Ink 19 Magazine

MGK – Ink 19 “starman” (Interscope Records). Review by Danielle Holian.

"The visuals capture both the intimacy of live music and the grandeur of stadium rock, reinforcing the song as a highlight of mgk’s current era." -- Danielle Holian

Bleed Electric – Ink 19 Let The Invasion Begin. Review by Randy Radic.

"With Let The Invasion Begin, Bleed Electric serves up a superb leftfield electronic fusion of melodic textures that’s more than worthwhile." -- Randy Radic

Excalibur 4K UHD – Ink 19 Eschewing both historical accuracy and family-friendliness, John Boorman’s Excalibur opts for dark and bombastic fantasy, graphic violence, sex, and nudity, making it an audience hit for 45 years…

"The art direction and Oscar-nominated cinematography are the real stars of the film, creating a lived-in medieval fantasy world that remains unmatched some 45 years later." -- Phil Bailey

Sassparilla – Ink 19 Honey, I’m Using Again. Review by Bob Pomeroy.

"The fifteen songs on Honey, I’m Using Again are gritty, banjo-driven tales of people just barely holding things together. Like classic blues and country, the songs revolve around hard times, hard choices, and human frailty." -- Bob Pomeroy

The Paranoid Style – Ink 19 Known Associates (Bar / None). Review by Bob Pomeroy.

"Nelson’s lyrics are insightful observations on the f*cked up world we live in." -- Bob Pomeroy

ET Boys – Ink 19 “that’s all I wanted (microdose zyzz)” (Wake Up Music). Review by Randy Radic.

"With “that’s all I wanted (microdose zyzz),” ET Boys deliver beaucoup flamboyance, transporting listeners to a Never-Never-Land soundscape." -- Randy Radic

The Nude Party – Ink 19 Look Who’s Back. Review by Peter Lindblad.

"Gram Parsons’ twangy presence is felt in the shuffle and exquisite flowing richness of 'Sweetheart of the Radio,' with its wafting pedal steel and nostalgic yearning, and the title track’s slow, rootsy drawl, which practically wakes up hungover." -- Peter Lindblad

#thenudeparty

The Visitor – Ink 19 Director Giulio Paradisi’s 1979 film, The Visitor, is a delightfully strange science fiction tale that rises above its schlocky roots in a new 4K UHD release.

"The Visitor is often dismissed as just a jumble of other movies, like The Omen, Rosemary’s Baby, Carrie, The Birds, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, like that doesn’t sound amazing." -- Phil Bailey

Mariachi El Bronx – Ink 19 Mariachi El Bronx IV (ATO). Review by Julius C. Lacking.

"While there’s plenty of room for subtlety in the sound, at its heart it’s one of the most hyperbolic expressions of music I know, and this is where Mariachi El Bronx truly shines. When they express joy, it’s ecstatic." -- Julius C. Lacking

Yellow No. 5 – Ink 19 “Be Mine” (Independent). Review by Randy Radic.

"Straight out of the Rust Belt, pop-punk, post-grunge, dark-pop trio Yellow No. 5 releases their new single, 'Be Mine,' a song revealing the psychological aftermath of a breakup, when you feel like you’ve just been punched in the emotional solar plexus." -- Randy Radic

Erik Vincent Huey – Ink 19 Fort Defiance (Appalachian AF). Review by Randy Radic.

"Shifting styles with aplomb, on Fort Defiance, Erik Vincent Huey leads his bandmates down a satisfying musical road sure to delight listeners." -- Randy Radic

Little Bihlman: An Ink 19 Premiere – Ink 19 Ghost On The Corner (V13 Music). Review by Randy Radic.

""Bihlman’s sound, which he describes as 'motorcycle poetry for truth-seekers,' blends heartland rock, tangs of blues, and country soul into songs disclosing the experience of the human condition." -- Randy Radic

HENRY FONDA FOR PRESIDENT a film by ALEXANDER HORWATH. A free, curated platform streaming one film every week.

Thankfully, for this week, Le Cínema Club is hosting for free an online screening of one of our Top Ten films of 2025, Alexander Horwath's brilliant video essay, Henry Fonda for President! Our full review for @ink19.bsky.social is here: ink19.com/2025/07/maga...

www.lecinemaclub.com/now-showing/...

Ratboys – Ink 19 Singin’ to An Empty Chair (New West). Review by Judy Craddock.

"There is no filler on Singin’ to an Empty Chair. I couldn’t find a single track that didn’t fit the narrative — it arrives like a mosaic memoir." -- Judy Craddock

Rosa – Ink 19 In a glut of Hong Kong action comedies, the madcap Rosa stands out as a quirky gem.

"Like its titular character, Rosa is a barely contained blast of pure energy." -- Phil Bailey

So sad about it :(

Louder Than You Think – Ink 19 Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young and Pavement (Independent Project Records). Review by Peter Lindblad.

