AltWeeklies Wire
Queens-born Rapper Homeboy Sandman is Headed For the Big Timenew
Actual Factual Pterodactyl is not only the best-named album to come out of the New York hip-hop underground this year; it has the added benefit of being exactly the kind of album that you would hope for from something bearing its name.
New York Press |
Hamilton Nolan |
07-24-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Blasters' Phil Alvin Sorts Through the Unholy Mess They've Made of American Musicnew
Frankly, between his rapid delivery of music history, his mind that seems to operate faster than his mouth and his penchant for breaking into 19th-century songs, the passer-by would think Phil Alvin is a certified loon. But really, he has built himself into a musicologist through playing and mastering America's early styles and now exists at a level of musical awareness that seems baffling to the lay ear.
Metro Silicon Valley |
John Gentile |
07-24-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Blasters
Yonder Mountain String Band Keeps it Realnew
They may look like urban hipsters, but the Yonder Mountain String Band is countrified class.
Santa Fe Reporter |
Gabe Gomez |
07-24-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Erk tha Jerk Makes Bay Area Hip-Hop a Whole Lot Smarternew
Erk tha Jerk is a slender guy with horn-rimmed glasses and a gallows humor. He isn't afraid to clown someone using insults that could potentially go over that person's head. And his most famous song, "I'm So Dumb (the Hyphy Diss Song)," might have been the most petulant thing to air on KMEL this year.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
07-24-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Coheed and Cambria Shake Off the Bumpsnew
Coheed and Cambria knew they had unfinished business ahead after releasing Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV in 2005. It just wasn’t the kind they were expecting.
San Diego CityBeat |
Alan Sculley |
07-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Blind Musical Prodigy Juanito Castillo is 19, and He Knows What He Wantsnew
It seems like only yesterday Juanito was a little boy with an accordion in his hands, playing for crowds at Market Square and local church festivals. Hailed as brilliant at an early age, Juanito quickly moved up the ranks to the conjunto elite and captured the attention of many Tejano musicians on the scene.
San Antonio Current |
Kiko Martinez |
07-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Who is Zoltan Szekely?new
The self-proclaimed mad Hungarian and leader of Zoltan Orkestar opens up. A little.
Weekly Alibi |
Marisa Demarco |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Lyle Lovett's Not-quite-as-Large Band Hits the Roadnew
This summer, Lovett will turn his attention from writing to touring. This time out, the Large Band won't be quite as big (er, large) as it has been on some tours.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Alan Sculley |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Black Pegasus Mixes Politics with Punchlinesnew
The Black Mexican may sound like a gimmicky concept itself, but it's no novelty record. As a battle rap veteran, Robert Houston offers up plenty of punchlines, but serious subtexts also find their way into the mix.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Bill Forman |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Steve Winwood Keeps the Faithnew
Former Traffic frontman looks back on Blind Faith and reunites with Eric Clapton.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Alan Sculley |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Pharcyde Reunite for Rock the Bells Blowoutnew
This culture often kills the dreams of hip-hop optimists like me, but 2007's Wu-Tang Clan/Rage Against the Machine reuniter and Rock the Bells president Chang Weisberg has brought about another miracle: all four original members of the Pharcyde are set to perform together on hip-hop's biggest tour of 2008.
NOW Magazine |
Addi Stewart |
07-21-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
!!! Survives Electroclash, Recruits a Pittsburghernew
But for a moment the fledgling genre defined !!!, before disappearing quicker than hair metal in the wake of Nirvana.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Chris Parker |
07-21-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Fleet Foxes is Closing the Generation Gapnew
The Seattle quintet embodies the new pan-generational trend in indie music.
Isthmus |
Rich Albertoni |
07-21-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Fleet Foxes
The Prairie Spies Put Fun Firstnew
The Chicago band makes music for the best possible reason -- and you can hear it on Surplus Enjoyment.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
07-21-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Page Six is a Long Way from Black Tide's South Florida Homenew
It's safe to assume it was the first time a bunch of West Kendallites appeared in the New York Post's infamous gossip column. And it's especially notable because they did so for indirectly inciting a minor riot in L.A. alongside a famously celebrated, then disgraced, then semi-redeemed memoirist.
Miami New Times |
Arielle Castillo |
07-21-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
