AltWeeklies Wire
Beat a Retreat?new
While Kanye West looks within and Mos Def styles himself as a quasi-jihadist, a head wonders, what happened to the rage, urgency, and political direction in hip-hop?
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Oliver Wang |
01-12-2005 |
Music
Trend-Spotting in Music News of 2004new
Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction, Bruce Springsteen's Vote for Change tour and the Pixies' successful comeback are among 2004's top music stories.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Hepola |
01-04-2005 |
Music
New Angels in Rock Heavennew
A critic polishes off the Greil Marcus Rock Death Meter to rank tragic deaths of rock stars in 2004. The worst was the murder of metal guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott, shot and killed on stage by a deranged fan.
Houston Press |
John Nova Lomax |
01-03-2005 |
Music
A Few Frolics Frazzled Over Flick About the Bandnew
Three young filmmakers just unveiled a documentary about the Bay Area jazz quintet, and members are debating whether a little dog in a funny hat really has a place in the movie.
East Bay Express |
Rob Harvilla |
01-03-2005 |
Music
Five Experts' Top 5 CD Picks for 2004new
The critics choose works by seasoned artists like Prince and Brian Wilson as well as the sophomore release of a startling young band, Perpetual Groove.
Mountain Xpress |
Melanie McGee, Kevin Cassels, DJ Jah Seh, Ele Ellis and Stuart Gaines |
12-29-2004 |
Music
Americana Pie: Best Roots Music of 2004new
Sales-wise, at least, Nashville got its groove back in 2004. Cause to celebrate is the fact that the city has managed to anoint a couple of new stars.
Miami New Times |
John Nova Lomax |
12-28-2004 |
Music
Up From the Underworldnew
This year, blood-soaked extreme metal took its rightful place in the world of heavy music.
Ten Discs With Indie Spiritnew
Look here for alternative albums of 2004 that whump and rock yer face off.
A Dark Year for America Was Great for Musicnew
The last 12 months saw Bush and the GOP continuing to roll back progressive causes. That kind of sucked. But there's nothing like a tidal wave of conservatism to motivate musicians to get off their asses.
Metal Fans Mourn Their Ownnew

Witnesses to the Alrosa Villa shootings in Columbus grapple with the fact they witnessed the deaths of kindred spirits at a club that feels like a second home.
The Other Paper |
Kristen Convery |
12-16-2004 |
Music
Great Balls of Firenew
One thousand acts play the CMJ Music Marathon each year, and thousands of fans, journalists, and record executives converge on New York City like a frothing crew of Ahabs. This year's Moby-Dick: the Arcade Fire.
Singer's Oceanfront Home Is Still a Musical Meccanew
Herbert Tobin owns the five-bedroom home at 461 Ocean Boulevard in Golden Beach, Fla., that Eric Clapton named an album for. He hates telling pilgrims from as far away as Japan that they can't see Clapton; he's long gone.
Miami New Times |
Brett Sokol |
12-13-2004 |
Music
Nirvana-Shaped Boxnew
With the Lights Out gets at the music behind the myth. Not merely a greatest-hits package or retrospective, the new box set is a revealing look inside the musical mess that was Nirvana.
Boston Phoenix |
Matt Ashare |
12-03-2004 |
Music
Tags: Nirvana, With the Lights Out
Strength in Differencesnew
And now, music fans, relax and welcome to the "Sound of Strange America." We don't have a particular sound in the Bay Area – we've got dozens of them.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
J. H. Tompkins |
12-01-2004 |
Music
Everybody Say 'Yeah'new
What is the San Francisco Sound?
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Kimberly Chun |
12-01-2004 |
Music