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Album streams, our Set List "top five..." features, our year-end "best of" lists and other music-related miscellany.
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Music
Dirtnap Records: History 101
Posted Sept. 20, 2020, 2:16 p.m.People are going to remember 2020 – though maybe not the way we all imagined back on January 1. Dirtnap Records had originally envisioned a big celebration of the label’s twentieth anniversary. They planned to gather notable bands from the roster of 150+ releases for a weekend-long celebration in Madison, WI. Looking back, we all know what happened. A pandemic, social distancing and lockdowns have made live music all but a memory. Dirtnap is still planning an anniversary party (now scheduled for 2021), but the incentive to celebrate is a little quieter right now. For two decades the label has earned a reputation for quality, high-energy punk and more. While the Pacific Northwest and Denton, TX are home to many ...
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Music Only Death Is Real #9
Posted Sept. 20, 2020, 2:09 p.m.Finding new music to explore has become many people's escape since the world of 2020 changed for the worse. In times of struggle music ...
Music Table Talk #3 – The Positive Things in Life
Posted Aug. 6, 2020, 3:19 p.m.There we are again, back for another round. I don’t know how you are doing, but I am trying to focus on the positive ...
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Feature categories
One Question Interviews
Quite literally, a one question interview. Also known as 1QIs, we post these first to our social media on a near-daily basis, with the archival piece here. Check 'em out.
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Interviews
An in-depth discussion with a band or artist, generally in the form of a straight Q&A – no editorializing.
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Music
Album streams, our Set List "top five..." features, our year-end "best of" lists and other music-related miscellany.
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Regular Columns
Contributions on a range of topics from a range of industry figures: musicians, filmmakers, editors and more.
» Browse 66 features
Other Reviews
A melting pot of mixed content: movie, book and even video game reviews. Updated sporadically, but eclectically.
» Browse 12 features
Upcoming Talent
A semi-regular column exploring new and rising local bands and artists deserving of attention.
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From the archive...
Music
Pass The Mic: Artists on 2014
Posted Dec. 14, 2014, 3:29 p.m.Since 2006 we've aimed to make our year-end roundups feature not just our thoughts on the best records of the past twelve months, but the thoughts of the people producing them: the bands and artists who make our scene what it is. In this collection of 30 interviews, we've spoken to bands and artists like Frank Turner, Russ Rankin, Ceremony, Teenage Bottlerocket and a ton more to find out what they dug in 2014, what they're looking forward to musically next year, and what cool new stuff we can expect from in the 2015. Read on to ...
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Music Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2020)
Posted July 12, 2020, 3:11 p.m.As is SPB tradition, we've gotten together to compile a list of the albums our staff are enjoying most ...
Music Only Death Is Real #8
Posted June 18, 2020, 1:46 p.m.Finding new music to explore has become many people's escape since the world of 2020 changed for the worse ...
Music Only Death Is Real #7
Posted May 19, 2020, 2:44 p.m.The world has gotten exponentially more weird since the last time this column was published and it doesn’t seem ...
Music Table Talk #2 – The state of the music business
Posted May 3, 2020, 1:54 p.m.Discussing the state of the music business at the kitchen table Welcome back to my kitchen table. Especially welcome in ...
Music Only Death Is Real #6
Posted March 15, 2020, 3:55 p.m.2020 has only been upon us for three short months, yet the outlook for the rest of the year looks ...
Music Table Talk #1 – What I learned about last year
Posted Feb. 14, 2020, 3:27 p.m.To me this is the most exciting time of the year. It is also a very expensive time of the ...
Regular series
We post a variety of features in recurring series – click below to browse them.
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What's That Noise?
One-question interviews with artists where we find out about the gear and equipment they use to achieve their sound. Browse 60 features
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The Set List
A collection of items grouped by topic, eg. "Top 5 Worst Beatles Songs" or "Top 10 best '77 punk releases". Browse 20 features
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Beyond Casual Observation
A wide-ranging guest column written by BJ from Ancient Shores, mainly covering film but extending into philosophy and aesthetics too. Check out BJ's work on the A389 podcast. Browse 15 features
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era vulgaris
Guest column by T of Vegas Browse 13 features
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Only Death Is Real
There’s so much music released, whether physically or digitally, that keeping up with what’s going on becomes almost like a full time job. With Only Death Is Real, the aim is to bring you something new. Browse 9 features
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Fest 12
Our annual roundup from Gainesville, FL's famous Fest. Browse 4 features
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Year End 2013
It's the end of 2013, so here's our best-of roundup for the last twelve months. Browse 4 features
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Fest 13
SPB's coverage of the annual festival in Gainesville, Florida. Browse 4 features
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Year End 2014
Our annual round-up of the best music of the year 2014. Browse 4 features
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The Greatest Story Ever Told
A brief but englightening chat with an artist who reveals an interesting or unexpected story from their career Browse 4 features
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Year End 2015
Our annual round-up of the best music of the year 2015. Browse 4 features
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Year End 2016
Our annual round-up of the best music of the year 2016. Browse 4 features
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Fest 11
A roundup of coverage of the annual punk rock festival held in Gainesville, Florida Browse 4 features
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Remember that one time...?
