AltWeeklies Wire
Lady Gaga: Born This Waynew
Lady Gaga's new album Born This Way is neo-Nashville pablum and generally incoherent -- though I'm not sure it's fair to expect a coherent album from an artist like Gaga.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
05-31-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Lady Gaga
Locrian/Horseback: New Dominionsnew
Mean as hell, loud as your speakers will allow, New Dominions is the sound of old ideas imploding.
Tags: Locrian/Horseback
Les Nubians: Nu Revolutionnew
Les Nubians' third album (and first in eight years) opens with a Cameroonian drum circle weaving an accelerating rhythmic web.
East Bay Express |
Lee Hildebrand |
05-23-2011 |
Reviews
Ambrose Akinmusirenew
When the Heart Emerges Glistening.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
05-19-2011 |
Reviews
The Swigs: Johnson Family Valuesnew
The Swigs' impressive 2010 debut, Let It Come Down, boasted virtuoso playing, well-crafted tunes and a driving energy. But the Tucson rock trio has topped that record by going epic with this audacious sophomore release.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
05-19-2011 |
Reviews
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers: Unida Cantinanew
Roger Clyne has a long-nurtured fascination with Mexico, singing plenty about the low-key party life found beachside, and peppering his Southwest rock with Spanish -- and an open invitation to join him in the escape.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
05-10-2011 |
Reviews
Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Bluesnew
There are two readings of Fleet Foxes' genial sophomore album. First, it is slightly dull; innocuous folk rhythms jostle against Robin Pecknold's demotic lyrics and boys'-choir three-part harmonies. Second, it is a nice experiment; its halcyon melodies, occasionally restrained, are loose enough to allow for some intriguing gambles.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
05-10-2011 |
Reviews
Birds and Arrows: We're Gonna Runnew
Whereas their debut was a look at a new couple dealing lovingly with life, We're Gonna Run adds appropriate clouds to a once-honeymoon atmosphere.
Tags: Birds and Arrows
King Mez: The King's Khrysisnew
This six-song set of self-assured work with N.C.'s best beat statesman, Khrysis, is a proclamation of the aggressiveness previously missing from some of Mez's work.
Tags: King Mez, The King's Khrysis
Thao & Mirahnew
Thao Nguyen of the Get Down Stay Down and mononymic Mirah make their debut as a duet with this self-titled record.
East Bay Express |
Catherine Plato |
05-09-2011 |
Reviews
MerleFest 24 in Reviewnew
The 88-year-old living legend made his usual rounds, though it still felt like his sets were fewer and farther between than in years past.
YES! Weekly |
Ryan Snyder |
05-04-2011 |
Reviews
The Submarines: Love Notes/Letter Bombsnew
The title of The Submarines' third album is a clear indication of the songs' intent. Consider it music as an ongoing couple's-therapy session.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
05-02-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: The Submarines
Still the Same Bob Segernew
There’s little doubt that Seger’s dogged entrenchment in rock radio rotations has worn out a sizable portion of his catalog in the ears of many, but the impassioned treatment they’re given live by Seger and his 13-piece backing band restores some of the authenticity stripped away by thousands of plays per day.
YES! Weekly |
Ryan Snyder |
04-28-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Bob Seger
Once & Future Kings' Dead Lionsnew
Dead Lions treads the waters between Radiohead and Explosions in the Sky, using pretty piano-and-guitar-laced textures to build into big rock codas time and again.
Tags: Radiohead, Once & Future Kings
Fitz and the Tantrums: Pickin' Up the Piecesnew
With their 1970s throwback rock leaning heavily on R&B, soul and funk, Fitz and the Tantrums sound like the house band in a Quentin Tarantino film.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
04-25-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Fitz and the Tantrums
