Email Author Christian Schaeffer

2012 Stories by Christian Schaeffer

• St. Louis Music in 2012: Break 'Em Off with a Little Review of the Remix

  published Dec 27, 2012

  In the decade I've been writing about national and local music for the Riverfront Times, there's been a near-constant rumble on how our city's bands, clubs, bookers and fans should refer to themselves... More >>

• Raglani Trades in Patience and Payoff on Real Colors of the Physical World

  published Dec 27, 2012

  If you're smart enough to keep tabs on synthesist Joseph Raglani's recorded output, it's easy to forget that his newest, Real Colors of the Physical World, is the first proper followup to his 2008 Kra... More >>

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  Homespun: Raglani

  published December 27, 2012

  If you're smart enough to keep tabs on synthesist Joseph Raglani's recorded output, it's easy to forget that his newest, Real Colors of the... More >>

• The Meticulous, Furious Cacophony of Spelling Bee: Review

  published Dec 13, 2012

  Together, Joseph Hess and Mabel Suen make St. Louis a much noisier place. As light-night DJs on the KDHX (88.1 FM) program Wrong Division, the couple spins sides from labels like Skin Graft and Touch ... More >>

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  Homespun: Spelling Bee

  published December 13, 2012

  Together, Joseph Hess and Mabel Suen make St. Louis a much noisier place. As light-night DJs on the KDHX (88.1 FM) program Wrong Division, the... More >>

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  mr. Gnome

  published December 13, 2012

  Unless we're talking about Gilgamesh or Faith No More's big hit single, the word "epic" should be given its denotative due and used sparingly.... More >>

• Tonight is Guitar Heaven at Off Broadway: Read our Review of the New Incurables Record

  published Dec 07, 2012

  If you only know Jimmy Griffin as the consummate tribute-show guitarist, you only know half of the story. Griffin's high-profile turns playing the riffs of Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and David Gilmour... More >>

• Homespun: The Incurables

  published December 6, 2012

  If you only know Jimmy Griffin as the consummate tribute-show guitarist, you only know half of the story. Griffin's high-profile turns playing... More >>

• Get Infected by The Brainstems' St. Louis Bash "River Des Peres": Listen Here

  published Nov 28, 2012

  In an age when albums are recorded on iPads and digital recording technology offers novices the chance to make albums with crystal clarity, it's refreshing that the new Brainstems album sounds like sh... More >>

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  Homespun: The Brainstems

  published November 29, 2012

  In an age when albums are recorded on iPads and digital recording technology offers novices the chance to make albums with crystal clarity,... More >>

• Jonezy's Soar Thumbs: Review and Free Download

  published Nov 27, 2012

  On last year's CO$TOMBS, Justin Jones took aim at consumer society and class struggles amid smart and soulful hip-hop samples. On Jonezy's 2012 release, Soar Thumbs, the rapper returns, in part, to th... More >>

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  Homespun: Jonezy

  published November 22, 2012

  On last year's CO$TOMBS, Justin Jones took aim at consumer society and class struggles amid smart and soulful hip-hop samples. On... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Aimee Mann's Five Best Comedy Moments

  published Nov 13, 2012

  For all of Aimee Mann's readily apparent songwriting gifts - lyrical turns of phrase, sophisticated melodies, compelling character sketches - humor would not be at the top of the list. A droll wit, ce... More >>

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  Those Darlins

  published November 15, 2012

  The three-headed femme-fatale attack of Those Darlins suffered a blow when Kelley "Darlin" Anderson left the band, leaving "sisters" Nikki and... More >>

• The Jump Starts' Exceptional Sophomore Record Comes Out Saturday: Review

  published Nov 08, 2012

  With the release of What Hides Inside, it is no longer appropriate to think of the Jump Starts as Justin Johnson's other band; it probably never was in the first place. Johnson made an immediate mark... More >>

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  Homespun: The Jump Starts

  published November 8, 2012

  With the release of What Hides Inside, it is no longer appropriate to think of the Jump Starts as Justin Johnson's other band; it... More >>

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  The Magnetic Fields

  published November 8, 2012

  On the grammatically correct "With Whom to Dance?" Stephin Merritt claims, "Moons in Junes, I've given up on that stuff." Don't believe him for... More >>

• Black James will Make you Dance and Haunt Your Dreams

  published Oct 31, 2012

  That Jennifer McDaniel dropped the im A mirAcle cassette/digital release on Halloween is no accident. Her Black James project trafficks in otherworldliness and disorientation that is, at times, spooky... More >>

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  Homespun: Black James

  published November 1, 2012

  That Jennifer McDaniel dropped this cassette/digital release on Halloween is no accident. Her Black James project trafficks in otherworldliness... More >>

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  Giant Giant Sand

  published November 1, 2012

  For too long, Howe Gelb's Giant Sand has been viewed as a charm school for artists to pass through on their way to bigger stages. Famous faces... More >>

• A Monad Evolves: The Royal Smokestacks' Debut Comes Out Tomorrow

  published Oct 25, 2012

  The Royal Smokestacks' CD Release Show is Friday, October 26 at Off Broadway. Admission is $5 and the music starts at 9 p.m. As a member of the full-frontal folk-punk assault that was the Monads, Pat... More >>

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  Royal Smokestacks

  published October 25, 2012

  As a member of the full-frontal folk-punk assault that was the Monads, Pat Eagan played his fair share of hard-strumming guitar parts and... More >>

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  A.C. Newman

  published October 25, 2012

  In the press release and accompanying interviews for A.C. Newman's new LP, Shut Down the Streets, much has been made of the more... More >>

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  Tilly and the Wall

  published October 18, 2012

  In the beloved Omaha, Nebraska, indie scene packed with brooding and emotive acts Bright Eyes, Cursive and the Faint, Tilly and the Wall always... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The New Seven-Inch Sounds of Sleepy Kitty and Kentucky Knife Fight: Review

  published Oct 11, 2012

  Seven-inch singles are still the best way to get to know a band. If you can't kick out the jams in under four minutes per side, perhaps the rocking life just isn't for you. The end of the summer broug... More >>