AltWeeklies Wire
Cantwell, Gomez & Jordan Do What They Do Bestnew
Opener "Mama Says I'm Crazy" is one of the band's biggest feats yet, essentially cycling through its whole discography in five minutes.
Roky Erickson Howls Onnew
Erickson's recent rising to the occasion of Austin City Limits -- first festival, then TV show -- and this month's Austin Music Awards isn't the Texas psych icon's first comeback.
Houston Press |
Chris Gray |
04-01-2008 |
Reviews
Accept Make a Rising as a Group of Weirdosnew
Then their songs seem less like showy acts of theatrics and more like pleasantly batty pop dressed in flamboyant robes.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Doug Wallen |
03-31-2008 |
Reviews
Danity Kane Strikes Againnew
They all just blend together into some generic cash cow that sings, sighs and, yes, meows, impressively enough through 16 plasticy R&B tracks.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Caralyn Green |
03-31-2008 |
Reviews
Stax Sings Motownnew
Stax vs. Motown is, of course, one of the past century's great cultural rivalries, up there with Yankees/Red Sox or Beatles/Stones.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
03-31-2008 |
Reviews
Big Dipper: Sunk by Success?new
The Boston band, which dallied with the majors too early, is back with an anthology on Merge.
Chicago Reader |
Peter Margasak |
03-31-2008 |
Reviews
Black 47 Makes War Rocknew
On Iraq, veteran Irish renegade Larry Kirwan and his band of pacifists attempt to conquer the current war with a song cycle of previously released and new material.
Shepherd Express |
Michael Popke |
03-28-2008 |
Reviews
Nada Surf Has Maturednew
Nada Surf continues to fill its second act with songs that are rarely too clever for their own good and that are never afraid to reach for genuine emotion.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
03-28-2008 |
Reviews
Oso Optimo Understands the Weight of its Influencesnew
The Raleigh trio spends much of this debut working through its earliest identity crisis, vacillating between crunchy power-pop and gritty alt-rock.
Violet Vector is More Than its Lovely Loveliesnew
EP I proclaims one thing that suggests another: Violet Vector is more than its lovely lovelies or sartorial gentlepeople. The songs pass muster, and the performances -- an appropriate blend of simple melodies and Spector sound -- are admirable.
Brett Harris' Debut Crisply Deliverednew
In a better world, we'd know more about Brett Harris than we do, and it'd be because he writes fine classic pop and plays all the instruments and not because he's got a funny haircut or an effete manner.
Tags: Brett Harris, Yesterday's News EP
Stylistic Mish-Mashnew
While not everything works all of the time, Venus on Earth is heady stuff for discerning listeners.
Tucson Weekly |
Jim Lipson |
03-27-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Dengue Fever, Venus on Earth
Howlin Rain Finds the Link Between Punk and Bluesnew
At some point, trend-chasing music fans -- like those who embrace Vampire Weekend's self-described "Upper West Side Soweto" -- are going to have to struggle with albums like Magnificent Fiend and come to terms with exactly what makes the blues seem so frozen in pre-punk amber.
Washington City Paper |
Brent Burton |
03-27-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Howlin Rain, Magnificent Fiend
New Album Good Start to Busy Year for Joseph Arthurnew
Joseph Arthur has no problem being prolific, and this EP is the first of four that will precede the August release of the full-length All You Need is Nothing.
San Diego CityBeat |
Richie Lauridsen |
03-26-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Could We Survive, Joseph Arthur
The Matches' New Album Lacks Focusnew
By including ingredients from every corner of the musical spectrum, it seems as if too many ideas turned this from a prospective masterpiece into a collection of leftovers.
San Diego CityBeat |
Richie Lauridsen |
03-26-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: A Band in Hope, The Matches