"Now comes the eclectic soundtrack to the movie, and Young’s restless life for that matter, as the extravagant Louder Than You Think... traces his journey from feral hardcore punk and post-punk drifter to spirit animal for one of alternative-rock’s greatest messes." -- Peter Lindblad

Corey Ledet Zydeco & Black Magic – Ink 19 Live in Alaska. Review by Bob Pomeroy.

"Zydeco is party music, and there is no reason accordion-fueled swamp rock won’t light up the night, even in the shadow of glaciers." -- Bob Pomeroy

Annabelle Chairlegs – Ink 19 Waking Up (TODO Records). Review by Randy Radic.

"Like a tour of garage rock bands, Waking Up shows off Annabelle Chairlegs’ gift for surrealistic lyrics and elemental soundscaping." -- Randy Radic

Toad the Wet Sprocket – Ink 19 Rings: The Acoustic Sessions (Abe’s Records). Review by Andrew Ellis.

"Despite the punchy, guitar-led production of original versions of songs like ‘Walk on the Ocean,' 'Fall Down,' and 'Something’s Always Wrong,' there was always a hint that there was a mellower side to the band, and that’s beautifully brought to life on Rings: The Acoustic Sessions." -- Andrew Ellis

Illustrious Corpses – Ink 19 Francesco Rosi’s 1976 political thriller, Illustrious Corpses, is as paranoid and relevant as it was 50 years ago.

"Half a century later, Illustrious Corpses still rings true: political and social turmoil is often engineered with notions of “left-wing” and “right-wing” used as tools to divide and control, while elites are united in the expansion of their power." -- Phil Bailey

Independent Project Records – Ink 19 The Well: The Independent Project Records Collection II (Independent Project Records). Review by Peter Lindblad.

"Independent Project Records founder... Bruce Licher has artfully assembled an engrossing two-disc, 41-song compilation of rarities and unreleased tracks from an eclectic and visionary array of underground artists who strayed far from convention and never wanted to go back." -- Peter Lindblad

Remembering Midnight Oil Drummer Rob Hirst – Ink 19 Steve Stav remembers Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and the band’s lasting musical attitude.

"There were fabulous guitars, and Garrett’s unique voice lured them in — but it was co-songwriter Hirst’s beat that drove the points home." -- Steve Stav

Vampire Zombies …from Space! – Ink 19 Vampire Zombies …from Space! is an outrageously dumb (in the best way) parody with real affection for its B-movie roots.

"Your mileage may vary, but if you’re down for an homage to ’50s sci-fi and horror films laced with absurd humor and have a broad tolerance for masturbation jokes, then Vampire Zombies …from Space! might just be the guilty pleasure gem you didn’t know you needed in your life." -- Phil Bailey

Comfort and Joy – Ink 19 With just a few short days before Christmas in Glasgow, morning drive time disc jockey, Alan “Dickie” Bird finds himself caught in the middle of an absurd ice cream war in Bill Forsyth’s masterful 198...

Los Angeles friends! Tonight, 1/21 at 8pm @2220arts.bsky.social, Mezzanine is presenting one of our top ten films of all-time, director Bill Forsyth's 1984 comedy, Comfort and Joy! Back in 2020, Generoso wrote a piece on it for @ink19.bsky.social.
ink19.com/2020/12/maga...
dice.fm/event/53738d...

Woo – Ink 19 Whichever Way You Are Going, You Are Going Wrong (Independent Project Records). Review by Peter Lindblad.

"An extravagant new CD reissue revisits a wonderfully strange and intoxicating record that still feels like the discovery of an alien musical universe." -- Peter Lindblad

Wormy – Ink 19 Shark River (Rose Garden). Review by Peter Lindblad.

"Rauchwerk negotiates the terms of his surrender on Shark River, retreating into self-loathing and taking the bottle with him." -- Peter Lindblad

Mike Mattison & Trash Magic – Ink 19 Turn A Midnight Corner (Landslide Records). Review by Randy Radic.

"It’s a doozy of a record." -- Randy Radic

Abronia Premieres “Gemini” off Shapes Unravel – Ink 19 Abronia premieres their appropriately moody video for new single “Gemini” from Shapes Unravel, out in February.

Portland band Abronia premieres their new single, "Gemini," today.

"Gorgeous all together, the song is a dank march through a tenuous existence we’re not sure we like very much." -- Ink 19

Dry Cleaning – Ink 19 Secret Love (4AD). Review by Peter Lindblad.

"Not vying for anyone’s attention but expecting it anyway, Secret Love is an immaculate model of self-restraint... It decodes and translates the messages of Wire for a new generation but also succumbs to temptations of melodic, romantic beauty and natural grace..." -- Peter Lindblad