Notes From The Record Room: Henry Rollins, Tropical Fuck Storm, IRK, Stimmerman, mclusky, Damaged Bug, Kathryn Mohr
Summarizing the week in music: Henry Rollins turned 65; see live videos from Tropical Fuck Storm and IRK; two new singles from the latest project by Stimmerman; release announcements from mclusky and Damaged Bug (John Dwyer of Osees); and a haunting single from Kathryn Mohr’s upcoming album, Carve.
Sorting Through Browser Tabs: January Playlist
First playlist of 2026: January’s playlist features tracks by Zu, Mandy, Indiana; Kim Gordon, sunn O))), Blackwater Holylight, Maria BC, Pullman, dälek, Mitski, trauma ray, Ora Cogan, and many more.
Notes From The Record Room: Isabel Pine, TAGABOW, OOIOO/Lightning Bolt, Alan Vega
Summarizing the week in music: Check out tracks by kranky artist Isabel Pine; an NTS video session by They Are Gutting a Body of Water; a preview track featured on the upcoming split LP from OOIOO and Lightning Bolt, and info on the new Alan Vega reissues.
In The Headphones: Zu’s Ferrum Sidereum
Zu, Italian purveyors of metallically-tinged jazz and the unsettlingly avant, have issued Ferrum Sidereum: an 80-minute masterclass in “metallic hard bop, feral calculus, and dark electronics.”
Two-Zero-Two-Five C.E. — Counting Down The Year In Sound Worship
Here are my picks for favorite albums of 2025. Happy New Year.
Buys & Receipt: Hüsker Dü’s 1985…
I was fortunate enough to procure a copy of Hüsker Dü’s beautifully curated and remastered box set of live recordings, 1985: The Miracle Year, which was recently issued by Numero Group.
Fanboy’isms ahead…
Notes From The Record Room: Black Flag INSTRUMENTAL, $6.98 (and 40 Years Later)
Forty years ago, Black Flag released a four-track instrumental EP called The Process Of Weeding Out, an ambitious jazz-punk offering that further tested the constraints of hardcore and signaled that an end was close. I had thoughts, time, and a laptop.
What’s (Re)New?: Two Decades of Pink by Boris and Way Their Crept by Grouper
Celebrating twenty years, Relapse Records is reissuing two Boris albums, Pink and dronevil, as deluxe and expanded editions. Way Their Crept, the first album from Grouper (Liz Harris), is also blowing out its twentieth candle and being reissued later this year by kranky.
In The Headphones: Live Albums From BEAK> and Osees
Just sharing some thoughts on two new live recordings from BEAK> and Osees.
Sorting Through Browser Tabs: August Playlist
August’s playlist includes singles from Osees, Agriculture, Rafiq Bhatia, Sunflowers, Nuclear Dudes, Ritual Mass, pôt-pot, Snōōper, Automatic, Slow Crush, and more.
Notes From The Record Room: The Necks, Guerilla Toss, Dag och Natt, IRK, Anna von Hausswolff, SQUANDERERS
A few words regarding new singles by The Necks, Guerilla Toss, Dag och Natt, IRK, Anna von Hausswolff, and SQUANDERERS.
In The Headphones: Agriculture, Water Damage
Agriculture’s upcoming album, The Spiritual Sound, was recently announced via the harrowing single “Bodhidharma.” Water Damage’s Instruments LP, along with their upcoming single-track live album, Live At Le Guess Who?, caught my attention.
In The Headphones: loscil, Coffin Prick, Grails, Kilynn Lunsford
A few words about albums by loscil, Coffin Prick, Grails, and Kilynn Lunsford.
Notes From The Record Room: Mid-June Updates, SUMAC & Moor Mother, Sly-Brian-Dylan, Girls Against Boys
Breaking the silence: Following personal updates, there’s a review of the SUMAC / Moor Mother collaboration, The Film, and some show notes from a recent gig headlined by Girls Against Boys.
Notes From The Record Room: 30 Candles for Fugazi’s Red Medicine & Some Personal History
The recent 30th anniversary of Fugazi’s fourth LP, Red Medicine, led to some thoughts, feelings, and admittedly self-indulgent prattle.
Show Notes: Body / Head at Solar Myth, 5/5/25
A few words about Body / Head, the improvisational duo composed of Kim Gordon and Bill Nace, and the group’s second performance of a two-night residency at Solar Myth, 5/5/25.
Notes From The Record Room: Dave Allen, Al Barile, Clem Burke, and David Thomas (RIP), 7 Seconds, Ceremonial Abyss, Shifting Heigo, METZ
A post written in increments over the course of April, I share some thoughts on new music from Ceremonial Abyss and Shifting Heigo, an unearthed track by 7 Seconds, lament METZ via the band’s one-off reunion, and post some videos from the recently departed Dave Allen, Al Barile, Clem Burke, and David Thomas.
What’s (Re)New?: KoenjiHyakkei, Unrest, Dome
More of a journal entry than a review, I’m spotlighting some reissues I recently acquired by Koenji Hyakkei, Unrest, and Dome (Wire’s Graham Lewis and Bruce Gilbert).
Show Notes: “There’s only one more we can play that… the three of us know” — FACS at Johnny Brenda’s, 4/8/25
A few words about Long Spells, Jeff Zeigler, and FACS, who performed at Johnny Brenda’s on 4/8/25.