Patti Smith and Kevin Sheilds
The Coral Sea

By Cam Lindsay

Waiting for the next My Bloody Valentine record could take another 17 years but luckily, Kevin Shields has been up to something in the meantime. This live recording, featuring two separate performances in 2005 and 2006, finds the sonic visionary backing punk icon Patti Smith for her poetic tribute to her late friend, artist Robert Mapplethorpe. Aurally matching the late photographer’s arresting art, which graces the exquisite packaging, the bed of droning waves is every bit the MBV extension any fan would desire. Underneath Smith’s zealous prose, Shields uses poise and restraint, bending the low hums to fit the pieces. Despite its hypnotic hold, as casual listening, The Coral Sea doesn’t work — spread across two discs, it can quickly become a trying listen. But like the best art, this is a challenging piece that demands your full attention and appreciation. If and when you can give it 100 percent, you’ll find a remarkable collaboration between two of the best in their fields, as well as an affecting tribute. (PASK/Red)

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Though their Sun Giant EP held the possibility that the full-length would never match its brilliance, that’s luckily not a concern anymore. Easily one of the best releases this year, this is complex music that sounds deceptively simple. Take masterwork “Blue Ridge Mountains,” where the plaint ...Read More
Neil Halstead - Oh! Mighty Engine
Though he’s not often recognised for it, Neil Halstead is one of the most reliable songwriters of the last 20 years. Be it with shoegazing legends Slowdive, alt-country pop refiners Mojave 3 or his modest solo work, he’s never hit a bum note. Having recorded for illustrious indie labels like Creatio ...Read More
Pop Levi - Never Never Love
Ninja Tune undoubtedly has high expectations for Liverpool-born, L.A.-based Pop Levi on his sophomore album. After all, they were so impressed by him that they opened up a new label, Counter Records, solely to release his debut, Return to Form Black Magick Party. In just a year since that rel ...Read More
Zach Hill - Astrological Straits
Known best for his work in avant-metal experimenters Hella, Sacramento-based mega-drummer Zach Hill has always been known for his many projects and collaborations. (Hill estimates that he is currently involved in eight musical projects.) As such, it’s only fitting that Astrological Straits, h ...Read More
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
Adam & the Amethysts - Amethyst Amulet
Adem - Takes
Albert Hammond Jr. - ¿Cómo Te Llama?
Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
The Anniversary - Devil on Our Side: B-Sides & Rarities
Apse - Spirit
The Baseball Project - Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails
Beck - Modern Guilt
Black Francis - Svn Fngers
The Chap - Mega Breakfast
Children of the Sixth Root Race - Songs from the Source
Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends
Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue: Legacy Edition
Dirty Pretty Things - Romance at Short Notice
E.S.L. - Eye Contact
Electric President - Sleep Well
Facts About Funerals - Love Songs & Funeral Homes
Friendly Rich and the Lollipop People - Dinosaur Power
Heloise & The Savoir Faire - Trash, Rats & Microphones
Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs (And Around To Your Heart And On Through Your Blood)
Icy Demons - Miami Ice
Idle Tigers - The Spirit Salon
Jay Reatard - Singles 06-07
John Matthias - Stories from the Watercooler
Jon Sonnenberg - Acoustic Selections
King Khan & The Shrines - The Supreme Genius of King Khan & The Shrines
Koenjihyakkei - Hundred Lights of Koeji
Lackthereof - Your Anchor
Matt Mays & El Torpedo - Terminal Romance
Mogwai - Young Team - Deluxe Edition
Mötley Crüe - Saints Of Los Angeles
The M's - Real Close Ones
Music Tapes - Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes
Muskox - Gallantries
My Brightest Diamond - A Thousand Shark's Teeth
Nisennenmondai - Neji/Tori
The Notwist - The Devil, You + Me
Ponies in the Surf - See You Happy
Ponytail - Ice Cream Spiritual
Pumice - Quo
Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Ron Sexsmith - Exit Strategy of the Soul
Santogold - Santogold
Sebadoh - Bubble & Scrape
Sennen - Where The Light Gets In
Sian Alice Group - The Dusk Line
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Son, Ambulance - Someone Else’s Déjà vu
Subways - All or Nothing
Various - Life Beyond Mars — Bowie Covered
War on Drugs - Wagonwheel Blues
We Versus the Shark - Dirty Versions
Windmill - Puddle City Racing Lights
The fourth iteration of Calgary's Sled Island feels like a coming of age, with the annual event becoming a destination on the Canadian festival landscape alongside NXNE and Pop Montreal. The organizers have a knack for scoring scheduling coups (year one featured Boredoms, Cat Power and Spoon), and w... Full Review
In the middle of an open field, you can hear music from everywhere, particularly the DJ stage situated in the centre. Almost 200 bands have gathered here to play on seven stages, each only about 100 metres from the next, causing sound to bleed all over. For veteran music fans, it's a familiar scene: scantily clad women offer Red Bull and vodka, dreadlocked white hippies entrance themselves with their spin-dancing, and if you don't like a given band, more options are only an aimless wander away.... Read More
In truth, the first spin of Burning Love's debut full-length didn't yield the anticipated reactions. Expecting something in the same raw, combative vein as their demo/EP, Songs For Burning Lovers, while still wonderfully rough, seemingly lacked its predecessors' overt rabidity and stampeding ... Full Review
Social Networking
• Be our friend on MySpace
• Be our fan on Facebook
Tweet us on twitter
Viewing the August 2008 Issue: Contents PageNewsClick Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Front  •  Points  •  Comics  •  Questionnaire  •  Release Dates  •  Research  •  Timeline  •  Conversations • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Destination Out  •  Frequencies  •  Groove  •  No Future  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews  •  Short Film Fest  •  Videogame Reviews • Music School --> Label Life  •  Need to Know  •  Where I play Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue Browse Issues Privacy Policy