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Film, Movie Review Jun 4, 2018
Recommended
Chicago’s Wax Trax! Records portrayed as a romance etched in vinyl in new documentary

Industrial Accident chronicles the love relationship that sustained Chicago's legendary record store and label.
- By J.R. Jones
- Tags: Movie Review, Film, Music, Industrial Accident, Wax Trax! Records, Julia Nash, Jim Nash, Dannie Flesher, record stores, Lincoln Park, record labels, documentary, Recommended

Blogs, Bleader Jun 6, 2017
Video
Tompkins Square celebrates a lost classic of fingerstyle guitar with new music by Harry Tausig and Max Ochs

Max Ochs and Harry Taussig share a new split release in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Takoma Records compilation Contemporary Guitar—Spring '67.
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: 12 O'Clock Track, Music, Post No Bills, Tompkins Square Records, Josh Rosenthal, record labels, Harry Taussig, Max Ochs, The Music of Harry Taussig and Max Ochs, Contempory Guitar, Into the Veil of Tears, 12 O'Clock Track, Video

Music, Music Feature Dec 22, 2016
Five local labels that had excellent years in 2016

These modest Chicago operations have gotten so good at what they do that they’re shaping music scenes far and wide.
- By Kevin Warwick
- Tags: Music Feature, Not Normal Tapes, the Bug, Ralph Rivera, Infestational, Baus, Quailbones, hardcore, Maximum Pelt, Basement Family, Swear Beam, Lifestyles, Flesh Panthers, Dan Rico, Chives, Magic Ian, Trouble in Mind, Bill Roe, Lisa Roe, Alto!, the Hecks, Omni, Deluxe, record labels, Hausu Mountain, Doug Kaplan, Max Allison, Tiger Village, Tim Thornton, Mukqs, TALsounds, Natalie Chami, Quicksails, Ben Billington, Closed Sessions, Alex Fruchter, Mike Kolar, Kweku Collins, Nat Love, Jamila Woods, Heavn, Oddcouple, DJ Rude One, hip-hop, soul, Krautrock, garage rock

Blogs, Bleader Nov 18, 2014
Octogenarian cornetist Bobby Bradford is still blowing cool

The veteran LA jazzman sounds great on a new record with Norwegian reedist Frode Gjerstad.
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: Music, Post No Bills, Nessa Records, Bobby Bradford, John Carter, Ornette Coleman, Frode Gjerstad, record labels, Silver Cornet, Frank Rosaly, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love, Jan Rune Strøm, Steve Swell, "And Me, Me and You"

Music, Gossip Wolf Feb 26, 2014
Gossip Wolf: Locrian's Andre Foisy teaches yoga for your grimmest chakra

Plus: New music on the way from Catholic Tapes, local MC Kit, and Netherfriends
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Andre Foisy, Locrian, West Town, yoga, Turbodog, Utech, James Plotkin, Nadja, Horseback, Catholic Tapes, experimental music, Synth-Chili Cook-Off, Brett Naucke, seven-inches, Vehicle Blues, Lillerne Tapes, Gabe Holcombe, Rectal Hygienics, Kit, rappers, MCs, zines, shoegaze, record labels, bop, mixtapes, Logan Square, DJ nights, East Room, Jody, Supreme Cuts, Shawn Rosenblatt, Netherfriends, Bandcamp

Music, Music Feature Sep 16, 2013
Sunset Records' house has many rooms

The new compilation Kill Yourself Dancing collects the daringly eclectic output of the late-80s Chicago house-music label.
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Music Feature, Sunset Records, compilations, DJs, Jerome Derradji, Still Music, record labels, Matt Warren, pop music, music genres, Madchester, house music, Miguel Garcia, Ralphi Rosario, Hot Mix 5, Bauhaus, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Jesse Saunders, recording, 1980s, Alex Rojo, Robert Rojo, Sunset Mobile Disco, dance parties, major labels, A&R, Master Plan, White Knight, 2 Live Crew, AKA, AKA Records

Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Sep 4, 2013
The Secret History of Chicago Music: Vyto B

The scoop on the eclectic enigma behind First Chips and Tricentennial 2076, straight from the man himself
- Tags: The Secret History of Chicago Music, Vyto B, The Secret History of Chicago Music, Vyto Baleska, piano, composition, Vladas Jakubenas, R&B, drums, guitar, Clay Pigeon, record labels, Mind & Soul, Grand Fuck, Band of Riff Raff, The Virus, Love Pistol, Zodiac Club, Union Coffee House, proms, compilations, electronic music, 1960s, 1970s, Czerwone Gitary, Krzysztof Klenczon, punk, Martian Plan, The Poptops, The Band That Never Made It, Virtual Party, cassettes, Chicago, Paris, Permanent Records

