This interview was conducted in July 2010. Be sure to check out links to many of Raymond's contributions found below the Q&A's.



Where do you live?
Central New Jersey





How old are you?
18





Why do you write about music? (Any formal/informal practice of music? Music theory/study?)
 My friend Josh and I created blogs around the same time (3 or 4 years ago) and were always writing little blurbs that we sent each other. Reviews just developed from that, I guess. Also, writing was always my strongest topic in school, and music takes up a significant portion of my life, so those sort of naturally combined as well.





What is your favorite genre(s) of music?

Whew, this is a toughie. I know that 'Indie' isn't technically a genre, but just about anything that falls into that category is good in my book. Twee and Shoegaze in particular have been recent obsessions of mine.





Who is your favorite artist we have covered? Favorite artist/album you've written about for Groovemine?

I'd probably have to go with The New Pornographers. Whether it's the solo output of the members, the infectious pop hooks or the cryptic lyrics, they always seem to keep me interested. Plus, a band with such consistently good albums is certainly hard to come by. From Mass Romantic to Electric Version to Twin Cinema and beyond... What's not to love?

I, also, come back to Fucked Up. The Chemistry Of Common Life is such an awesomely angry album. For a group to be able to lace emotion into music like that... it's just amazing. "Son The Father" is definitely a prime example of this, not to mention a very solid opening track.






What are your favorite albums of 2010, so far, and why?

The Monitor by Titus Andronicus is really cool. The whole album is basically a loose interpretation of the Civil War (Jefferson Davis is played by Cassie Ramone from Vivian Girls, to give an example of what I'm getting at). Stylistically, it still rocks as hard as The Airing of Grievances, their debut album, but everything is a bit more focused this time around.

I've really been digging New Home by La Strada as well. They've got that exotic instrument thing going like Arcade Fire and The Decemberists, but they utilize everything in a much more diverse way. "Baptism" sounds like a brilliant gypsy rock anthem, complete with a chorus of da-da-das, while "My New Home" is the Indie Rock song that most bands would dream of making.

Avi Buffalo's self-titled debut really blew me away as well. Initially, I wrote the hype off, citing them as another buzz band. How completely wrong I was. The record brims with the intelligence and heart that seems to be missing from most current music. Avi and Co. are youngsters, but they seem like they've been doing this for years.





Tell us about your favorite live show?

All Tomorrow's Parties New York 2009 was the concert(s) that I base all concerts on. The festival is any music lover's dream. The line between band and fan is blurred to the point of nonexistence. Everyone is so nice and accepting, the ambiance is unparalleled, the lineups are innovative and surprising... I could go on for hours about the experiences I've had there, which is why I'm returning for this year's festival. If you can only attend one festival in your life, be sure and make it this one.





What was your favorite music growing up?

My mother used to DJ on an Oldies radio station, so we listened to all the hits of the 60s and 70s constantly. When I was 11, I started a Pop Punk phase, drilling blink-182 and Green Day into my brain ad infinitum. In 8th grade, my mother gave me a copy of Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, which started my bona fide love of all things music.





What are your favorite music listening moments and/or environments? In other words, how do you like to listen to music?

There's nothing like lying down in my room and putting on a record, maybe reading a book or staring up at the ceiling as well. My friend Noury has a wonderful surround sound system in his basement, so we're always down there, drinking tea and listening to everything from Deerhunter to The Beatles.





What media outlets do you turn to, other than Groovemine, to stay up on music?

I'm a big advocate of blogs like Shock Mountain and Honey Power that cater exclusively to people in search of great and interesting music. My favorite part of these sites is that right next to the album download links they post, they also encourage you to go out and buy the album if you enjoy it. By spreading the word and helping the artists financially, blogs like these are shaping up to be the true future of the music industry.





What two or three bands have you been particularly into recently? Why?

Another Sunny Day is a brilliant Twee/C86 band who perfectly epitomize everything good about the genre. The music is fun and lighthearted, but at the same time the lyrics are sarcastic and snarky (one song, innocently titled "You Should All Be Murdered", is a four minute list of the types of people the lead singer would kill if he was in charge). If you want something catchy in the vein of The Smiths, look no further than their 1992 album London Weekend.

Death By Panda is Erik Luebs, a college student making the most amazing music I've probably ever heard for his own enjoyment. Pure and perfect post-rock blended with electronic music is the name of the game here, and the best part is that it's all released for free on his website. Birthday Party is the album that stands out to me, the release that everyone who knows me has heard me hold in the highest acclaim possible. It's just such a moving and simple album from start to finish that I can't help loving it. There's a bunch of awesome music coming from Rainbow Destroyer, the collective that he co-created. A few quick searches for his stuff will definitely be worth your while.

Jeff The Brotherhood [from Nashville, TN] is not an incredibly complex band, but that doesn't matter. Brothers Jake and Jamin play simple psychedelic grunge-punk music, and simply amaze whoever has the privilege of hearing them. Heavy Days, their newest release, is a quick burst of raw energy that rocks like a more fun Nirvana. Listen to "Bone Jam" to see what I'm talking about, and prepare to be humming the hook for the rest of your life.



HIGHLIGHTS OF RAYMOND’S WORK:

• Jonsi and Alex - Riceboy Sleeps
• Los Campesinos! - Romance is Boring
• Letting Up Despite Great Faults
• Taken by Trees - East of Eden
• The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
• Tobacco - Maniac Meat
• Foxes in Fiction - Swung from the Branches