AltWeeklies Wire
The Best of the Worst: Metal's Most Notorious Album Coversnew

Heavy metal and Halloween go hand in hand.In that spirit, let's take a closer look at some of metal’s most notorious album covers.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Keith Carman |
10-30-2008 |
Music
Green Party VP Candidate Rosa Clemente on Musical Activismnew

Despite the inroads made by the hip-hop generation toward political mobilization, Clemente says, many of these organizations focus solely on getting out the vote and fall short of providing the information necessary to empower the community.
San Antonio Current |
M. Solis |
10-30-2008 |
Music
Soundtracking Change This Election Daynew

As the world awaits the results of the most important presidential election in, oh, 40 years, we've put together a playlist with song selections from some of Portland's finest musicians of tracks to listen to on Election Tuesday.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
10-29-2008 |
Music
Sarah Palin, in Songnew
The Sarah Palin songwriting competition that we launched four weeks ago drew in seventeen submissions, ranging from pop tune rewrites to fully choreographed videos.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan, Kathleen Richards and Nate Seltenrich |
10-29-2008 |
Music
Frankie Venom, 1957-2008new
When Frankie Venom succumbed to throat cancer last week at the age of 51, the Toronto punk scene didn't just lose a gobbing godfather -- Canada lost one of the most engaging entertainers ever to stalk a stage in a rubber-legged frenzy.
NOW Magazine |
Tim Perlich |
10-27-2008 |
Music
New Federal IP Act Will Criminalize Culturenew

The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 promises to do for music what Homeland Security did for air travel.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
10-27-2008 |
Music
Reemerging Soul: Taking Stock of the New Staxnew
It's probably a little disappointing that the relaunched, now California-based Stax imprint hasn't made more of a cultural/commercial impact this year, though it certainly hasn't been from lack of trying.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
10-24-2008 |
Music
The Return of Mingering Mikenew

For decades, D.C. songwriter Mingering Mike has refused to reveal his identity to the public. Given the right opportunity, though, he might just be ready.
Washington City Paper |
Jason Cherkis |
10-23-2008 |
Music
Foo Fighters Songs McCain Should Use Instead of 'My Hero'new

The band has not-so-discreetly asked McCain to stop using their music to rally his troops. We'd like to call on the McCain camp to do the right thing and pick a more appropriate Foo Fighters tune for stumpin'. Here are a few recommendations.
Seattle Weekly |
Chris Kornelis |
10-20-2008 |
Music
How the Web is Changing Black Youth Culture, and Vice Versanew
Wayne Marshall, a writer, DJ, ethnomusicologist, and probably the only person on staff at Brandeis University who's been written up by the Fader talks Web 2.0 and black youth culture.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
10-20-2008 |
Music
Ringtones Killed the New York Hip-Hop Starnew

While hip-hop in New York may not be dead, exactly, it is (at the very least) gravely wounded. If you're looking where to lay blame, look no further than ringtones.
New York Press |
Matthew Mundy |
10-16-2008 |
Music
A University Press Gives Legendary Mag No Depression a Second Chancenew

Can this new model work for other struggling magazines, music or otherwise?
Terrin Durfey Battles to Play Another Daynew
Durfey, who fronted beloved San Diego indie-rock bands Boilermaker and Jade Shader and more recently played in Pinback's touring band, was first diagnosed with cancer in 1998, and the cancer continues to spread to the point where doctors have given up.
San Diego CityBeat |
AnnaMaria Stephens |
10-15-2008 |
Music
What's the Greatest Texas Rock Album of All Time?new
Billy Gibbons talks to us about ZZ Top's 1983's album, Eliminator, 25 years old this year and reissued by Rhino last month in the usual two-disc expanded format with extra tracks and a bonus DVD, takes the cake.
Houston Press |
Chris Gray |
10-15-2008 |
Music
Pop Montreal Does Festival Revelry Rightnew
The still-growing music fest thrives with booking policy that favors artistic quality over quantity.
NOW Magazine |
Jordan Bimm |
10-14-2008 |
Music