AltWeeklies Wire
Eagles of Death Metal Strives for Greatnessnew
With celebrity political endorsements as commonplace these days as stacked Marshall amps at hard rock shows, it's refreshing to hear Eagles of Death Metal front man Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes's take on mixing between-songs banter with presidential proclamations.
The Georgia Straight |
Jenny Charlesworth |
11-04-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Eagles of Death Metal, Heart On
Tom Morello Explores Activism and Despair as the Nightwatchmannew
What's interesting about the Nightwatchman's new album, The Fabled City, is its development away from the stark polemics and rudimentary arrangements of the 2007 debut One Man Revolution.
The Georgia Straight |
Adrian Mack |
11-04-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Pigeon John Breaks the Rules of Hip-Hop and Winsnew
Pigeon John claims to be an average Joe, the kind of Taco Bell-eating, Xbox-playing guy that only John McCain couldn't relate to at least a little bit. He's got a gift for language, pop hooks and wisecracks that brings together people who might never interact otherwise.
Isthmus |
Jessica Steinhoff |
11-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Mexico's Jaguares Bring Their Roar North of the Bordernew
Americans of a certain age will likely assume that [45], the latest album by Mexico City's Jaguares, is a nod to the age of vinyl singles. But the title digits actually allude to a far grimmer subject: the approximately 45 million Mexicans currently living in poverty.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
11-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Blind Shake is Scary Goodnew
Through the interplay of their dueling baritone and straight guitars, Jim Blaha and his lookalike brother Mike create such an unnervingly taut and unpredictable tension that the anticipation of release leaves the listener with almost no choice but to close their eyes and rattle off of the next sonic cliff they choose to scale.
Seattle Weekly |
Hannah Levin |
11-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: post-punk, The Blind Shake
Army of One: The Coup's Frontman Goes Solonew
How does one emcee lead the revolution without a DJ, his fellow rappers, and backing band? With an acoustic guitar.
The Portland Mercury |
Ezra Ace Caraeff |
10-31-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Coup, Boots Riley
Parts and Labor's Latest Album Was Created with Some Help from Fansnew
While recording Receivers, the band put out a call to its audience to submit audio samples of any kind that would then be incorporated into the music. Hundreds of samples showed up, and the band was able to use them all, working the snippets of sound into its combination of psychedelic rock, noise-punk and electronic music.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-30-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Joan Baez is More Diamonds Than Rustnew
The folk legend doesn't think much of presidents in general, but if pressed, she's impressed by Obama.
Boston Phoenix |
Daniel Brockman |
10-30-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Bassnectar Gets Funky with Electronicanew
Bassnectar is ferocious dance music as thick as peanut butter, with a bottom end that'll rattle your toenails; a sound so visceral that you feel it as much as hear it. "It's got this kind of heavy aggressive undertone in the bass frequencies," says Bassnectar creator Lorin Ashton.
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Grant Britt |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Man Man's Genre-Defying Musicnew
It's not just the instruments that make Man Man so different from anything else you might have seen live before. It's the energy they put forth and the random acts of screaming, jumping and flailing about.
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Jeff Hahne |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Man Man, Honus Honus
Screaming Mechanical Brain Isn't Afraid to Piss Off Your Grandmanew
Over the past few years the electro-metal locals have carved out a place for themselves nationally, and they inform me matter-of-factly that their CDs and merchandise are now sold through Hot Topic, another development they can't quite explain.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Andrea Swensson |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Jimmy Hughes Gets Another Chance at FAMEnew
A collection of 18 remastered tracks Hughes recorded at FAME studios in the 1960s will be released this week.
Gambit |
Alison Fensterstock |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Magnetic Morning Proves it's Darkest Just Before the Dawnnew
Sure, Interpol and Swervedriver might be easy reference points for Magnetic Morning, but the comparison is rendered lazy once you hear the music.
San Diego CityBeat |
Seth Combs |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Ted Leo Makes Protest Music for the Massesnew
When asked about the concept behind the recent download-only EP Rapid Response, Leo can barely contain his disgust for the events that inspired its release. Outraged by the police-incited violence at this year's RNC, Leo and the band decided that a musical response was not only appropriate, but necessary.
San Diego CityBeat |
Todd Kroviak |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sweden's Dungen Can Count to '4'new
Dungen's latest sees lead singer/songwriter/producer Gustav Ejstes continuing to blend genres while abandoning some of the reverb that allowed its previous releases to sound straight off some late-1960s Brit-rock vinyl.
Chicago Newcity |
Andy Seifert |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
