Monthly Archives: October 2009

Best of the decade: 100-91

By R.J. | Published: October 27, 2009

Introduction here. I’m starting to use jumps, as the LaLa.com previews are messing with load times. 100. Band: The Flaming LipsAlbum: Embryonic The Flaming Lips’ latest album is less focused than others the band has released, but far less cutesy or maniacal. The band’s other efforts from the decade are nice, but sound forced and, […]

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Best of the Decade: Introduction

By R.J. | Published: October 27, 2009

As the decade of the MP3 draws to a close, I am jumping on the “let’s make a list” bandwagon. Take this list (spoiler alert: the whole list is here, in a really boring HTML table) with the usual mountains of salt: I am not an expert in anything, least of all music. Just because […]

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Crack the Skye

By R.J. | Published: October 19, 2009

Band: MastodonAlbum: Crack the SkyeBest song: “Divinations” is among the band’s best and tightest songs, up there with “Iron Tusk,” “Blood and Thunder,” “Crusher Destroyer,” “Colony of Birchmen,” “Shadows That Move,” “Mother Puncher” and “March of the Fire Ants.” Of course, the longest two songs on the records are also brilliant and complex.Worst song: All […]

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Whipped Cream and Other Delights

By R.J. | Published: October 13, 2009

Band: Herb Alpert’s Tijuana BrassAlbum: Whipped Cream and Other DelightsBest song: “Love Potion No. 9” is awesome because it sounds like the type of thing you’d hear in a 1960s stag club. “A Taste of Honey” has become a theme song for many and rightfully. “Lemon Tree” is intricate and pretty.Worst song: There really isn’t […]

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American Water

By R.J. | Published: October 2, 2009

Band: Silver JewsAlbum: American WaterBest song: “Random Rules” and “Send in the Clouds” are lovely songs. Worst song: “We Are Real” isn’t great. There’s a certain breed of indie rock singer/songwriter that’s remained constant, the deep-voiced misanthrope. They come in different flavors, whether it’s the old South warbling of Will Oldham, the wholly strange Bill […]

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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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