Lollipop Magazine

Bill Laswell – Version 2 Version: A Dub Transmission – Review

February 7, 2005

Laswell always gets first-rate players, and he’s always layering things into his dubs, giving you the opportunity to keep listening further.

Diamanda Galas – La Serpenta Canta – Review

February 7, 2005

A collection of live dates with her and a piano (and an occasional delay pedal), and she’s doing tunes by John Lee Hooker, Hank Williams, Screamin Jay Hawkins, and Ornette Coleman.

Einsturzende Neubauten – Perpetuum Mobile – Review

June 14, 2004

Like on Silence is Sexy, the perceived violence found in earlier recordings is almost completely gone. In its place is a restless peace and a cold confidence.

Firewater – Songs We Should Have Written – Review

April 12, 2004

The songs stretch far and wide, from Johnny Cash to Sonny Bono to Robyn Hitchcock, and all with that typical Firewater flair, the booze-soaked, horn-spiked, Eastern Europe-gutter trawling sound conjures up the image of drunken Mariachis in Kosovo.

20 Miles – Life Doesn’t Rhyme – Review

March 15, 2004

Half-assed blues from one-third of JSBX. Judah Bauer plays the kind of music that makes you think, “Hey, that Jon Spencer is a pretty good guitarist, isn’t he?”

TRS-80 – Shake Hands with Danger – Review

March 8, 2004

The most interesting thing coming out of the experimental electro camp in some time, TRS-80 consistently expands the possibilities of technology.

Pepe Deluxe – Beatitude – Review

March 1, 2004

Cool beats and heavy basslines interspersed with mellow guitar lines and emotive vocals. Innovative use of samples, and songs that are actual songs, rather than extended set pieces.

Pansy Division – Total Entertainment! – Review

March 1, 2004

The self-imposed label of “queer punk” is a little shaky. Total Entertainment! is about as punk as The Go-Gos were. Still, the guys have come far as songwriters.

T. Raumschmiere – Radio Blackout – Review

March 1, 2004

Radio Blackout uses crunchy basslines and breakbeats to hammer out crude melodies and rhythms that seem to jump out of the stereo.

Delerium – Chimera – Review

February 23, 2004

World-music-meets-trip-hop, but safe. Chimera is lush, inoffensive, pretty, and desperately looking for a Volkswagon commercial to tie into.