AltWeeklies Wire
Why The Fine Print of 'Chinese Democracy' is Way More Fun Than the Recordnew
I feel comfortable stating that Guns N' Roses' long-awaited album is the last record I will ever buy just to read the liner notes. Holy shit. Do pop into Best Buy this week and have a gander.
L.A. Weekly |
Rob Harvilla |
12-01-2008 |
Music
Dallas Hip-Hop: Swagger Like Usnew
Local artists make waves with D-Town Boogie, but the real test comes in 14 months.
Dallas Observer |
Pete Freedman |
12-01-2008 |
Music
My Fondness for Dead Guy Rocknew
As a few close friends of mine have pointed out over the last several years, I seem to have a particular affinity for singer/songwriters who are no longer with us.
Jackson Free Press |
Andi Agnew |
11-25-2008 |
Music
Secret 'Stache: The Passion and Pop of John Oatesnew
John Oates' mustache has become a pop-culture phenomenon almost wholly removed from the musician himself. And far from simply indulging an irony-obsessed generation, Oates has jumped on the bandwagon.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Shaun Brady |
11-25-2008 |
Music
How the Drive-By Truckers Met The Hold Steadynew
While it's no surprise that bottle rockets and plenty of mischief-making have come into the mix, the meeting of DBT frontman Patterson Hood and Hold Steady guitarist Tad Kubler involves interests as brainy as they are bacchanalian.
Seattle Weekly |
Hannah Levin |
11-25-2008 |
Music
Houston Goes International with the Latin Grammysnew
What in the world is such an important event -- 49 awards in categories ranging from cumbia, ranchera and norteño to urban and alternative -- doing in Houston, of all places?
Houston Press |
Chris Gray |
11-18-2008 |
Music
Ian MacKaye Talks About His Thoroughly Unconventional Careernew
He doesn't consider his meet-the-people events to be all that revolutionary, even if it's every bit as unusual as everything else he's done in his career to date. "The idea of the Q&A was just that people read interviews -- but if they're interested, I'm happy to talk to them directly," he says. "And that's straight up."
Ian MacKaye is Taking Questions and Delivering Answersnew
MacKaye's current solo tour isn't musical, and true to form, it breaks with convention. He's dropping by various bookstores, high schools and colleges for Q&A sessions, or, as he calls them, "public interviews."
Boulder Weekly |
Elliott Johnston |
11-17-2008 |
Music
Abigail Henderson Fights Cancer and Rallies Musicians for Health Carenew
Stage III inflammatory breast cancer, to put it bluntly, fucks shit up. But as far as Henderson and her friends are concerned, it is not going to stop the rock.
D.I.Y. Now for the Future in St. Louisnew
The Undertow Collective and Magnolia Summer are using technology to modernize their D.I.Y. creative vision.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
11-07-2008 |
Music
This Little Undergroundnew
Sonically, Philadelphia's Man Man and Brooklyn's Tim Fite don't seem the most likely of bedmates. But both acts work the luring whimsicality of children's stories with adult, sometimes dark intentions.
Orlando Weekly |
Bao Le-Huu |
11-06-2008 |
Music
The Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady Consummate Their Mutual Crushnew
For a certain breed of rock fan -- those who like their rock literate and loud -- this tour is a wondrous fantasy, Hanukkah come early, OMFG. But for all the mutual man love going around, the two bands don't necessarily seem like a logical pairing.
Nashville Scene |
Lee Stabert |
10-31-2008 |
Music
Election '08: Considering Campaign Songsnew
The idea of using pop songs as campaign themes makes sense. With such clear choices this year, it seems fitting that the current presidential contenders might also appropriate music to help define their political personas.
Riverfront Times |
Lee Zimmerman |
10-31-2008 |
Music
This Little Undergroundnew
As happens with any stimulus, the heavy Swedish metal I've been around lately has apparently modulated my tolerance quite a bit. That would explain why my impression of Opeth is locked in a state of nonplus.
Orlando Weekly |
Bao Le-Huu |
10-30-2008 |
Music
R.A. the Rugged Man is McCain in the Membranenew
While he doesn't have the reach of Jay-Z, Nas, or any of Obama's other major-label shills, Rugged Man is using his notoriety and knack for controversy to rally troops behind the red team.
Boston Phoenix |
Chris Faraone |
10-30-2008 |
Music
