- Amorphis – Halo (Atomic Fire)
- All the Fury – Layers (self-released)
- Halo Effect – Days of the Lost (Nuclear Blast)
- Cave In – Heavy Pendulum (Relapse)
- Khold – Svartsyn (Soul Seller)
- Celeste – Assassine(s) (Nuclear Blast)
- Dark Funeral – We Are the Apocalypse (Century Media)
- Deathspell Omega – Long Defeat (Season of Mist)
- Early Moods – s/t (RidingEasy)
- Sigh – Shiki (Peaceville)
Best Albums of 2022: Amorphis, All the Fury, Halo Effect, Cave In, Khold
Posted in Lists with tags All the Fury, Amorphis, Cave In, Celeste, Dark Funeral, Deathspell Omega, Early Moods, Halo Effect, Khold, Sigh on 01/16/2023 by korzeckGuilty Pleasures: Dez Dare Digs Grand Funk Railroad, More
Posted in Features, Guilty Pleasures, Lists with tags Dez Dare on 01/12/2023 by korzeckDez Dare is up to something. Scratch that: psych/punk/garage vet Dez Dare is always up to something.
Starting on the first day of this year, the indefatigable U.K.-based punk-rock vet posted five cryptic Instagram posts piquing fans’ interest. Each post alluded to a big announcement that Dez — a.k.a. Darren Smallman — plans to make imminently.
Dez promises “records a plenty + weird videos + odd touring + a slick new website” in the posts.
Continue readingHear Covert Stations’ Latest Reworking: Roxette’s ‘It Must Have Been Love’
Posted in Interviews, MP3s with tags Covert Stations, Roxette on 12/19/2022 by korzeckCovert Stations, Craig Cirinelli’s ambitious project that reimagines classic pop songs, is getting visible enough that the word “covert” is now something of a misnomer.
On Friday, Cirinelli and his latest crew of cohorts unveiled the fifth “borrowed” tune in the ongoing endeavor. (He prefers “borrowed” to “cover,” as Covert Stations drastically rework the original versions of the songs they select.)
Continue readingBad Penny of the Year: Nicolas Cage
Posted in Essays, Features with tags Nicolas Cage on 12/17/2022 by korzeckIf you check out this website, you probably know it’s almost exclusively focused on music. But we’re making an exception here, because Nicolas Cage is about as rock and roll as they come. (And, for the record, his characters actually do sing sometimes, too.)
When Cage legendarily shelled out millions, as if he were allergic to money, he bought dinosaur skulls, a two-headed snake, a haunted house and shrunken pygmy heads.
That’s pretty metal, in our book. Plus, if Cage can be a presenter at Revolver‘s Golden God Awards, he’s allowed to be part of the Bad Penny family.
Continue readingExclusive: False Gods — Meet Metal’s Newest True Believers
Posted in Interviews on 12/05/2022 by korzeckTry this homework assignment:
1. Form a new band with six musicians from China and Canada.
2. Make sure they’re all well-versed in a wide array of heavy-metal genres.
3. Assemble the project during the pandemic.
4. Release an album before the lockdowns end.
5. Play a few shows around the time of the album release.
Somehow, music phenom Yuqiao Man managed to pull off that impossible-sounding feat over the past two years.
Continue readingJoshua Lewis, Multi-Instrumentalist Extraordinaire, Conveys a Sense of ‘Friction’
Posted in Interviews with tags Built to Spill, Joshua Lewis on 11/11/2022 by korzeckMost mystics and some musicians, when asked for advice, inevitably stress the importance of silence. One of the most healing aspects of retreats, hikes and the like is embracing the lack of noise and letting one’s mind go undisturbed. Miles Davis famously said, “It’s not the notes you play, it’s the notes you don’t play.”
Through no fault of their own, musicians — who want to be at least heard, if not worshipped — have a tough time staying humble.
Cerebral multi-instrumentalist, producer and engineer Joshua Lewis doesn’t have that problem.
For the first 10 years of his career, the Boise-based artist played nary a note on a stage or in a studio. Instead, his primary trade was (and still is) engineering and producing music for other artists. Most recently, he helped record and mix the new album When the Wind Forgets Your Name by Boise’s best band of all time, Built to Spill.
Continue readingOutrage Over Bill Burr’s Abortion Bit Is a Joke
Posted in Comedy, Essays with tags Bill Burr, Louis CK, Seinfeld on 11/10/2022 by korzeckBill Burr is splitting the Internet again. A bit about abortion on his latest comedy special, Live at Red Rocks, is tearing up social media. But, as usual, anyone shocked over the always-hilarious, always-controversial comedian is clearly not a fan.
In his latest special, Bill Burr closes by saying, “I know I said I lot of divisive sh– here tonight. So, before I get out of here, let’s bring the room together. It’s a very divisive time. Everyone wants to feel safe. Let’s do a nice, normal, mainstream topic so everybody can drive home happy, no fights. All right? Sound good? All right, great. Let’s talk abortion.”
Continue readingWe Saw Spirit Mother Play Live — And So Should You, Motherfuckers
Posted in Concert Reviews, Reviews with tags Spirit Mother on 11/08/2022 by korzeckIt’s not clear what Boise did to deserve two heart-pounding performances in one year by Spirit Mother. They are one of the best new psych-rock bands on the West Coast — which is saying a lot, given that it’s currently the favored strain of indie music from Seattle to San Diego.
The Bad Penny had the honor of speaking with frontman Armand Lance before Spirit Mother headlined a gig at Neurolux on June 9. And last night, we had the equally great opportunity to finally watch them do what they do best: cause the jaws of dozens of music fans to collectively drop.
Continue readingCover Story: Zhu
Posted in Interview Transcripts, Interviews with tags Zhu on 11/05/2022 by korzeckGo here to read my latest cover story for Music Connection, spotlighting revered electronic-music artist Zhu.
Exclusive Video Premiere: ‘Thinkin’ About You’ by Joshua Lewis
Posted in Exclusives with tags Joshua Lewis on 10/25/2022 by korzeckFor 10 years, music engineer Joshua Lewis twiddled the knobs in recording studios, helping Boise artists bring their songs to fruition. But last year, he finally walked around the soundboards and began recording his own music.
Continue reading