Riverfront Times | Annie Zaleski | Music | Reviews | AAN.org

With its Fourth Album, Story of the Year Stays the Coursenew

Four albums into its career, the St. Louis quintet continues to defy critics – and resist pigeonholing. Exhibit A: The Constant, the band's second LP for Epitaph Records and fourth album overall, which it recorded last summer with producer Elvis Baskette

Riverfront Times | Annie Zaleski | 02-19-2010 | Reviews

Tags: The Constant, Story of the Year

R.E.M. Hurtles Toward the Future on 'Accelerate'new

At what point in a band's career is it impossible to evaluate its new album without referencing its back catalog?

Riverfront Times | Annie Zaleski | 04-04-2008 | Reviews

Tags: Accelerate, r.e.m.

The Brits Are Alrightnew

With a new four-CD retrospective The Brit Box, Rhino Records captures the agony and ecstasy of the golden age of Modern English rock.

Riverfront Times | Annie Zaleski | 11-26-2007 | Reviews

Tags: Various Artists, The Brit Box: U.K. Indie, Shoegaze and Brit-Pop Gems of the Last Millennium.

PJ Harvey Bewitches with 'White Chalk'new

Harvey's new studio album often feels like a sequel to Björk's Vespertine.

Riverfront Times | Annie Zaleski | 10-10-2007 | Reviews

Tags: PJ Harvey, White Chalk

A Disappointing Third Albumnew

Lavigne's attempts to embrace her girly side (a move for which the ex-Sk8er Girl has received much flak) mistake empowerment for helplessness.

Riverfront Times | Annie Zaleski | 04-20-2007 | Reviews

Tags: Avril Lavigne, The Best Damn Thing

The Arcade Fire Explore the Intricacies of Religionnew

The Montreal orchestra geeks' Neon Bible is a worthy follow-up to 2004's Funeral.

Riverfront Times | Annie Zaleski | 03-02-2007 | Reviews

Tags: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible

More Diverse, Shockingly Danceablenew

Despite even thicker coats of studio gloss painted over songs, High contains catchier hooks, bigger choruses and more vocal histrionics than a MySpace flame war.

Riverfront Times | Annie Zaleski | 02-12-2007 | Reviews

Tags: Fall Out Boy, Infinity on High