AltWeeklies Wire
Rise Against Stealth-Markets Entertainment as Activismnew
What would a band like Rise Against do without a war or two to bellow about, anyway, or Interscope to sell hardcore all the way into the mainstream? It's entertainment, stealth-marketed to your conscience, but it's nothing that'll ever bring an end to torture.
The Georgia Straight |
Adrian Mack |
06-08-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tiga's 'Ciao!' Is Unfettered, Unabashed, Intuitive and Hilariousnew
All of Tiga's hustle and accomplishment is concealed behind the sleek, casual, quirky and fascinating veneer which is ultimately his greatest talent— his distinct personality.
Montreal Mirror |
Jack Oatmon |
06-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Uncanny Hootenanny of Hank Pine & Lily Fawn Fires Up Montreal's Festival Seasonnew
Twisted musical revisionists Hank Pine & Lily Fawn testify about their comic book origins, their snake-oil stage show, their creep-outs for kiddies and the robot in their future—but they won't say where the bodies are buried.
Montreal Mirror |
Rupert Bottenberg |
06-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
What Happens When a Label Deal Goes Right and the Band Breaks Up Anyway?new
Sometimes for bands, the stars align just right. Labels clamor for the artist. The terms of the deal are more than fair. Offers for maximum-exposure tours abound, and press is eerily pitch-perfect. And the whole thing goes to hell anyway.
Nashville Scene |
Tracy Moore |
06-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Be Your Own Pet, record labels
Two Brooklyn-Based Trios Head for Tucson in a Quest for Catharsisnew
On their respective new albums, Au Revoir Simone and The Antlers—a pair of New York bands now on tour together—address coping with emotional upheaval in different, yet equally successful ways.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Disco Popsters the Juan MacLean Are Only Human -- More or Lessnew
Although it has taken on a massive life outside of the new album, the teaser single "Happy House" shows what the Juan MacLean is capable of: namely, superb pop that uses dance music's production techniques and structures.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Brandon Bussolini |
06-03-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Rancid's First Album in Six Years Is Also Its Most Adventurousnew
After a six-year break, will longtime fans have the patience for Rancid's sprawling comeback? The answer lies no further than the band's gauntlet of a discography, which has already served as a proving ground for band and followers alike.
East Bay Express |
Nate Seltenrich |
06-03-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The New York Dolls Are America's Most Famous Unknown Bandnew
The surviving members of the New York Dolls are currently touring and recording with some energetic youngsters filling out the band, but the press (especially in America) is still giving them shit.
Boulder Weekly |
Adam Perry |
06-01-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: rock, New York Dolls
Jens Lekman Says Goodbye Sweden, Hello Sunshinenew
Made up of baroque pop arrangements, deeply personal first-hand tales, and obscure samples aplenty, Night Falls Over Kortedala acts as both a near-perfect glimpse into Jens Lekman's world and a far cry from the life he's currently leading.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Aly Comingore |
06-01-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Slim Twig Insists That It's Only Rock and Rollnew
The articulate, soft-spoken 21-year-old Slm Twig has ridden a wave of underground hype over the past few years, but now he's getting positive reviews in the mainstream press, too. Not bad for someone who freely admits he's not much of a musician.
NOW Magazine |
Benjamin Boles |
05-29-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
BMX Champion TJ Lavin Hopes His Latest Crazy Stunt -- Music -- Pays Offnew
At 32, TJ Lavin has managed to avoid the time clock for nearly 16 years, not only as a biker, but also as a musician. He's now releasing The First Set, an album that he produced and rapped on under the name "Lavs."
Las Vegas Weekly |
Sarah Feldberg |
05-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Windy and Carl Bring Their Abstract and Dreamlike Music to Tucsonnew
Windy and Carl build environments of sound, allowing tectonic plates of electronic sound to shift through the music. Hearing the music is visceral and emotional: It's a deep, rich and rewarding experience. And there's not a sequencer, synthesizer or sampler to be found.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
05-27-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
For Kevin Devine, the Message Is the Mediumnew
Brother's Blood is an occasionally difficult but consistently rewarding album, ranging from gentle strums and sighs to the title cut's epic guitar histrionics.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
05-26-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Sounds Carry Swedish Power Pop to the Massesnew
The Sounds' decision to finance their own album was a bold gamble, but it seems to have paid off.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Tom Lanham |
05-26-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Influential Music of St. Louis Sax Legend Oliver Sain Lives Onnew
Oliver Sain was a saxophone player, producer, composer, arranger, talent scout and multi-instrumentalist who reigned over the St. Louis worlds of blues, jazz, soul and R&B for more than four decades.
Riverfront Times |
Keegan Hamilton |
05-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
