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Wednesday, December 11th, 2024  

Album Reviews

Long Way Home

Ray LaMontagne
Long Way Home

Dec 11, 2024 Web Exclusive

Ray LaMontagne’s latest album is uncontroversial with its simplistic folk guitar and vocal tendencies.

Up to Our Hips (30th Anniversary Expanded Edition)

The Charlatans
Up to Our Hips (30th Anniversary Expanded Edition)

Dec 10, 2024 Web Exclusive

Up to Our Hips shifted away from the breezier dance pop heard on their prior two albums, as The Charlatans dialed up the psychedelic elements which had served as the shiny glosscoat of the Madchester sound.

words from a wishing well

Shower Curtain
words from a wishing well

Dec 09, 2024 Web Exclusive

While it’s rare for the lead-up to a debut album to go this long, the six-year build to Shower Curtain’s first LP has proved worth the wait.

Classic Interviews

The Lemon Twigs

The Lemon Twigs
Brothers of Style

Oct 19, 2016 The Lemon Twigs

Brothers often fight and clash. But they can also be the biggest motivators for each other. Take for example 19-year-old Brian D’Addario and his 17-year-old brother Michael. They’ve used their differences and similarities to create the catchy pop-rock of their Long Island, New York, band The Lemon Twigs.

Comic Book Reviews

Second Hand Love

Second Hand Love
Drawn & Quarterly

Sep 06, 2024 Web Exclusive

Yamada Murasaki never received international acclaim during her lifetime. But now, thanks to Drawn & Quarterly’s excellent English language translations of her work, the groundbreaking manga artist is starting to get some of her much deserved recognition. Second Hand Love builds on the outstanding 2022 release, Talk to My Back, and contains two of the author’s most important stories: “A Blue Flame” and “Second Hand Love.”

Book Reviews

Lilly Wave

Brian Blomerth
Lilly Wave

Dec 05, 2024

Brian Blomerth’s Lilly Wave entrances with its spellbinding artwork detailing the life and research of John C. Lilly.

Interviews

Semisonic on “Closing Time”

Semisonic on “Closing Time”

Dec 11, 2024 Issue #72 - The ‘90s Issue with The Cardigans and Thurston Moore

“It’s weird because if there are 20 songs from the ’90s that still get played at The Home Depot, ‘Closing Time’ is definitely one of those. It’s like, ‘How did that happen?’”

Looking Through Glasgow Eyes with The Jesus and Mary Chain

Looking Through Glasgow Eyes with The Jesus and Mary Chain

Dec 04, 2024 Web Exclusive

The Jesus and Mary Chain’s UK tour starts this weekend (Friday 6th December), so Under the Radar caught up with founder member and vocalist Jim Reid

Lists

Seven Music Documentary Films and Series From 2024 to Watch (and Three to Skip)

Jun 16, 2024

Music documentaries and series are a sure thing, or so it seems. 2024 has seen quite a few of them hit theatres and even more turn up on streamers. Among these are the high-profile ones such as the newly restored 1970 film, The Beatles: Let it Be and Frank Marshall’s The Beach Boys, not to mention Taylor Swift|The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version), all on Disney+. Lil Nas X released his interpretation of Madonna’s Truth or Dare with his behind-the-scenes tour film, Long Live Montero (HBO). There is also Eno, the groundbreaking generative documentary feature on Brian Eno. Just as fascinating as the biographical docs are topical ones such as the recently released How Music Got Free (Paramount+).

Coming soon is Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple (HBO), which shines a much deserved spotlight on the multi-hyphenate talent, and I Am: Celine Dion (Prime Movies), which shares the singer’s challenges with Moersch-Woltman Syndrome.

Whether or not you’re into the artists, subjects, or the music, there is a voyeuristic and vicarious thrill in watching musicians, both in their professional setting and personal lives. Music documentary films and series are often worth the time—except when they’re not. Here are seven must-watch music docs and series released in 2024, and three from this year that you can skip.—By Lily Moayeri