Tom Lynch

I've been a Ken Andrews fan for a long time now, for one reason or another, and I can honestly say that it's not just nostalgia. Failure's third record, "Fantastic Planet," while somewhat dated now in that post-grunge mid-nineties era, is still one of my favorite albums, for both its strange blend of space rock and alt-pop and Andrews' direct offering of sadness and drug imagery. The two Failure releases before, "Magnified" and "Comfort," were strong as well, if not fully realized ("Comfort" was put to tape by Albini, and it sounds like it). He moved on to solo project ON after that--which featured a more electronic approach--and made a decent record in 2000 called "Shifting Skin" (I never heard its follow-up, "Make Believe"). Then came the slightly ill-advised Year of the Rabbit, which ended before the band had a chance to really grow into anything. During all this, Andrews made a name for himself as a producer and mixer, working with various bands, including A Perfect Circle (which covered "The Nurse Who Loved Me," one of Andrews' best songs), Tenacious D and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Now he offers a solo record, under his own moniker, called "Secrets of the Lost Satellite," and, as one might guess, it combines elements of every project he's been involved with during his career. Of course, it doesn't touch "Fantastic Planet," but it could be the best material he's written since, his guitar work as intricate as ever and his voice aged, wearied and trustworthy. It's not a perfect record by any means, but another solid one from an under-appreciated songwriter.

Ken Andrews plays March 27 at Double Door, 1572 North Milwaukee, (773)489-3160, at 9pm. $10. (2007-03-20)

Also by Tom Lynch

Bizarre Pop Scientist
The multi-dimensional, shape-shifting musician, who's by now established his name fairly high on Chicago's long list of current artists, has a new record due Tuesday, "Armchair Apocrypha," and it could easily be his best put to tape. Of course, most Bird fans cite his live show first and foremost as his gateway to his audience--either they caught him by accident a few years back or friends had tirelessly pimped him until they gave in--as his stellar, florescent violin playing takes his indie-pop/jazz/gypsy into new realms
(2007-03-13)

Deeler's Choice
The Portland three-piece's "Friend and Foe" blends a traditional Pacific-Northwestern sound with open space and charming, strange programming, atypical percussion patterning and skewed guitar work
(2007-03-13)

Tip of the Week
Matthew Kerstein, formerly of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, has perhaps eclipsed his previous band with his new project Brighton, MA, whose upcoming self-titled debut features some truly gorgeous pop nostalgia, taking influence from The Cure, The Replacements and even a little bit of The Who
(2007-03-13)

Tip of the Week
Brooklyn writer Joshua Ferris makes an impression with his swift debut, "Then We Came to the End," a witty and diabolically detailed novel about life at the office, where phrases like "casual Fridays" bounce around and fellow workers make bets on who will get too drunk at the Christmas party this year
(2007-03-13)

Soundcheck
(2007-03-06)

Love, Lethem, Love
(2007-03-06)

Tip of the Week
(2007-03-06)

Tip of the Week
(2007-03-06)

NONFICTION REVIEW
(2007-02-27)

Tip of the Week
(2007-02-27)

Sea Dogs
(2007-02-27)

Soundcheck
(2007-02-20)

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