This issue of Thriller examines the Latest Greats. Here, “late” doesn’t mean dead. Instead, these interviews focus on artists who currently give us hope for the future of music. The first volume examines three of the latest greats: Nels Cline, Nick Thorburn and Joe Kwon.
Let it be said that Nick Thorburn is a nice guy.
Before you meet Thorburn (a.k.a. Nick Diamonds), it’s easy to think that he’s some sort of pampered artist. Thorburn was in the critically lauded indie pop group The Unicorns. After that group split, he formed Islands and recorded 2006’s Return to the Sea, which earned glowing reviews, including an astronomical 8.4 and “Best New Music” rating from Pitchfork. For an indie band, that is the equivalent of a Catholic priest getting a letter of recommendation from the Pope. Soon after, Islands signed to Anti- records (home of Tom Waits, among others).
Nels Cline should sound weirder.
The man has made a career out of weirdness – whether in ambient-noise collaborations with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore or in his own experimental music. Sometimes it’s beautiful; sometimes it sounds like a guy making noise. But, rarely is it normal. Speaking with him, however, leaves one with a very firm impression of normalcy.
By: Dante Lima
Joe Kwon is an Avett Brother. His driver’s license may not say Avett. He may not have that northern North Carolina drawl. He may not be able to grow a beard that strikes fear into the hearts of baby-faced men everywhere or play a traditional folk instrument, but he’s still an Avett because they want him to be.
