Shirley Halperin and I talk about some of our favorite albums from 2014. My picks included righteous works by D’Angelo (also reviewed for SPIN), Doug Paisley, Angel Olsen, and Caribou.
Category: Music & Film
The Best Music of 2014 (Amazon Edition)
It’s a special year-end list that makes room for Jessie Ware (above), Linkin Park, and Eric Church, and I’m happy to say I spilled positive ink on all three for Amazon’s Best of 2014 albums and songs roundup. Also held forth on such tuneful peeps as Sylvan Esso, Sam Smith, Bleachers, Little Dragon, Chromeo, the War on Drugs, Beck, Charli XCX, Alt-J, FKA Twigs, and ScHoolboy Q, to name a few. Visit Amazon to see what you missed, and why you should care.
Take Two: Mary J. Blige and Mike Patton
Every few weeks, I pop into NPR member station KPCC for “Tuesday Reviewsday” on Take Two. This week it’s The London Sessions by Mary J. Blige and Geocidal from Mike Patton’s Tētēma.
Take Two: TV on the Radio and Mr. Oizo
ITV on the Radio’s Seeds was a no brainer for Tuesday’s KPCC session — it’s a fine release, and I’m fresh off a weird and lengthy SPIN cover story in its honor. I also spoke about French A/V wizard Mr. Oizo (shout-out Brainfeeder) and cracked Nick Jonas jokes. Paid in tote bags.
Kanye Illustrated, Punk Love, and Gangsta Emoji
Posterity Post: I wrote thousands of articles while on staff at SPIN and blogged none of them.
Here’s the most graphic installment in this series. Don’t worry, it’s all (most?) safe for work. These are posts involving the art of illustration. And, yes, that is Kanye West as Steve Jobs glaring at you above. We commissioned Penelope Gazin to bring the man’s boasts to life.
Take Two: Run the Jewels and Grouper
A spooky edition of KPCC’s Take Two, featuring my picks from Run the Jewels and Grouper.
A Few of My Favorite Things, Silver Lake Edition
I still don’t *really* understand what this site is or who uses it, but they gave me a (pro-bono) chance to shout out my favorite places for food, music, booze, caffeine, etc. in Los Angeles. Plus, they promised to call me an expert. To see my picks, go to Utrip, click “See Itinerary,” and then enter an arbitrary date (you’re not going to do this, I know, it’s okay). From there (ha), click on the little “Overview” tab above the map. FINALLY, you can scroll down Continue reading
Take Two: Bleachers and Madlib
Here’s me on Bleachers’ Strange Desire and Madlib’s Rock Konducta. Co-critic Steve Hochman gets jazz-punk. Listen to us bridge public radio’s generational gap. Har har. Hear here:
Take Two: RiFF RAFF and How to Dress Well
I’m proud to say I brought RiFF RAFF’s music to public radio — via NPR affiliate station KPCC. Oh, and How to Dress Well’s latest too. Check out this 2014 Take Two “Tuesday Reviewsday” heater.
Take Two: Parquet Courts and Fucked Up
This week, the radio-unfriendly Fucked Up’s Glass Boys, and Parquet Courts’ Sunbathing Animal.
Chris Writes Things 