AltWeeklies Wire
The Contantines Strike a Balance Between Creativity and Commercenew
Despite a deliberate approach, Kensington Heights, the latest recording by the Canadian combo, doesn't sound fussy or effete.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
07-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Cloudy Weather at Denver Meteorologist Conferencenew
The American Meteorological Society-sponsored gathering is a party of sorts -- but the pressure isn't as low as in previous years because of the uncertainty plaguing traditional electronic media.
Sigur Ros Tackles a Series of Firsts that Result in Its Most Accessible Albumnew
It's the first album to be mainly recorded outside its home base of Iceland, first to feature a track sung in English, and the first co-produced by a big-shot dial-twister. Somehow, though, this series of seemingly suspect compromises actually brings out new and beguiling qualities in the band.
Gnarls Barkley Never Meant to Go Crazynew
How do you follow up a signature hit for the entire decade? Easy. Stop trying.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
06-30-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Rose Hill Drive is Retro, So Deal With Itnew
Moon is the New Earth features several entertainingly excessive blues-rock booglarizers, the groups expands their horizons to include power pop, garagey rave-ups and even vintage psychedelia.
Weezer Phones in Its New Albumnew
The group's latest self-titled release is practically a novelty disc, albeit a notably lazy one.
Sub Pop's Twentieth Anniversary Spurs Denver's Unlikeliest Band Reunionnew
The Fluid was the first group based outside the Pacific Northwest to ink with Sub Pop, the indie that served as the launching pad for what became known as the grunge sound; as such, it became a key component of a musical revolution that helped define the late-'80s/early-'90s rock era.
Girl Named Kyle Needs Some More Buildingnew
No, the world hasn't been waiting for another folkish band fronted by a precocious, big-voiced singer, and the familiar nature of the strummier material on Let's Build doesn't help separate Girl Named Kyle from the pack.
Silver Jews Pair Simple Melodies with Complex Lyricsnew
Even after trading chemical dependency for religion, David Berman remains a deadpan wit of charm and skill, as he demonstrates on Lookout, the first Silver Jews record made without assistance from Berman's longtime cohort, Pavement leader Stephen Malkmus.
Should Talk-Show Hosts Who Tackle Ethnic Issues be Accused of Racism?new
Over time, the mainstream press has tended to treat race as the Great Unmentionable -- a topic so likely to stir anti-intellectual passions that it's to be avoided at all cost -- and throughout his campaign, Obama has followed suit, doing his best to usher the electorate into a post-racial era. But that's easier said than done.
Erykah Badu Makes Statements, Not Singlesnew
"Artists work so hard to create these projects," she says. "They're not meant to be 99 cents per track. They're meant to be listened to back to back. That's how I create them."
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
06-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Roots Get Heavynew
Thematically, it's heavier than Jared Fogle before he realized how much money he could make crediting his weight loss to sandwiches.
Tale of a Daily Newspaper Odd Couplenew
Two Colorado newspapers that were once mortal enemies -- Boulder's Colorado Daily and Daily Camera -- make plans to cohabit.
Be Your Own Pet Makes the Suits Nervousnew
Punk used to be dangerous. Now it's neutered and sanitized for our listening pleasure.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
05-12-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Olympics Travel a Hurdle for Colorado News Medianew
When it comes to travel, news organizations are asking themselves: Should we stay or should we go?
