Best New Music

The Crying Light

Mon: 01-19-09
Antony and the Johnsons: The Crying Light

On The Crying Light, Antony Hegarty remains fascinated with the transitions and overlaps between birth and life, life and death, this world and the next, but he expresses them in more universal, more direct, but no less rapturous terms than he did on his New York-tinted breakthrough I Am a Bird Now.

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Mon: 01-05-09
Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion

Anticipated to an almost ridiculous degree, no one looking forward to the latest Animal Collective record-- out tomorrow on vinyl and digitally, and on CD in two weeks-- will be disappointed. Everything that's defined the band to this point has here been refined and amplified into a record that captures the group's quirky and forwardly expressive style.

Features

Franz Ferdinand
Tue: 02-03-09

Interview: Franz Ferdinand

After bringing intelligent, glamorous pop music to the masses, Franz Ferdinand have returned as a commerical force-- debuting songs in video games, collaborating with rap superstars-- but still are looking to expand their sonic palatte on their more exploratory new album, Tonight.

[Stuart Berman]
While We Were Out...
Mon: 02-02-09

While We Were Out...

Catching up with last week's reviews, including our takes on the new records from Bruce Springsteen and Franz Ferdinand, EP collaborations between Hot Chip and Robert Wyatt and Jon Brion and Of Montreal, and yet another pair of wonderful Optimo-related mixes.

[Pitchfork Staff]
Thu: 01-29-09

Interview: Buzzcocks

As they tour Europe performing their classic albums, the two original members of the influential punk band talk about reissues, riots, and throwing bricks through windows.

[Patrick Sisson]
Mon: 01-26-09

Interview: Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett

We spoke to the duo behind Gorillaz about their new project, Monkey, as well as such controversial subjects as the disintegration of the West, why Africa is the future of the world, cultural tourism, and Vampire Weekend.

[Scott Plagenhoef]
Fri: 01-23-09

Column: Puritan Blister #42

Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak isn't just the album of the winter, it's a major pop achievement. And it's a potential salve for those whose personal experiences this month aren't dominated by hope and change.

[William Bowers]
Thu: 01-22-09

Guest List: Max Tundra

Max Tundra talks to us about overcoming his addiction to a web-based word game, the prank phone call that had BBC censors working overtime, and his preference for Polish audiences. [Interview: Tyler Grisham]

[Ben Jacobs]