Monthly Archives: October 2008

Tortoise

Band: TortoiseAlbum: TortoiseBest song: “Tin Cans & Twine.” Worst song: Nope. Let’s get one thing out of the way first: Tortoise has been my favorite band since, basically, I first started listening to them at age 15. I’ve claimed other bands as co-favorites (currently, Mogwai and Pink Floyd), but one has endured. When a friend […]

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White Sky

Band: Archer PrewittAlbum: White SkyBest song: “Motorcycles” and “Walking on the Farm” are brilliant. “Shake” is great.Worst song: “Raise on High” is good, but not as great as the rest of the album. When I was a freshman in college, I did this weird project — for no one but myself, though I think I […]

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Cease to Begin

Band: Band of HorsesAlbum: Cease to BeginBest song: “No One’s Gonna Love You” is gorgeous.Worst song: “The General Specific” is just a mediocre song. There are no real ways around it, but not every band can be Battles. Rock and roll is a largely derivative form and the ability to create quality music is one […]

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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Band: WilcoAlbum: Yankee Hotel FoxtrotBest song: “War on War,” “Kamera” and “Heavy Metal Drummer” are great Wilco songs. However, the opener, “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” is where the band was going and reflected a new musical direction.Worst song: “I’m the Man Who Loves You” is OK, but not to the level of […]

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Meat Puppets II

Band: Meat PuppetsAlbum: Meat Puppets IIBest song: “Oh, Me” is desperation. Worst song: Overall, there are no bad songs on this album. Without question, there are many albums that shape our view of rock and roll. I know my own list is huge and I plan on writing more about those albums in the coming […]

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Screaming for Vengeance

Band: Judas PriestAlbum: Screaming for VengeanceBest song: “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” was the hit, but “Bloodstone” and “Devil’s Child” are the album’s real highlights.Worst song: “Fever” isn’t great. I was explaining to a friend recently of my love for Screaming for Vengeance specifically and a more general interest in Judas Priest by explaining that […]

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One Beat

Band: Sleater-KinneyAlbum: One BeatBest song: “Combat Rock” is brilliant. “Far Away” is relentless.Worst song: “Pristina” is just OK. In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, a lot of musicians did a lot of fund raising. I seem to remember Bruce Springsteen doing a lot of benefit shows. Some bands toured and gave money. […]

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FutureSex/LoveSounds

The hope is to get more of these reviews up online, but it’s proving to be pretty difficult. Band: Justin TimberlakeAlbum: FutureSex/LoveSoundsBest song: “My Love” is undoubtedly the highlight of the album, though “SexyBack” isn’t bad.Worst song: “Damn Girl” is damn bad. A lot of great success stories come from those who are not necessarily […]

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The Ballad of the Broken Seas

Band: Isobel Campbell & Mark LaneganAlbum: The Ballad of the Broken SeasBest song: The cover of “Ramblin’ Man” is great. I love “Black Mountain.” I know I shouldn’t like “Honey Child What Can I Do?” but I do.Worst song: “It’s Hard to Kill a Bad Thing” is just OK. I once wrote that people that […]

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  • About Me

    I'm Ross Jordan Gianfortune. I am not a writer, but I sometimes write here about music and my life. I live in Washington, DC.

    I used to review each of Rolling Stone Magazine's top 500 albums of all time. Now I'm writing about albums I own.

    My work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Gazette, The Atlantic, Sno-Cone and a bunch of defunct zines.

    You can contact me at rjgianfortune at gmail dot com.

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