Music, Music Feature Aug 5, 2013
Midwestern emo catches its second wind

The 90s underground sound shaped by the likes of Cap'n Jazz and Braid is back—and this time it's turning up overseas and on the charts.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, emo, The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, Billboard charts, Heatseekers chart, vinyl chart, Internet chart, rock chard, Billboard 200, Topshelf, record labels, What.CD, torrents, Chance the Rapper, MTC, mixtapes, Mac Miller, Lollapalooza, DIY spaces, Swerp Mansion, Humboldt Park, J. Matthew Nix, The World Is a Beautiful Place, TWIABP, fourth-wave emo, first-wave emo, Rites of Spring, Embrace, Beefeater, D.C. emo, D.C. hardcore, Cap'n Jazz, Braid, The Promise Ring, Get Up Kids, American Football, Appleseed Cast, Fireside Bowl, third-wave emo, second-wave emo, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Dashboard Confessional, Brand New, Tom Millen, Sony Legacy, midwestern emo, Elon College, Washed Up Emo, blogs, Mineral, Joie de Vivre, Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate), Pianos Become the Teeth, Balance and Composure, Into It. Over It.Tumblr, Bandcamp, Count Your Lucky Stars, No Sleep, Run for Cover, Tiny Engines, Dikembe, Title Fight, Restorations, SideOneDummy, Chuck Ragan, Hot Water Music, Riot Fest, Pet Symmetry, Dowsing, Evan Weiss, Mike Kinsella, Their/They're/There, Bob Nanna, Lifted Bells, box sets, Toe, Seth Decoteau, Kevin Duquette, Pitchfork, Crash of Rhinos, midwest-influenced emo bands, emo revival, Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing, Bonjour Machines, Ilai Ashdot, Have Heart, Gods Reflex, Rockton, The Beat Kitchen, Phil Goudreau, Dischord

Best of Chicago, Music & Nightlife Jun 19, 2013
Critics' Picks
Best Label Strategy for Staying on Top of the Changing Record Industry

Thrill Jockey Adding Quantity to Quality
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: Music & Nightlife, Best of Chicago 2013, Thrill Jockey, record labels, Sidi Toure, Sorry Bamba, Barn Owl, Palm Dates, Peals, Golden Void, Survival, Liturgy, oozing Wound, Jan St. Werner, Critics' Picks

Best of Chicago, Music & Nightlife Jun 19, 2013
Critics' Picks
Best New Label With a Fixation on Charmingly Absurd Formats

Notes & Bolts
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music & Nightlife, Best of Chicago 2013, record labels, cassettes, vinyl, Disappears, Magas, Plastic Crimewave Sound, lathe-cut seven-inches, seven-inch singles, record series, floppy disks, coloring books, Panda Riot, flexi discs, Kriss Stress, White Mystery, Critics' Picks

Best of Chicago, Music & Nightlife Jun 19, 2013
Readers' Poll
Best Local Label

Red Scare Industries
- Tags: Music & Nightlife, Best of Chicago 2013, Red Scare Industries, record labels, Bloodshot Records, Readers' Poll

City Life, Space Jun 6, 2013
Video
Bill and Lisa Roe's Palmer Square eye candy

The Trouble in Mind founders have a home overflowing with records and antique toys.
- By Andrea Bauer
- Tags: Space, Bill Roe, Lisa Roe, record labels, Permanent Records, CoCoComa, bands, apartments, Trouble in Mind, Palmer Square, Video

Music, Music Feature May 30, 2013
Why mixtapes don't hit the charts

It's not because they aren’t a vital format or the fuel for a parallel music economy—it’s because Billboard and the RIAA ignore them.
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Music Feature, On the Charts, Billboard, music distribution, RIAA, record labels, music labels, music industry, music piracy, Recording Industry Association of America, mixtapes, Universal, Warner Music Group, WMG, charts, UMG, Vivendi, Bishop Nehru, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Warner Brothers, Alternative Distribution Alliance, Hot 100 charts, On-Demand Songs charts, online streaming, downloads, radio airplay, record sales, YouTube, Universal Music Group, radio, Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sons, Spotify, Baauer, rap mixtapes, hip-hop, rap, DatPiff.com, LiveMixtapes.com, mixtape distribution, Jermih, Charli XCX, Major Lazer, free downloads, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, A$AP Rocky, DatPiff, Le'Roy Benros, Noizy Crickets!!, Angel Haze

