AltWeeklies Wire
There's No Doubt That No Doubt Rules Orange Countynew
Even if they hadn’t been around in a while, even if they’re internationally famous superstars, even if some of them don’t live in the area anymore, No Doubt are permanently woven into the fabric of our culture—and unlike consumerism, conservatism or reality shows, they are something to be proud of.
OC Weekly |
Albert Ching |
08-18-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Why is Jack White Playing the Drums for the Dead Weather?new
It's perplexing that in the Dead Weather, White's current project and the most ubiquitously publicized band of 2009, he's playing ... drums? It feels like a novelty for novelty's sake, like Michael Jordan trying baseball.
Elvis Costello's Latest Offers a Lot to Likenew
The latest from the reliably prolific Cos (his 11th album this decade) is the T-Bone Burnett-produced Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, which can broadly be called his "country album" (though the same can be said, with just about as much accuracy, of 2004's The Delivery Man).
The Indio Index: Coachella By the Numbersnew
Around 150,000 people were at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio this year—150,000 people who are all kinda nuts. Here are some other significant numbers from Coachella ’09.
Tags: music festivals, Coachella
Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'It's Blitz!'new
Watching an act like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs realize their potential is the closest thing childless music nerds may have to watching a kid grow up, and though it may not be nearly as enriching, it's satisfying nonetheless.
On His Latest Album, Morrissey Lets Us Know 'I'm OK By Myself'new
Years of Refusal is Morrissey's ninth solo album and the most compelling argument for fans to finally move on from his former life.
Seven Unsexy Songs About Sexnew
With apologies to Big Black, here are seven songs about fucking that are unlikely to inspire any actual fucking.
Tags: Sex, sexy songs
KOCI-FM Brings Low Powered Radio to the Peoplenew
Costa Mesa’s KOCI-FM 101.5 may not be ready to make us forget Indie 103.1, but it seems like its heart is in the right place.
'Tonight: Franz Ferdinand'new
The Scottish quartet don’t tinker with the formula too drastically on Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. Good thinking.
Mission Viejo Rapper Explores the Fake and Real OCsnew
Here is a local guy, most likely exposed to some of the hippest corners of the county, but seemingly perpetuating stereotypes I figured were a creation of embittered screenwriters and Bravo execs.
OC Weekly |
Albert Ching |
02-03-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Best Tribute Bands to Never Existnew
What of the many acts that, for one reason or another, will never merit the tribute-band treatment? Let's travel to a thoroughly unhip parallel universe and check out the greatest tribute bands to (hopefully) never exist.
'Day & Age' Might be the Best Killers Album Yetnew
If you can get past the clunky lyrics, there's a lot to like about the Killers, especially on their recently-released third album.
Tags: The Killers, Day & Age
Wonderlove is Back, with the Same Sound but Different Prioritiesnew
The celebrated Orange County band formed in 2000 and broke up in 2004; even though their music is hardly politically charged, there's some symmetry in the fact they're reuniting in 2008, on the cusp of a new national administration and near the close of a tulmultuous decade.
OC Weekly |
Albert Ching |
11-18-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Orange County, Wonderlove
Travis' Sixth Album Introduces a Heavier Soundnew
The end result is an album that's good, but not great, and unlikely to move the needle on the band's evidently declining fan base.
Tags: Travis, Ode to J. Smith
Shiny Toy Guns' Sophomore Album is Varied and Boringnew
It's clear that Shiny Toy Guns didn't want to simply make a soundtrack to sweaty nights on dance floors. Which is admirable from an artistic standpoint, sure. But that doesn't mean Season of Poison is any fun to listen to.
Tags: Season of Poison, Shiny Toy Guns
