AltWeeklies Wire
Talib Kweli is the One Remaining Black Starnew
Save for featuring Justin Timberlake on his last release, Kweli never compromised his craft to rise above the underground, and yet he became one of hip-hop's elite few bling-free mainstream rappers.
Boston Phoenix |
Chris Faraone |
10-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
In the Studio with Jedi Mind Tricksnew
It's rare for rappers to get props from both backpackers and outlaws, but Vinnie Paz uses his home field to his advantage.
Boston Phoenix |
Chris Faraone |
10-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Billy Bragg's Political Soulnew
"Many people in the UK have given up on the US, but by nominating a black man for president, you've really got our attention."
Boston Phoenix |
Jim Sullivan |
10-16-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Bands On the Road in Hard Timesnew
Nowhere does the old adage about the journey being more important than the destination ring truer than in the average band's tour van. But lately, the cost of taking your act on the road has skyrocketed to the point where it might not be worth leaving home at all.
Boston Phoenix |
Michael Brodeur |
09-04-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Liz Phair Paddles Back to Guyvillenew
Phair has unshelved the songs that made her who she is, directed a rough documentary revisiting the dude-heavy Chicago scene that chewed her out while eating her up, and set out to play Guyville in its entirety at select dates around the country.
Boston Phoenix |
Michael Brodeur |
08-28-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville
Geddy Lee Explains How Rush Survived 40 Years on Rock's Very Edgenew
The bassist/singer of Rush explains how three suburban kids lasted so long outside the mold. Plus, eight completely awesome Rush moments in rock history.
Boston Phoenix |
Daniel brockman |
06-12-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Dolly Parton Rolls Out the Big Gunsnew
What's truly amazing about Backwoods Barbie is that it manages to pander to every element of Dolly Parton's fan base without sounding insincere or compromised.
Boston Phoenix |
Ted Drozdowski |
05-01-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Dolly Parton, Backwoods Barbie
Downbeatnew
BILL, the New England band fronted by Bill Gage, the vocalist with Down syndrome, is not what you expected -- no matter what you expected.
Boston Phoenix |
Ian Sands |
03-27-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Tone Collectornew
Baltimore musician, writer, and record-store owner Ian Nagoski's colection of pre-war 78s offers an enigmatic mix of Northumbrian bagpipe music, Javanese gamelan, Greek rebetika, Laotian Buddhist chants, Spanish flamenco, and Ukrainian folk songs.
Boston Phoenix |
Susanna Bolle |
11-15-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Excellent Italian Interview: Steve Albini Speaksnew
Albini is a pretty nerdy guy -- it didn't take long in a conversation with him until we were talking about poker chat room culture, CuteOverload.com, and Rick Astley.
Boston Phoenix |
Daniel Brockman |
10-25-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Rocker Momsnew
The suburban-mothers rock band Hormone Replacement Therapy (average age 42) comes straight out of the garages of Sharon, Massachusetts.
Boston Phoenix |
Steven Lee Beeber |
10-10-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Bread and Roses Hooked On Sea Shantiesnew
Veteran ska rockers evolve into a nebulous roots band.
Boston Phoenix |
Ian Sands |
08-30-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Bread and Roses, Deep River Day
Dear Hunter Returns With a Backing Bandnew
Casey Crescenzo creates a sprawling album that never settles on one style, changing from full-throttle prog-rock, skittish emo-rock and acoustic-blues excursions.
Boston Phoenix |
Matt Ashare |
08-30-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Northern State Keeps its Raps Realnew
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Can I Keep This Pen? is both appealing and adventurous.
Boston Phoenix |
Ian Sands |
08-17-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
Lovely Ladnew
Unlike bland international pop, the Arctic Monkeys come from a real place.
Boston Phoenix |
Jon Garelick |
06-09-2006 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Arctic Monkeys
