The Agenda

by James O'Connor

[This article first appeared in The Agenda #14, January 2006]

Brickway On Wickenden
234 Wickenden Street
Providence
(401) 751-2477

I'm guessing it was sometime after eleven-hundred hours that I received a call about a lunch mission; I was forced to decline. I refuse to skip a meal, especially one of the three most important of the day—the amateur meals as I sometimes like to call them. I reminded my buddy of this, and he was soon swayed from his original plan of lunch, quickly realizing who he was talking to. I take my eating seriously and hell or high water I wasn't starting the day with anything other than breakfast.

Note: This letter from a concerned Providentian appeared in The Agenda #18.

Dear “The Cheesecake Factory,”

Approximately one year ago I went to your restaurant to enjoy a nice meal with my girlfriend. She had been given a gift certificate and was excited to take me out for a change. I was intrigued by many of the pastas you had on your menu, but because of dietary restrictions, I was forced to ask a specific question. This question, it turns out, has only one answer at “the Cheesecake Factory”: Yes, I’m afraid so.

by (the infamous) Eric Smith

Slouch — Viva

iTunes | Emusic | Napster | Beatport | Rhapsody

On this impressive debut from one of the younger members of the Cozy roster, Slouch (a.k.a. Ian Bradley) creates a smoky, cinematic landscape for the stoned listener. Dark beats and acoustic instruments color the tracks but leave enough space for them to breathe. This is crucial for trip hop. DJ Shadow perfected the form, but albums like this remind us that there is still life in the genre, and there are still avenues to explore.

Reviews by Jolly

Droopy Secrets the 125 chestnut sessions (improvised)
(D!SC: Dynamo Sound Collective)
www.dynamosound.cjb.net/
I must say, definitely not the best jam I ever heard by far. The drummer keeps everything going musically with it all made up as they went along, but at least these guys Darren and Ryan were recording and putting out their music instead of watching TV or something.

Pandemonium Rodeo and Adorehaze (D!SC)
www.dynamosound.cjb.net/
Very hypnotic noise music never reaching the realm of harsh noise (which is what I was hoping for), it instead becomes a gentle caress of harmony and sound loops in an attempt to pass as something kinda original. It’s not. I found myself bored with it and unhappy. “Harvesting 10,000 Angel Synapses Underneath Iced Seas” is a great song name and all, but I just wasn’t feeling it.