A life lived and lessons learned by Eddie Spaghetti of Supersuckers. Browse 4 features
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Year End 2018
Our summary of the best music (and more) of 2018. Browse 3 features
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Year End 2019
Our wrap-up of the best music and more from 2019 Browse 3 features
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Year End 2012
A collection of coverage rounding up the year 2012, covering our favorite albums, shows, bands, and more, as well as asking record labels and bands about their past twelve months in music Browse 3 features
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Table Talk
Discussing the state of the music business at the kitchen table Browse 3 features
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Don't Quit Your Day Job
How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music – or, alternately &ndash Browse 3 features
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Feast with the Famine
A cookery column by Nick, vocalist with metal band The Famine. Veggie/vegan friendly! Browse 3 features
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Year End 2017
Our annual round-up of the best music of the year 2017. Browse 2 features
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Against Orthodoxy
A regular series by Robert F. Browse 2 features
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Fest 16
Our coverage of the annual Fest extravaganza. Browse 1 features
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Scatenato Ma Non Troppo
We survey some of the other music releases out there. Results may vary...may get weird, but hopefully something covered here piques your interest. Browse 1 features
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Scene Point Local
A semi-regular column where we choose a specific area and give a local scene report. Browse 1 features
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- 2004: A Year In Review
- 2005: A Year In Review
- 2006: A Year In Review
- 2007: A Year In Review
- 2008: A Year In Review
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- 2009: SPB's Top EPs
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- A389 Recordings VIII Anniverary Bash
- Album stream: Night Fever - New Blood
- Audio = ground zero
- Austin City Limits Music Festival 2015
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- City Of Ships Album Stream
- Coalition of the Webzines
- Coming in 2012: Scene Point Blank Anticipates
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- Dark Mofo Festival 2018
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- Dirtnap Records: History 101
- Don Giovanni Records: History 101
E
- EP Stream: Power - Death Haunts
- EP Stream: Raindance - Love Under The Sun
- Exclusive: Stream Honest Abe's debut EP
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- Fest 10th anniversary: Fests 1-3 remembered
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- Fest 12
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- Field Studies Album Stream
- Forever Unclean's First American Tour... Diary
- Fun Fun Fun Fest 2015
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- Levitation 2015 / Austin Psych Fest
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- Looking Forward to The Fest 16
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- MONA FOMA Festival
- MONA FOMA Festival 2018
- More to a Picture Than Meets the Eye: Kurt Cobain in Film
- Music History: Beginner's Blues (I)
- Music History: I Was A Teenage Headbanger (II)
- Music History: Seminal Moments in History (III)
N
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- Octoberunderground: AFI Tour Diary
- Only Death Is Real #6
- Only Death Is Real #7
- Only Death Is Real #8
- Only Death Is Real #9
- Our Top 5 Favorite Album Openers
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- Pass The Mic: Artists and 2007
- Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2017
- Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2018
- Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2019
- Pass The Mic: Artists on 2013
- Pass The Mic: Artists on 2014
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- Pass The Mic: Artists on 2016
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels and 2006
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2008
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2009
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2010
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2012
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels on 2013
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels on 2014
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels on 2015
- Pass The Mic: Record Labels on 2016
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- Record Store Day 2015: our recommended local record stores
- Red Scare 10th Anniversary Show Review
- Refused (are fucking alive)
- Remembering Elliot Smith
- Remembering Erik Peterson
- Review: Iron & Wine (Sydney Opera House)
- Review: Riot Fest 2015
- Riot Fest 2019: our personal highlights
- Riot Fest Toronto 2014
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- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (August 2005)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (August 2006)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (August 2007)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (August 2009)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2004)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2008)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2011)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2012)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2013)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2014)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2015)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2016)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2017)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2018)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2019)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2020)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (June 2003)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2003)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2004)
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- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2005)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2006)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2007)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2008)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2009)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2010)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2011)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2012)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2013)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2014)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2015)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2016)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2017)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2018)
- Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2019)
- SPB at the DNC
- SPB Hits The Fest 8
- Swans: our favorite songs and records
- SXSW 2015 Wrap-Up
- SXSW 2016
- SXSW 2017
- SXSW 2018
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- The Fest 18: Making FESTory
- The Fest 7
- The Fest 9
- The Fest Wrap-Up
- The Greatest Story Ever Told: Felix Hagan
- The Greatest Story Ever Told: Frank Turner
- The Horror
- Theologian Album Stream
- Top 10 Acts Worth Mentioning at Riot Fest 2017
- Top 10 Songs From the New David Bowie Boxed Set “A New Career in a New Town”
- Top 5 Album Closers
- Top 5 Bands That Never Topped Their Debuts
- Top 5 Covers That Are Better Than the Original
- Top 5 Elliott Smith Songs That'll Choke You Up
- Top 5 Most Iconic Post / Math Rock Album Covers
- Top 5 Most Unforgettable Video Game Themes
- Top 5 Progressive Album Covers
- Top 5 songs by Nick Lowe
- Top 5 Songs Under 30 Seconds
- Top 5 Songs Whose Meaning Eluded Us
- Top 5 TV Themes
- Top 5 whoa-oh songs
- Top 5 Worst Beatles Songs
- Top 5: Albums/Songs/Video Games/People/Events/Shows - The Year So Far (June 2003)
- Top Five Acts We're Excited About at Pitchfork 2017
- Top Ten Acts We're Excited About at Riot Fest 2017
- Two years without Hydrahead
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