The Choir Indivisible: Scala & Kolacny Brothers Live

By Christian Lipski

Roseland Theater, Portland OR
March 9, 2011

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Scala & Kolacny Brothers, a Belgian girls’ choir directed by Stijn Kolacny and accompanied on piano by brother Steven, has made its name by performing haunting covers of popular songs including Radiohead’s “Creep” from The Social Network‘s soundtrack. At the Wonder Ballroom last night, they gave Portland a taste of their European direction.

Even if you’ve heard their self-titled CD, which was recently reviewed in Popshifter, you can’t know what it’s like to hear these songs coming from 23 young women in an enclosed space. It gives the modern listener a glimpse into what early devotional music must have been like for medieval worshipers. Hearing so many human voices at once is incredibly moving, especially when paired with the right songs.
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Foo Fighters, Wasting Light

By Danny R. Phillips

I’ll say it right now: In my opinion, the last few Foo Fighters records have not been, shall we say, stellar. And I will add that I stopped buying them after There Is Nothing Left To Lose, my personal belief being it exposed two things that threw a monkey wrench (sorry, corny song reference there) into the works.
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Iggy & The Stooges, Raw Power Live

By Less Lee Moore

Raw Power, the last official Stooges record, was originally released in 1973 and has been the subject of conflict ever since (amongst the band and its fans), due to the various remixed and reissued versions. This live album, recorded in September 2010 at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival in New York is a great interpretation of Raw Power and completely free of any polemic politics. There are some minor changes: the track list is slightly rearranged and “I Got A Right” is added on at the end, but nothing could ever change the incredible spirit of these songs. Raw Power is the perfect description of not just The Stooges, but Iggy Pop himself.

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The Kills, Blood Pressures

By Paul Casey

In a rock band, the lead singer is perhaps the most important element in lending identity and credibility. A distinctive, forceful voice can knock people down quicker than even the most distorted guitar. The Kills‘ new album Blood Pressures, while enjoyable, suffers from Alison Mosshart’s inability to adequately fill her role as front person.

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Invisible Hand, S/T

By Less Lee Moore

At first the name Invisible Hand conjured images of some kind of Scooby Doo villain. Discovering that the lead singer and songwriter is named “Adam Smith” (yes, his real name) made me laugh; hearing the band’s music did, too. Invisible Hand isn’t a joke band, though they are clever, both musically and lyrically. They’re also incredibly fun and addictive.

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Erland & The Carnival, Nightingale

By Less Lee Moore

“A musical and melancholy sound” is not just a lyric from “Nightingale,” the title track from Erland & The Carnival‘s latest album, but also a perfect description of the band. They weave both musical references and literary allusions into their distinctive melodies, creating an evocative, intoxicating musical tapestry that is lush and extraordinary.
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I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir

By Less Lee Moore

The Ramones have infiltrated pop culture to the point where one can hardly imagine a world without them. Yet out of the original lineup, all have passed away except for Tommy. Dee Dee died in 2002; Johnny died in 2004. Joey died from lymphatic cancer in 2001. His brother Mickey Leigh started writing I Slept With Joey Ramone not long afterwards, with the help of longtime friend and punk writer Legs McNeil.
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Our March/April 2011 Issue Is Out Now!

March/April 2011 Issue – Back Off Man, I’m A Feminist

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Issue 021—Back Off Man, I’m A Feminist—Features: Mildred Pierce, Wonder Woman, The Women Behind The Whedonverse, The “Mercury 13,” Women In Pop Art, Stephenie Meyer’s The Host, The Woodmans, Eva Hesse, Elizabeth Gilbert, Fetish Art, Dollhouse, Cristina, Wendy & Lisa, Suzi Quatro, The Runaways, Eve Ensler, Bettie Page, I Spit On Your Grave, and Apocalypse Later.

Real Women and Unreal Feminists

A recent article in The Daily Mail called 20-year-old ethereally androgynous fashion model Andrej Pejic, “fashion’s ultimate insult to women.” The Daily Mail is not heralded for its “unique” approach to journalism, but ignorance—particularly with regard to gender issues—must always be exposed and called out for exactly what it is.

Writer Amanda Platell blames the fashion industry for the “defeminsation” of women, stating early on that, “[r]eal women started to love their curves long before Christina Hendricks wowed the world in Mad Men with hers. And by all accounts men love them, too.” Even a brief unpacking of such bold statements would take far too long, so I’ll hit the high notes: Who or what are “real women” exactly? And why is it so important that men love curves?
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The Mistress And The Maid: Mildred Pierce

By Less Lee Moore

When I learned of the Mildred Pierce miniseries—directed by Todd Haynes and airing on HBO—I was thrilled. I’ve been a longtime fan of the novel and film, as well as of Haynes. Then I started to second-guess my excitement.

Would another male-directed version of this story merely intensify the story’s “male gaze”? Furthermore, should I revere Mildred Pierce as a feminist text when the original novel was written by one man (James M. Cain) and first captured on screen by another (Michael Curtiz)?
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