Upcoming reviews:
Ian Clement - Drawing Daggers
Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
CocoRosie - La Maison de Mon Rêve
Latest buys/gifts/finds:
Johnny Cash - The Christmas Collection
The Beach Boys - Christmas Album
Björk - Debut
Big Special - Postindustrial Hometown Blues
Big Special - National Average
Upcoming shows:
Oct 22-24
Oct 29
Nov 1
Nov 27
Mar 27
Left of the Dial Festival [Rotterdam]
Stef Kamil Carlens [Bergen op Zoom]
Swell [Breda]
The Veils [Nijmegen]
Bettie Serveert [Bergen op Zoom]
Recently visited shows:
Sep 4-5
Aug 27
Jul 31
Jul 10
Jun 19
May 7
Apr 16
Apr 15
Apr 1
Mar 21
Mar 14
Mar 10
Feb 27
Jan 31
Dec 29
Dec 27
Nov 23
Oct 31
Oct 23-25
Oct 18
The Haunted Youth, Pommelien Thijs, The Vaccines, CMAT, Stone, Lézard, Fleddy Melculy, Rosie Stuart, The Hickey Underworld [Crammerock]
Croithe, DEADLETTER, High Vis [Hit The City]
Global Charming, Brik Tu Tok, Bothlane [Totaal Festival]
Osees, Straight Arrows
Sorry, Jaso
Dressed Like Boys, Frans Kalf
Marathon, Minor Citizen
Ordinary Elephant
De Staat
Christian Kjellvander, DUFFHUES
IST IST, Rude Films
Flip Noorman zingt Shane MacGowan
A.A. Williams, Spotlights
John Coffey, Mood Bored, L.A. Sagne, BUG, Grote Geelstaart, SNAYX, Heavy Lungs [Out of the Ordinary]
Marathon, Heavy Lungs, Eosine
Tim Knol plays Tom Petty
Flip Noorman Animal Farm
Chuck Prophet & his Cumbia Shoes
Bleech 9:3, Cowboy Hunters, Curser, House Arrest, The Empty Threats, Mên an Tol, Van Zon [Left of the Dial]
Ghostwoman
List of personal favorites:
Anywhen - The Opiates
Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen
Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
Black Atlantic - Darkling, I Listen
Broken Records - Let Me Come Over
Ane Brun - My Temporary Dive
Deep Purple - Made in Japan
The Frames - The Cost
Kashmir - No Balance Palace
Madrugada - The Deep End
Noir Desir - Des Visages des Figures
Currently reading:
De Beste Muziek Verhalen van 1945 tot Nu samengesteld en ingeleid door Leon Verdonschot
posted [10.09.2026]
released [2002]
[sub]genre: songwriter
rating:
Comment:
The first time I acquainted the term 'songsmith' it was regarding Guy Clark; a craftsman who's quality of work was of a constant high level. I always thought that a limited output was the logical side effect, but I was wrong there. Guy Clark released some 20 albums in his 40 year+ career.
I can't remember how, why or when I came across Guy Clarks' first two albums, re-released combined on one disc: the 1975 Old No. 1 and the 1976 Texas Cookin'. They host two of Clarks' signature songs: L.A. Freeway and Desperados Waiting On A Train. Old No. 1 is considered a cornerstone of Americana and outlaw music, but did not make the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list. Gram Parsons' Grievous Angel did. I guess it's down to sexiness and myth, which Guy Clark was not the type for.
The 2004 documentary Be Here To Love Me on Townes van Zandts' life also portrays the longtime friendship between Van Zandt and Clark and his wife Susan. What I remember specifically is Guy Clarks' unique chuckle. He is a charming character. I need to watch the DVD again one day soon.
On The Dark Guy Clark is accompanied by the likes of Gillian Welch, David Rawlins and Tim O'Brien. Not the least, but no first timer. On previous albums Clark worked with Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Nanci Griffith and Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Aside a Townes Van Zandt song - something Guy Clark did on quite a few of his recordings - 11 well-crafted and well-groomed compositions written in various collaborations. Clark masters the art of creating a scene or backdrop with just a couple of words or a single line. Melody, instrumentation, his coarse sandpaper - often used parlando - voice makes you feel those stories. Whether on his dog being shot (Queenie's getting burried, it's time to dig the hole) or an American Civil War casualty about to lose his leg (He handed me a bottle said, drink deep as you can. He turned away then turned right back with a hacksaw in his hand). But the most beautiful song and - IMHO - maybe one of his best songs to date must be the title track. How dark is it?, It's so dark you can smell the moon. How dark is it? It's so dark the wind gets lost.
Guy and Townes may have left the surface of this planet, but remain forever cornerstones of Americana music.
