Articles by Helen Spitzer

The Decemberists' Dangerous Ambitions

PUBLISHED Jan 1, 2006

"I guess you're always trying to outdo yourself," says Colin Meloy, fearless leader of dizzyingly prolific Portland quintet the Decemberist...

The Unicorns Can't Just Get Along

PUBLISHED Jan 1, 2006

"It's the toughest life imaginable — no, that's not true — but this is really just the craziest, most unnatural way to live." So declares J...

Deliver Us To <b>The Fiery Furnaces</b>

PUBLISHED Jan 1, 2006

A conversation with Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger is unnervingly like the records they make as the Fiery Furnaces, albeit more linear. Bu...

Dresden Dolls See Fireworks

PUBLISHED Jan 1, 2006

Sometimes it's all about finding the right one. For pianist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione, it happened at her ramshackle artist...

The Sky Is Raining <b>Frog Eyes</b>

PUBLISHED Jan 1, 2006

When Frog Eyes played a storefront bar in Austin this sweaty SXSW spring, scores of mystified rock tourists hovered by the open window, ala...

Gentleman Reg Gets Tough

PUBLISHED Jan 1, 2006

If Reginald Vermue went to your grade school you would certainly have noticed the striking-looking shy kid, but you might not have known he...

Magnolia Electric Company

Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ON - October 2, 2004

PUBLISHED Jan 1, 2006

You can't blame Jason Molina for wanting to try something different. After ten albums or more, you can understand his need to take the muse...

Sufjan Stevens' State of Mind

PUBLISHED Jan 1, 2006

"Sufjan Stevens is like the Reader's Digest of classical music for the modern pop generation," he laughs, when pressed about the role his c...