Spotlight on:

photo: Candy Darling on her Deathbed by Peter Hujar

ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS I Am A Bird Now
"I Am A Bird Now the second full-length from this extraordinary New York artist and his cohorts, features contributions from both Antony's peers (Rufus Wainwright, Devendra Banhardt) and heroes (Lou Reed, Boy George). This album has to be one of the most pure and direct to have emerged in a very long time. It is one of the first classics of 2005." roughtrade more


Low The Great Destroyer

"Formed in 1993, Low is a trio from Duluth, Minnesota comprised of guitarist/vocalist Alan Sparhawk, percussionist/vocalist Mimi Parker and bassist Zak Sally. Throughout Low's history, the band has accumulated acclaim from critics ("Low build big magic from so little" - Rolling Stone) and musicians (Radiohead hand-picked Low to open a string of dates in 2003). Initially garnering attention as leaders of the '90s slowcore movement, Low went on to develop a sonic repertoire that incorporated pop, R&B and dissonant rock n' roll. With this kind of storied history, most people thought they had Low pegged. But then they turned in their Sub Pop debut, The Great Destroyer. The band's seventh full-length album, The Great Destroyer is fascinating in that it blends the band's austere melodies ("On the Edge Of," "Silver Rider") with an aggressive guitar onslaught ("Monkey," "Everybody’s Song") and even melds Low's varied styles together into a single song ("When I Go Deaf"). Co-produced by Low and David Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev), The Great Destroyer is a welcome surprise and, in the end, a rock n' roll revelation." subpop also on roughtrade