Music, Music Feature May 23, 2013
Video
The return of Dance Mania Records

Twelve years after it folded, the Chicago label that helped birth ghetto house, juke, and footwork music makes a play for the new EDM crowd.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, EDM, Gant-Man, Spin, David Quam, dance music, DJ Funk, DJ Slugo, electronic dance music, ghetto house, house music, juke, Duane Buford, Trax Records, Larry Sherman, Vince Lawrence, disco, Bright Star, footwork music, record labels, Dance Mania Records, Ray Barney, Victor Parris Mitchell, Paul Johnson, Traxman, Cornelius Ferguson, DJ Funk, Charles Chambers, Robert Armani, Michaelangelo Matos, Chicago Reader, books, history, raves, rave history, Midwest Raves, Daft Punk, Wax Master, Steve Mizek, Argot, Tasteful Nudes, Little White Earbuds, Barney's Records, Willie Barney, Barney's Swing Shop, record distribution, record stores, Jesse Saunders, Bradley University, Video

Music, In Rotation Feb 14, 2013
In Rotation: Audio engineer Tim Iseler on "Darth Vader's Cock and Balls"

Plus: The Reader's Miles Raymer on Townes Van Zandt’s outtakes and audio engineer Jeremy Lemos on the Dirty Projectors at the Sydney Opera House
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: In Rotation, Miles Raymer, demos, outtakes, Justin Walter, Iron & Wine, Echophon, live sound, Public Info, record labels, electronic music, Austin Cesar, F.C. Judd, Brian Case, Acteurs, Dirty Projectors, Sydney Opera House, Nomo, Make Noise, Fireside Bowl, We Ragazzi, Tony Rolando, trumpet, Electronic Valve Instrument, EVI, synthesizers, Kranky, Levon Helm, books, Time Iseler, Future, mixtapes, Four Tet, Kieran Hebden, DJs, audio engineers, Jeremy Lemos, Townes Van Zandt, 4ms Pedals, Rotating Clock Divider, Shuffling Clock Multiplier

Music, Three Beats Nov 21, 2012
Image
Three Beats: Chance the Rapper pushes Acid Rap at Metro

Plus: Disappears play Rainbo for a bartender shot in the face, and Dusty Groove returns to the reissue biz with Real Gone
- By Leor Galil, Luca Cimarusti, and Peter Margasak
- Tags: Three Beats, Chance the Rapper, Donald Pullen, Rockie Fresh, Rick Ross, Childish Gambino, LSD, Disappears, Danny Zaretsky, reissues, Gordon Anderson, Real Gone Music, record labels, Rainbo Club, Dusty Groove

News & Politics, Our Town Dec 23, 1999
On a High Note

Patrice Michaels Bedi's singing career is looking up, thanks to a new relationship with an enthusiastic record label.
- By Ted Shen
- Tags: Our Town, Patrice Michaels Bedi, Jim Ginsburg, Cedille, David Schrader, classical music, classical record labels, record labels

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Industrial Accident chronicles the love relationship that sustained Chicago's legendary record store and label.

Max Ochs and Harry Taussig share a new split release in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Takoma Records compilation Contemporary Guitar—Spring '67.

These modest Chicago operations have gotten so good at what they do that they’re shaping music scenes far and wide.

The veteran LA jazzman sounds great on a new record with Norwegian reedist Frode Gjerstad.

Plus: New music on the way from Catholic Tapes, local MC Kit, and Netherfriends

The new compilation Kill Yourself Dancing collects the daringly eclectic output of the late-80s Chicago house-music label.

The scoop on the eclectic enigma behind First Chips and Tricentennial 2076, straight from the man himself

The 90s underground sound shaped by the likes of Cap'n Jazz and Braid is back—and this time it's turning up overseas and on the charts.

Thrill Jockey Adding Quantity to Quality

Notes & Bolts

Red Scare Industries

The Trouble in Mind founders have a home overflowing with records and antique toys.

It's not because they aren’t a vital format or the fuel for a parallel music economy—it’s because Billboard and the RIAA ignore them.

Twelve years after it folded, the Chicago label that helped birth ghetto house, juke, and footwork music makes a play for the new EDM crowd.

Plus: The Reader's Miles Raymer on Townes Van Zandt’s outtakes and audio engineer Jeremy Lemos on the Dirty Projectors at the Sydney Opera House

Plus: Disappears play Rainbo for a bartender shot in the face, and Dusty Groove returns to the reissue biz with Real Gone

Patrice Michaels Bedi's singing career is looking up, thanks to a new relationship with an enthusiastic record label.

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