Creative Commons Archive

  • Has anyone ever sounded as joyous as Jimmy Cliff when expressing such deep concern for the state of the world? Now aged 64, the reggae superstar sounds as socially engaged as ever […]

    jimmy Cliff – Rebirth

    Has anyone ever sounded as joyous as Jimmy Cliff when expressing such deep concern for the state of the world? Now aged 64, the reggae superstar sounds as socially engaged as ever […]

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  • Joni Mitchell may have been Canadian but, like fellow Canuck Neil Young, she was also the archetypal Laurel Canyon troubadour, at least at this point in her career. But there was […]

    Joni Mitchell – Blue

    Joni Mitchell may have been Canadian but, like fellow Canuck Neil Young, she was also the archetypal Laurel Canyon troubadour, at least at this point in her career. But there was […]

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  • Though not without its moments, 1971’s Fireball described something of a non-descript holding pattern for Deep Purple. Not a bad album as such it was, artistically at least, a curious […]

    Deep Purple – Machine Head

    Though not without its moments, 1971’s Fireball described something of a non-descript holding pattern for Deep Purple. Not a bad album as such it was, artistically at least, a curious […]

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  • Lorn celebrates his switch from LA’s Brainfeeder label to its kindred UK spirit, Ninja Tune, with his follow-up to 2010’s Nothing Else, a landmark album of twisted electronics and cracked […]

    Lorn – Ask the Dust

    Lorn celebrates his switch from LA’s Brainfeeder label to its kindred UK spirit, Ninja Tune, with his follow-up to 2010’s Nothing Else, a landmark album of twisted electronics and cracked […]

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  • It’s hard to place Alt-J. Originally from Leeds, they spend their time in a Cambridgeshire basement making their own brand of uniquely dubbed “folk-step”. However, the noises that An Awesome […]

    Alt-J – An Awesome Wave

    It’s hard to place Alt-J. Originally from Leeds, they spend their time in a Cambridgeshire basement making their own brand of uniquely dubbed “folk-step”. However, the noises that An Awesome […]

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  • Though the specialist subjects of sun, surf and dubious sexual encounters of their debut ep (1987’s Come On Pilgrim) had been retained, the overall mood masterminded a year later on […]

    Pixies – Surfer Rosa

    Though the specialist subjects of sun, surf and dubious sexual encounters of their debut ep (1987’s Come On Pilgrim) had been retained, the overall mood masterminded a year later on […]

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  • “I’m putting this album out at a time when there’s so much competition to be heard,” notes Afie Jurvanen in the press materials surrounding Barchords, his second album as Bahamas, […]

    Bahamas – Barchords

    “I’m putting this album out at a time when there’s so much competition to be heard,” notes Afie Jurvanen in the press materials surrounding Barchords, his second album as Bahamas, […]

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  • On 2011’s Rome, singer Norah Jones, producer Brian ‘Danger Mouse’ Burton, guitarist Jack White and film score composer Daniele Luppi paid homage to old Italo-Western movies with twinkling chimes, twangy guitar riffs, and notable vocal […]

    Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts

    On 2011’s Rome, singer Norah Jones, producer Brian ‘Danger Mouse’ Burton, guitarist Jack White and film score composer Daniele Luppi paid homage to old Italo-Western movies with twinkling chimes, twangy guitar riffs, and notable vocal […]

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  • Having recently divorced his wife of six years, it’s tempting to interpretJack White’s debut solo album as his very own version of Dylan’s breakup classic, Blood on the Tracks. After all, with its […]

    Jack White – Blunderbuss

    Having recently divorced his wife of six years, it’s tempting to interpretJack White’s debut solo album as his very own version of Dylan’s breakup classic, Blood on the Tracks. After all, with its […]

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  • Given they were teen Mod rivals, pals and frustrated wannabes in the 1960s before both quickly bypassed mere stardom for glam rock superstar deity status, the comparisons between Marc Bolan andDavid Bowie is […]

    T. Rex – Electric Warrior

    Given they were teen Mod rivals, pals and frustrated wannabes in the 1960s before both quickly bypassed mere stardom for glam rock superstar deity status, the comparisons between Marc Bolan andDavid Bowie is […]

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  • After the breakthrough of 2010’s Chamber Music Society, the album which saw bassist-vocalist Esperanza Spalding grab a Best New Artist Grammy as Justin Bieber’s publicists wondered, “Who’s she?” comes the tricky business of, “What’s next?” Jazz […]

    Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society

    After the breakthrough of 2010’s Chamber Music Society, the album which saw bassist-vocalist Esperanza Spalding grab a Best New Artist Grammy as Justin Bieber’s publicists wondered, “Who’s she?” comes the tricky business of, “What’s next?” Jazz […]

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  • Claire Boucher claims not to own a mobile phone. Judging by her musical output and interviews under her Grimes moniker, this is the only luddite move she has ever made, as the […]

    Grimes – Visions

    Claire Boucher claims not to own a mobile phone. Judging by her musical output and interviews under her Grimes moniker, this is the only luddite move she has ever made, as the […]

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