.
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Climber frontman Michael Nelson just reached out to the Bad Penny to take part in our “What You Readin’ For” series, in which literature and music flirt. The vocalist/pianist/multi-instrumentalist submitted a series of deep thoughts on his latest read: Herman Melville classic “Moby Dick.”
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With a handful of this year’s best metal releases dropping Tuesday, the timing feels apt for the Bad Penny to round up its favorite 2010 LPs – at least so far. Continue reading
Looks like many of you dug the first installment of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Rebus.” So here’s a new one, related to a band that recently got some coverage on this blog. Continue reading
Here is another not-terribly positive album review I recently wrote for Filter. This one criticizes Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan’s Hawk – a record that should instead be attributed to “Campbell and Friends” or simply “Campbell.”
Here is my less-than-favorable Filter review of Devil’s Made a New Friend, the new album from singer/ songwriter/ ex-Honorary Title frontman Jarrod Gorbel.
Submissions to the Bad Penny’s “Cover Me” feature are coming fast and furious. The latest comes courtesy North Carolina rock septet Paper Tongues, whose guitarist, Joey Signa, would die to hear MGMT, Passion Pit, Mutemath and others reinvent songs from the band’s self-titled debut. Continue reading
Research Society took an innovative approach to participating in the Bad Penny’s ongoing “Cover Me” series: Rather than let one bandmember do all the talking, co-songwriters Namky (vocals, rhythm guitar, programming) and G Mann (lead guitar, bass, backing vocals, programming) had a lil’ dialogue. Here’s what the indie-rock band – which hails from Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood – dreamed up for its new Best of Seven EP – along with an exclusive download song from it. Continue reading
