AltWeeklies Wire
Estelle Shows Us How to Shinenew
Not familiar with Estelle? Atlantic Records is betting you will be any minute now, as her album Shine lands in stores this week. It's full of a rare blend of purposely jarring hip-hop, soul, and pop tunes that, at times, seem too transatlantic for their own good, but overall are refreshing.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Jonathan Cunningham |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Starbucks Subsidiary has Big Plans Brewing for Hilary McRaenew
She signed with Hear Music, the Starbucks subsidiary that's home to such superstars as Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Carly Simon.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Lee Zimmerman |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Skankin' it with Stephen Marleynew
Even if you can't name a Stephen Marley song, you've likely heard his music. When he released his first solo album last year, Mind Control, the second oldest son of Bob Marley already had five Grammys on his shelf -- more than his father, or for that matter, any other reggae artist in history.
Charleston City Paper |
Stratton Lawrence |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Mark Olson Goes from Lost to Triumphantnew
The former Jayhawk is on a fresh new musical journey.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Bravery Dance it Down with a Modern Rock Soundnew
The Sun and the Moon opens up many new possibilities for how the band's music will evolve in the near future. The new material is more timeless, more textured, and at the same time more adventurous than the debut.
Charleston City Paper |
Alan Sculley |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Bravery, The Sun and The Moon
Does It Offend You, Yeah? Explains the Namenew
They needed a name for the project, so they turned on the TV to a scene from The Office in which David Brent goes, "Does it offend you, yeah? My drinking?" Seconds later, the band was born. "It shouldn't be about not liking a band because of its name," keyboardist Dan Coop says. "It should be about listening to the music."
Chicago Newcity |
Garin Pirnia |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sybris Returns with 'Into the Trees'new
After a long break that involved some touring and a patient writing period, the Chicago band is back with a more riotous affair.
Chicago Newcity |
Tom Lynch |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Into the Trees, Sybris
Lyfe Jennings Emerges Out of His Demons with Assurednessnew
With Lyfe Change, Jennings finally finds his true self by embracing and owning his bipolar persona. The frantic peaks and valleys are in the past, and his hesitation to cement a signature sound no longer plays as inexperienced timidity but confident experimentation.
Orlando Weekly |
Justin Strout |
05-06-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Lyfe Change, Lyfe Jennings
Bouncing Souls Get Happynew
Though a bit better produced and more melodic than their debut, songs from 2006's The Gold Record still pound away with that familiar pogo beat and sing-along choruses. What has changed is that Bouncing Souls aren't bratty punks anymore -- they're forefathers of a genre.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Justin Jacobs |
05-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
DeVotchKa Tries to Capitalize on the Attentionnew
Not exactly a household name when Little Miss Sunshine filmmakers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris first rang up, DeVotchKa was at that point better known for trying to make the alt-underground safe for Eastern European sounds.
The Georgia Straight |
Shawn Conner |
05-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Take Does It Offend You, Yeah? at Face Valuenew
Back in the U.K., critics and punters alike have pigeonholed the group as charter members of the nu-rave club. But they're obviously aiming higher than a seat on the bandwagon next to Justice and Shitdisco.
The Georgia Straight |
Mike Usinger |
05-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
John Reis Drops His Other Efforts to March to One Drumnew
Indeed, See You in Magic, the Night Marchers' debut (co-released by Vagrant Records and Reis's own imprint, Swami), pulls together many of the styles that he's touched upon over the years: punk, early rock, superpowered R&B and more.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
05-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Psych Freaks Indian Jewelry Are Out Therenew
The band is a total aesthetic package, and I can see how a photo shoot would rank higher for them than an interview. Words are words and whatever, but dressing up like a militant cult member is performance art. And when they do it, at least, it's a show worth seeing.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
05-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Free Gold!, Indian Jewelry
Foals Aren't in It for the Money or the Famenew
If every so-called "new Radiohead" group sounded as energetic, enthusiastic and decidedly unlike any overwrought Thom Yorke self-indulgence as these reformed math rockers, the music world would be a much better place.
NOW Magazine |
Tim Perlich |
05-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Robyn Repositionednew
People on this side of the pond are finally catching on to the reinvented Swedish future-pop darling; her latest album is getting a proper release here after much hype and blog love from the likes of Perez Hilton and hipster music sites like Pitchforkmedia.
NOW Magazine |
Evan Davies |
05-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
