Our (fairly) regular roundup of Music & Arts related news from Chicago-based web media, featuring thoughts and insight from some of the city’s most dedicated writers.
- Rimshots: Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs relive a lost era of indie
Regardless of any missteps they made later in their careers, any true fan of power-pop will forever harbor a place in their heart for Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, if only for the former’s one perfect album, Girlfriend (1991), and the latter’s effervescent early work with the Bangles on their first self-titled EP and the debut album All Over the Place (1982 and 1984). Collaborating as Sid and Susie in 2006 and again in 2009 to produce the first two volumes of Under the Covers, the first concentrating on favorite songs from the ’60s and the second focusing on the ’70s, the results were pleasant but not revelatory examples of the tribute genre—unlike, say, the unforgettable Paisley Underground set Rainy Day (1984), on which Hoffs played a key role. But these artists, both of whose careers were made possible by the sounds, spirit, and community of’80s indie-rock, surprise more often and seem more passionate when shining a light on their (sometimes unexpected) heroes from that under-heralded time, including the Bongos, the dB’s, Echo & the Bunnymen, the Smiths, the English Beat, and R.E.M. circa Murmur. It’s like retro college-radio karaoke—and that’s intended as a compliment.
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers, Vol. 3 (Shout Factory!)
Rating on the 4-star scale: 3.5 stars.
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- Late Notice: See ‘Nosferatu’ And Enjoy Classic Architecture Tonight
If you’re looking for a last-minute movie excursion this evening we have a recommendation that will fill your thirst for vampire films while taking in some classic architecture in the process. [ more › ]
- Wednesday Afternoon Diversion: All The Apollo Moon Landings In A Single Video
Here’s a single video of all of the Apollo lunar landings, of the original DAC coverage realigned to 45 degrees to show what the LMPs saw on the descent and with the audio segmented from all of the flights. Here’s a single video of all of the Apollo lunar landings, of the original DAC coverage realligned to 45 degrees to show what the LMPs saw on the descent, and with the audio segmented from all of the flights. [ more › ]
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