AltWeeklies Wire
Otis Taylor Shines New Light on an Ancient Instrumentnew
With each record, Otis Taylor has blazed a trail, or at the very least carved a trailhead, moving from self-described "trance-blues" to special blends that draw on jazz and back-mountain country, on the internal and the universal. His current release, Recapturing the Banjo, brings Taylor and most of his collaborators on the project to Duke University.
INDY Week |
Rick Cornell |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Army of Two: Au’s Dynamic Duo Does the Work of 30new
Verbs, the latest record from expansive experimental pop group Au, pulses with the unbridled passion of an exuberant mass of people, nearly 30 collaborators in all. Its manic keyboards, swooning horns, complex percussion and manifold other instruments combine with Luke Wyland’s voice and at times an ebullient choir to generate a sweeping feeling of propulsion.
New York Press |
Amre Klimchak |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tune In to the Turned-On Dropouts, Asa Ransomnew
"I Like to walk to the center of an intersection!" wails Jacob Bills, lead singer and sole guitarist of Brooklyn-based four-piece rock noisemakers Asa Ransom, a touch of whimsy and madcap paranoia in his voice. Playing up on the extreme highend of his guitar’s neck, his bandmates musically swirling around him, Bills's description of playing amidst traffic seems pretty apt.
New York Press |
Greg Burgett |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Doll Parts: The Making of Lissy Trullienew
Plenty of models have tried their hands at music; the architects behind Lissy Trullie have done a smooth retro take on hookladen pop. A bisexual teenybopper fantasy is being built, but there are no buyers yet.
New York Press |
Matt Harvey |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Apostle of Solitude Rocks the Mini-Barnnew
A mini-barn is the unlikely birthplace for doom metal quartet Apostle of Solitude, who have risen through the Indianapolis music scene.
NUVO |
Wade Coggeshall and Kris Arnold |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Rappers With Low Self-Esteem: Bragging About Going Brokenew
In our ironic age, it shouldn't be surprising that a new crop of MCs is boasting about a lack of cars, women, and riches. San Francisco actor and comedian Erik Weiner can genuinely hold his own on the mike.
SF Weekly |
Ben Westhoff |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Minneapolis's Aby Wolf Delivers Album of Mesmerizing Folknew
Wolf talks about her songwriting on Sweet Prudence.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Andrea Swensson |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Portland Experimentalist Finds Inspiration at the Skating Rinknew
Portland musician Ethan Rose is a geek for antiquated instruments. His latest effort is made chiefly from an 86-year-old Wurlitzer organ at Oaks Park Skating Rink.
Willamette Week |
Robert Ham |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Guitar Hero Eric Johnson Says He's Starting to Pick Up the Pacenew
No one has ever accused Johnson of lacking technique. He's been playing blues, rock, jazz, R&B, world music and country in a professional capacity -- and attracting praise for it -- since he was 12. But Johnson, also a proficient singer and pianist, said technique must always be in service of the song.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
01-15-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Flying High with Side Project-Turned-Superstars Department of Eaglesnew
On a break from mixing an album with Grizzly Bear, in which he plays guitar, Daniel Rossen was marveling at the aftermath of his other band's appearance in a recent episode of the teen drama.
New York Press |
Nicole Brydson |
01-15-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Walkmen Finally Hit a Musical Stridenew
Where in the past it might have seemed that The Walkmen were always on the brink -- either of collapse or making a masterful musical statement -- they now seem destined to keep reinventing themselves.
San Diego CityBeat |
Scott McDonald |
01-14-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Walkmen, You & Me
Three Mile Pilot Never Broke Up -- They Just Took a 10-Year Breaknew
Inside the history, hiatus and return of one of San Diego's most beloved acts.
San Diego CityBeat |
AnnaMaria Stephens |
01-14-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Hollywood Heartthrob: How a Lucky Break and a Lot of Cash Made the Bandnew
The day he won a huge raffle, Ted Myers called his bandmates and told them not to worry about money anymore. He had an investor who would pay for everything.
Phoenix New Times |
Niki D'Andrea |
01-13-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tasherre D'Enajetic's Committed, If Not Possessednew
The Detroit emcee made plans last year to record 52 songs -- roughly four complete albums in CD terms -- in as many weeks, or a year. At press time, he's halfway toward his goal.
Metro Times |
William E. Ketchum III |
01-13-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: hip-hop, Tasherre D'Enajetic
Marty Finkel is Chasing the Melodiesnew
Finkel's new album The Good Life is a collection of 14 alt-country and rock songs that establishes him as one of the best new music artists in Madison.
Isthmus |
Rich Albertoni |
01-12-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Good Life, Marty Finkel
