freakwater

Catherine Irwin writes songs about herself-"putting out albums sure beats therapy," she explains. But whether they're about waitressing or religious skepticism, these songs resonate

the magnetic fields

"Leonard Cohen sings the Ronettes" is Stephin Merritt's description of earlier Magnetic Fields albums. But with a little help from his friends the magnificent 3-CD set 69 Love Songs redefines his work-and maybe a whole genre.

red red meat

They put their own label, Perishable, on hold during their years with Sub Pop. Then they put the band itself on hold for a while. Now both are on their way back

joan of arc

It's a high-stakes game this band plays, attempting to conjure emotional intensity using sparse, often abstract elements. But somehow you're hooked

marc almond

Can he ever escape the tag "that guy in Soft Cell who sang 'Tainted Love'"? Probably not. But he's made many records since then-and the newest is among the best.

kool keith

This story started out as a perfectly normal interview assignment, then turned into an adventure that was by turns funny, sad, and unsettling.

gorky's zygotic mynci

A band who fit nearly all Lester Bangs' Rules for Band Excellence-they have a stupid name, they're Welsh, they began playing before they could play, and they wield unfashionable influences with alarming facility.

deerhoof

looking for a way to make music that's "more like animal gestures"

octant

two humans build robot bandmates out of machine parts

spaceheads

drum & trumpet duo with noise and poise to spare

claude bessy, aka kickboy face

Camden Joy remembers the great punk journalist, who died recently

punctureviews

Solex's second album-"a mind-boggling piece of alien pop," says J Neo Marvin-leads off, followed by: Everything But the Girl, Joel Phelps, Sarah Dougher, Simon Joyner, Momus, Royal Trux, Refrigerator, Sally Timms, Quasi, Red Stars Theory, the Butchies, Kahimi Karie, Matmos, Ronnie Spector, Stereolab, the Music Tapes, East River Pipe, Dead Moon, Aluminum Group, Burning Spear, Trailer Bride, For Stars, Superchunk, Archer Prewitt, Dot Allison, Promise Ring, Dub Narcotic/Jon Spencer, and many more

books

A contentious biography of Patti Smith; a provocative discussion of human ethics and animal rights; a bravura explication of graffiti; punk history; and more.