M - Close to Me
Equally quirky and bouncy, though less claustrophobic, M’s version of the Cure classic, “Close to Me,” is less an exercise in making a song your own than in English-to-French translation. Their voices are rather similar — in this song at least — and their haistyles are both appalling (sorry, Robert, love […]

Siouxsie & the Banshees - Dear Prudence
And oldie, but a favorite of mine. I don’t know if I would go as far as to say that this version is better than the original - regardless of my own opinion (some Beatles’ fans are rather rabid). “Dear Prudence” is the highlight of their 1983 album, Hyaena; […]

I’ve never been a fan of The Libertines. I was only interested in a couple of songs of theirs at best. When Pete Doherty and Carl Barat called it quits, I couldn’t care less. When Doherty started his own band, I didn’t really give a damn.

Apartment - Everyone says I’m paranoid
Apartment - June July
They may not be the band of the year but if you like Interpol, the Editors and the like, chances are you will like Apartment.
The London-based foursome only released two singles but they’re already being praised by the press. I don’t have much to say about them […]

Smog - Palimpsest
Bill Callahan’s alias “Smog” 12th album, A River Ain’t Too Much to Love, a follow up to 2003’s Supper, induces greatly emotions once buried.
On stage the man is a handsome devil doing it’s dance. His rumination of past experiences, either his or those of strangers, absent lovers, and the awkwardness of reclusiveness […]