20050608
The Secret Machines | The Road Leads Where It's Led (EP)This EP by the trio of lads who make up the Secret Machines is chock full of stellar covers, including Van Morrison's title track from "Astral Weeks" and a nine minute version of Bobby Dylan's "Girl From The North Country."
With its sound-crunching brilliance and anthemic climax, the title track was once called "pure sex" by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. The Secret Machines are known for audio alchemy, for grinding down and incorporating the best noises from 40 years of popular music. The road certainly does lead where it has already led - NW/TK
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Best enjoyed in the 54 minutes before sunrise, Summer in Abbadon has equal parts soft breath and raucous screaming, layered guitars and vocals that somehow equal something larger and gorgeous. This is a magical record, one of the best of 2004, and I believe Pinback's best effort to date. "AFK" will make you think twice, it's elusive and thoughtful. What a great record.
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