Email Author Justin F. Farrar

2009 Stories by Justin F. Farrar

• Woven Hand

  published September 2, 2009

  One of the coolest things about Scott Walker is how the dude has actually gotten weirder with age. Most artists, as you surely know, do the exact... More >>

• Magic Slim & the Teardrops

  published July 15, 2009

  Unlike a lot of blues artists creeping into their ‘60s and ‘70s, Magic Slim records on a fairly consistent basis. Since 2000 the Windy... More >>

• The Gourds

  published July 8, 2009

  House party novelty jams, especially those soaked in roots-rock twang, have never totally appealed to me – too corny. Yet there’s no... More >>

• The Stone River Boys

  published July 1, 2009

  The Hacienda Brothers were sweet. They could achieve these peak moments (“A Lot of Days Are Gone” is my personal fave) when cofounders... More >>

• Junior Brown

  published June 24, 2009

  It’s been nearly four years since Junior Brown’s last album, Live at the Continental Club: The Austin Experience. That’s a... More >>

• Papercuts

  published June 17, 2009

  As far as band names go, Papercuts isn’t my cup of tea – way too precious. But that doesn’t really matter, because San... More >>

• Crystal Antlers

  published June 10, 2009

  If you study the recent history of California underground rock, say the last 15 years, you’ll spot these four trends: 1) arty farty... More >>

• Richard Buckner

  published April 22, 2009

  Richard Buckner’s image as the moody alt-country troubadour with the husky croak is firmly entrenched. Not only has the dude always sounded... More >>

• Reckless Kelly

  published April 8, 2009

  There was a time when the differences between Nashville country and alt-country were loud and clear. The former was slick and smooth while the... More >>

• Heartless Bastards

  published April 8, 2009

  The Mountain shares little in common with its predecessors All This Time and Stairs and Elevators. Where these latter titles are stripped-down... More >>

• Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

  published March 18, 2009

  Let’s rank the top five coolest lo-fi rockers of the last, say, five years: 1) Ariel Pink 2) Kurt Vile 3) Sic Alps 4) Pink Reason and 5)... More >>

• White Magic

  published March 18, 2009

  New York’s White Magic isn’t prolific, but the band sure is ambitious. Over the last five years, the duo of Mira Billotte and Douglas... More >>

• Kurt Vile

  published March 11, 2009

  It’s damn near difficult not to froth at the mouth when discussing Philly’s Kurt Vile. Along with Ariel Pink and Kevin Debroux (a.k.a.... More >>

• Master Musicians of Jajouka

  published February 11, 2009

  The Master Musicians of Jajouka are one of world music's pioneering outfits. Although Smithsonian Folkways and the Ocora label had been producing... More >>

• Hank IV

  published February 4, 2009

  Hank IV are five old farts from ’Frisco who worship uranium-soaked scuzz punk and vintage retard rock. If you’re the type of smelly goon... More >>

• Marc Broussard

  published January 21, 2009

  Jack White’s need to live in some retro-fantasy where the ’70s reign supreme seems to have infected artists far removed from indie rock.... More >>

• David Grisman Quintet

  published January 14, 2009

  The David Grisman Quintet, as any hippie/jazzbo hybrid can tell you, plays “dawg” music. That’s a heady blend of bluegrass, swing,... More >>