AltWeeklies Wire
Dictator-rattling Musicnew
Bachata was the guitar-powered music of the Dominican underclass, akin to blues and tango, but with a gorgeously melodic sound tempered by the simplicity of the performances and straightforward, expressive vocals.
Shepherd Express |
David Luhrssen |
01-11-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Various Artists, Bachata Roja
Doing Dylannew
As you may expect, this album of Dylan music as performed by other artists is a decidedly mixed bag.
Tucson Weekly |
James Hudson |
01-10-2008 |
Reviews
Beyond the Shticknew
It's hard not to root for someone who rhymes about Klingons and Inspector Gadget over gang-banging -- and, besides, this album is totally hot.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
01-10-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Lupe Fiasco, The Cool
RIFY Hate RIFYL Listsnew
These Midwesterners' music uses clean minimalism and the brilliant incorporation of pop vocal melodies to shine.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
01-10-2008 |
Reviews
Transistor Sun Winks as it Nodsnew
After all, Transistor Sun is about celebrating old habits -- loving, starting over, having fun, playing rock that splices from Cheap Trick, Guided by Voices and KISS -- all over again.
Tags: Transistor Sun
Sleepsound's Radio Readynew
Sleepsound's pleas recall the grandeur of a low-budget Snow Patrol or The Fray and the empathy invitation of a Nada Surf chorus.
Tags: Leaves Change, Sleepsound
Wynton Marsalis: Comforting, Not Challengingnew
Marsalis Standards is a nice starting point for listeners new to jazz or introspective listeners. On a late, warm night with the lights low and a glass of wine in hand, this music may be the perfect accompaniment.
Fort Worth Weekly |
Tom Geddie |
01-10-2008 |
Reviews
Assassination Tangonew
Tango Around the World's complete liner notes (in English, Spanish, and French) score a three-pointer when they correctly state that Argentina has no monopoly on the roots of tango: Cuba and, especially, Uruguay deserve a good piece of the pie.
San Antonio Current |
Enrique Lopetegui |
01-09-2008 |
Reviews
Kate Nash: A Lily Allen with More Potentialnew
Nash is a phenomenal talent who seems able to imagine riffs as easily as she snaps her fingers, and she possesses a gift for pointed human observations that don't slow her narratives.
Houston Press |
Ben Westhoff |
01-08-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Kate Nash, Made of Bricks
Way Down in the Holenew
HBO's The Wire digs deep into Baltimore's underground for a soundtrack album.
Baltimore City Paper |
Al Shipley |
01-08-2008 |
Reviews
What is Whiskey Weed?new
Unless "whiskey weed" is an actual thing, and I'm a step or two behind on my illicit substances (which certainly can’t be ruled out).
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Andy Mulkerin |
01-07-2008 |
Reviews
The Early Bob Marleynew
Another Dance reveals Marley's roots not only in the rock-steady Jamaican rhythms that preceded reggae, but also in American R&B.
Shepherd Express |
David Luhrssen |
01-04-2008 |
Reviews
Horrorcore is Like Canned Chicken Soupnew
Horror of '59's second album sounds like circa-'78 Ozzy Osbourne fronting the new Misfits.
Cleveland Scene |
D.X. Ferris |
01-04-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Horror of '59
Dax Riggs Collects the Pieces of Industrial Music Left Behindnew
With them, he begins to spin an equally unsettling portrait of epic breakups and post-punk nihilism with a distinguishable rock edge.
Santa Fe Reporter |
Gabe Gomez |
01-03-2008 |
Reviews
An Ike and Tina Revelationnew
This three-disc set is great fun if you can separate Ike the genius from Ike the abusive asshole.
Tucson Weekly |
Stephen Seigel |
01-03-2008 |
Reviews
