Music | Profiles & Interviews | AAN.org

Soulful Folkie Mutlu Chases the Dreamnew

His debut CD, Livin' It, has a similar funky-folky feel, but with a soft, hip-hop groove.

Philadelphia City Paper | A.D. Amorosi | 08-12-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Rising Detroit Rap Star Invincible Creates Sonic Calling Card from Activism & Dissentnew

Here's the deal: Invincible is one of the best emcees in the country, as many will tell you, gender notwithstanding, though the odds are stacked against her: 1) She's a woman working a male-dominated genre 2) She's gay and 3) She's overtly political -- her sympathy for the Palestinians, and politicking in a pop world often spells fiscal failure.

Metro Times | Brian Smith | 08-12-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: politics, hip-hop, Detroit, sexism, Invincible, gay & lesbian issues, emcees, Shapeshifters

'Weird Al' Yankovic Dares to be Honest About 'Straight Outta Lynwood'new

"Longevity" is not a word we usually associate with novelty artists, but "Weird Al" Yankovic has trumped his Dr. Demento peers by releasing twelve albums and capturing three Grammys since 1980.

Riverfront Times | Ryan Wasoba | 08-11-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Weird Al Yankovic

Dutchess and the Duke: Seattle’s New Rock Royaltynew

They may not roll with the Stones, but their blend of '60s rock and folk recalls the time when the game was more grit than glamor.

Seattle Weekly | Hannah Levin | 08-11-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Dutchess and the Duke, She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke

People Under the Stairs Stick to the Fundamentalsnew

The Los Angeles-based underground mainstay's fifth album, cleverly christened Fun DMC, should resonate with new people seeking that good ol' head-nodding feeling and anxious old disciples underwhelmed by the group's last LP, Stepfather.

NOW Magazine | Addi Stewart | 08-11-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Fun DMC, People Under the Stairs

Montreal Indie-Popsters Wolf Parade Get Back on Tracknew

Every musician needs a side project now and then, but what if your extracurricular activities become more important than your day job? That's sort of what happened to Wolf Parade.

NOW Magazine | Bryan Borzykowski | 08-11-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer

Dr. Dog is Big Newsnew

In the last few years Dr. Dog have performed the national anthem at a Phillies game, been remixed by Beck, toured Europe and Australia, sold out the TLA and been mooned over by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell in The New York Times. They've come a long way from singing Beach Boys songs at parties.

Philadelphia Weekly | Doug Wallen | 08-11-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Dr. Dog, Fate

Jazz Trumpeter Amir ElSaffar Builds a Bridge to Iraqnew

ElSaffar's suite Two Rivers forges a singular fusion of jazz and Iraqi classical music -- and reconciles his roots in the process.

Chicago Reader | Peter Margasak | 08-11-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Iraq, jazz, Chicago, Amir ElSaffar, world music, classical music, displacement, war & peace, trumpeters, Two Rivers

Olivier Jarda's Smart Talknew

Musician and Rhodes Scholar Jarda returns home to the maritimes from Oxford, home of Radiohead, and a, uh, big university.

The Coast, Halifax's Weekly | Sean Flinn | 08-08-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Diagrams, Olivier Jarda

Mike Gordon Swims Alonenew

The Phish bassist is pretty bored of getting asked if the Phab Phour are reuniting.

Seven Days | Dan Bolles | 08-08-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Bernie Sanders, Phish, Mike Gordon, The Green Sparrow

Oracle and the Mountain Rises From the Depths of Depressionnew

When his previous band, the indie/alt-country outfit the Great Depression, called it quits in late 2003, Dale Naron thought that he was finally done with music.

The Memphis Flyer | J.D. Reager | 08-08-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: indie rock, Great Depression, Oracle and the Mountain

Twenty Years of Supersuckersnew

Some time around Thanksgiving, Rontrose and crew will celebrate their 20th anniversary as punk's answer to hedonistic, cowboy-hat wearing, meat-and-potatoes American rock 'n' roll.

Shepherd Express | Joe Uchill | 08-08-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Arizona, Seattle, The Supersuckers, rock and roll