New Orleans punk band Special Interest have been blowing wigs back since 2018, when they dropped their debut record, Spiraling, a chaotic romp through hard-hitting social themes and wildly divergent musical directions. On “Young, Gifted, Black, in Leather” the sentiment is self-explanatory, yet the mighty wails of vocalist Alli Logout peel back new layers of […]
Tag: Rough Trade
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Mourning Joe Cassidy of Butterfly Child
Irish dream-pop genius Joe Cassidy lived in Chicago for more than a decade and became a beloved part of our music scene.
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Sleaford Mods stir up dark energy on the focused new Spare Ribs
When I first heard Nottingham duo Sleaford Mods, Jason Williamson’s unhinged vocal delivery immediately captured my attention. Their minimalist music—which is simply Williamson ranting about working-class struggles over Andrew Fern’s sparse, chintzy electronic beats—could appeal to anarcho-punks, hip-hop heads, and Mark E. Smith devotees alike. Williamson is a force: wide-eyed and frothing at the mouth, […]
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As Dark Mark, singer-songwriter Mark Lanegan has himself a merry little Christmas
Mark Lanegan has made an album to satisfy the yuletide yearnings of those who find holly and hellfire equally enchanting. Even before his old band Screaming Trees hung it up in 2000, the singer-songwriter had begun his career as a serial collaborator—highlights over the past 20 years include his work with Queens of the Stone […]
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Electronic innovators Cabaret Voltaire make a mind-bending return on Shadow of Fear
In this hellish age, true celebrations feel few and far between, but the first new Cabaret Voltaire album in 26 years is definitely cause for rejoicing. Its title, Shadow of Fear, sticks to this UK group’s usual dystopian vibe; they kicked off the 1980 album The Voice of America by addressing the messed-up state of […]
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12 O’Clock Track: In honor of Rough Trade coming stateside, Young Marble Giants’ “Salad Days”
A highlight from the band’s only album, Colossal Youth