AltWeeklies Wire
Catfish Haven Moves Past Indie Rock to 1978new
If their early material was like a sensitive country boy who'd moved to the city, Devastator is like that boy's older brother back home, with his Camaro parked proudly in front of his double-wide.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
10-14-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Catfish Haven, Devastator
Kaia Wilson Shakes Loose Romantic Notions and Tender Thoughtsnew
Kaia Wilson demonstrates the flipside of the impassioned yelping she lent to The Butchies and Team Dresch.
Tags: Godmakesmonkeys, Kaia Wilson
Plastilina Mosh Brings More Genre-Mashing From Mexiconew
Plastilina return to form with their latest release, earning the duo a spot alongside Latin contemporaries The Pinker Tones and Mexican Institute of Sound.
Tucson Weekly |
James Hudson |
10-09-2008 |
Reviews
'proVISIONS' Includes Some of Howe Gelb's Strongest Original Materialnew
Giant Sand is not only back with a new record, but way back; proVISIONS is stellar from start to finish.
Tucson Weekly |
Carl Hanni |
10-09-2008 |
Reviews
Joan Baez Gets By with a Little Help From Friendsnew
At the age of 67, Joan Baez has a stunning collection of recordings that rivals anything she has ever done.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
10-09-2008 |
Reviews
'All Hope Is Gone' is a Return to Form for Slipknotnew
Forget what the Bible has to say regarding hellfire and brimstone: Slipknot has now redefined the term.
Tucson Weekly |
Jon Hobson |
10-09-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: All Hope Is Gone, Slipknot
Castanets Built This 'City' on Rock 'n' Rollnew
Castanets nomadic mastermind Ray Raposa, no stranger to fusing his freak-folk with dissonance, noise or near-emptiness, is at his logical conclusion on Refuge. All his signature elements are incorporated, but the spare, hushed nature of his work is intensified.
New York Press |
Greg Burgett |
10-09-2008 |
Reviews
Ani Difranco's Latest is Overproducednew
Red Letter Year is a string of songs that, more often than not, sound heavy instead of layered, muddy instead of nuanced, and bury Ani's trademark percussive finger picking and vocal flexibility.
C-Ville Weekly |
Laura Eve Engel |
10-08-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Ani DiFranco, Red Letter Year
The New Queen is Not Like the Old Queen ... and That's a Problemnew
For starters, there are too many "inspirational" ballads here, ranging from the OK to the barely-tolerable-in-its-cheesiness "We Believe," in which Paul Rodgers implores us to "hear our brothers" over watery synthesizers.
Phoenix New Times |
Niki D'Andrea |
10-07-2008 |
Reviews
Lindsey Buckingham Proves the Pop-rock Chord is Alive and Wellnew
Buckingham's furious fingerpicking guitar style is front and centre on the sweet "Bel Air Rain," and opener "Great Day" would be a great song if it weren't a total knock-off of Don Henley's "Boys Of Summer."
NOW Magazine |
Jordan Bimm |
10-06-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Lindsey Buckingham, Gift of Screws
TV on the Radio Get Tense on 'Dear Science'new
Similar to their two previous records, it has little rejoicing lyrically; it's mostly unease and disaffected sentiment. But this time the words don't bring down the music.
NOW Magazine |
Jason Keller |
10-06-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: TV on the Radio, Dear Science
New Box Set Captures Orbison's Otherworldlinessnew
This career-summarizing four-CD collection supplants the 18-year-old box The Legendary Roy Orbison, and serves as a cost-effective alternative to Orbison, Bear Family's pricey, comprehensive seven-CD overview of Orbison's days at Sun, RCA, and Monument.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Chris Morris |
10-03-2008 |
Reviews
TV on the Radio Defies Convention on 'Dear Science'new
Supernaturally good bands can get away with weird stunts, and the new album is full of them: Electronic drums, surf-rock guitar tones, pop-piano lines, and other ’80s ephemera accompany Tunde Adebimpe’s signature wailing vocals.
Washington City Paper |
Mike Riggs |
10-02-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: TV on the Radio, Dear Science
The Urban Sophisticates Stretch Their Boundaries on 'Classic Material'new
Though the move toward more traditional production bridges the Sophisticates back across the gap toward mainstream hip-hop, there's still plenty of variety on Classic Material.
Big Pooh Strikes Out Solo on 'Rapper's Delight'new
Rapper Big Pooh's mixtape is the Little Brother emcee's latest litmus test for a serious solo career post-Little Brother, if that day ever comes.