Mud
Arizona Star
Magnolia Wind
Soldier's Joy
Dancin' Days
Homeless
Off the Map
Bag of Bones
She Loves To Ride Horses
Rex's Blues
Queenie's Song
The Dark
CHVRCHΞS
Screen Violence
posted [27.08.2026]
released [2021]
[sub]genre: synth-pop
rating:
Comment:
It's not often that an indie, lo-fi and alt-country fan fancies pop. But this band is phenomenal. A new album on the way and I can't wait. Would definitely attend a show even if it was midweeks and even if I was the only 50 up attendee.
One day - putting together a pop quiz - I stumbled across a rather original version of Rage Against the Machine's Killing In The Name by Scottish band Blue Sky Archives. It was much later that I realised that their lead singer and drummer was CHVRCHΞS Lauren Mayberry. Ian Cook, formerly of Aerogramme, who had recently gained interest in electronic music, met Mayberry when he was asked to produce Blue Sky Archives' Triple A-side EP. Cook started a new band with his friend Martin Doherty and asked Mayberry to sing some demos. The three Strathclyde musicians got along really well and that's the birth of CHVRCHΞS. Initially Doherty would sing lead, but Mayberry's vocal abilities proved the other two different.
In September 2013 CHVRCHΞS released their debut The Bones of What You Believe to critical acclaim. By that time CHVRCHΞS have only a handfull of live performances under their belt. But with the release of seven singles, a couple of TV appearances and a promotional tour the band presents their Depeche Mode influenced synth-pop to the public. Media were especially interested in Mayberry, but the band refused all requests that would portray Mayberry as if CHVRCHΞS was a band built around her. With the money made they upgraded the recording facilities at Cook's basement studio to recorded the follow up Every Open Eye
Screen Violence is CHVRCHΞS 4th longplayer. The last one released for Glassnote before signing with Island Records. And yes, of course the collaboration with The Cure's Robert Smith caught my ear immidiately. If I recall correctly it was the main reason I bought this record. If you can find a moment of piece and quiet, put on a headphone and listen to this song. Where you might think Robert Smith only appears to sing a verse, check out his contribution on the chorus. It's otherworldly. Screen Violence was recorded during the pandemic, Cook working from Glasgow, Doherty and Mayberry from Los Angeles. The album title was an unused band name alternative and fitted this era like a glove, as everyone was staring at a screen, trying to stay sane. According to the band the album is a mix of personal experiences and imagery. I was relieved to read that Mayberry watched a lot of horror movies in the process of writing. That partly explaines the gloomy atmopshere.
Underneath crisp and overall positive sounding songs, Screen Violence hides a darker message. On the one hand inspired by the love of the horror genre, but more importantly pointing out subjects such as sex inequality and abusive relationships. The activist in Lauren Mayberrry is never far away and thankfully it brings us lots of beautiful songs; to enjoy, but definitely also matter to think about.
Asking for a Friend
He Said She Said
California
Violent Delights
How Not To Drown (ft Robert Smith)
Final Girl
Good Girls
Lullabies
Nightmares
Better If You Don't
Big Joe Williams
Blues Masters
posted [21.08.2026]
released [1991]
[sub]genre: delta blues
rating:
Comment:
A quick Big Joe Williams search on the internet comes up with at least two notable things. First Williams is regarded the author of Baby, Please Don't Go back in 1935 which became a huge hit when Van Morrisons Them released the song in 1964. Second is the use of a heavily customized 9 string acoustic. He apparently added an additional three strings to prevent other people from playing his guitar.
When it comes to Delta Blues other names like Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Son House, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King all spark more imagination more than Big Joe Williams'. Nontheless, Big Joe Williams' five decade spanning carreer did not pass unnoticed.
During his entire carreer Williams rambled the South and Midwest busking the streets, bars, logging and lumber camps and saw mills. Early 1920s he joined the Rabbit Foot Minstrel revue, an all black travelling variety troupe with comedians, dancers, singers and musicians. This is where he met the free spirited 'Empress of the Blues' Bessie Smith with whom he was said to be married at one time.
The Delta Blues shifted from acoustic to electric in the 1950s and 1960s. Big Joe Williams however could continue to play his 9 string acoustic guitar, thanks to the interest for folk blues from the American folk music revival fans. Big Joe Williams heard Bob Dylan play in New York and advised him to start writing his own material instead of playing covers. They recorded a couple of duets in the early sixties.
Big Joe Williams continued to perform and record until his death in 1982. Blues Masters Volume 2 is no greatest hits record, but the complete 1963 Copenhagen session. Williams' guitar rings, his voice howls, his lyrics incomprehensible like on Saturday Night Jump. Don't You Leave Me Here - a variation of - Baby Please Don't Go is amongst my favorites. It might be because I'm not trained in listening to acoustic Delta Blues, a lot of the songs sound very alike too me. That's why I value this record at 2,5 stars.
