AltWeeklies Wire
J.B. Beverley and His Country Journeynew
J.B. Beverley certainly lacks that studio cliche. Sure, some of his songs involve a broken heart. Those songs aren't about the woman that broke his heart, though. They are about the experience he gained through each of those stepping stones on his journey.
Metro Spirit |
Brett P. Hall |
03-20-2009 |
Reviews
The Dream Is a Hit Machinenew
Thank goodness for The Dream's (nee Terius Nash) ability to write and produce some of the most hypnotic smashes ever known to mainstream radio.
Metro Spirit |
Frazia Lee |
03-20-2009 |
Reviews
Murder by Deathnew
By the light of the moon…I’m comin’ home.
Howlin’ all the way…I’m comin’ home. - So begins Red of Tooth and Claw, the latest neo-noir/Peckinpah-soaked/ baroque spaghetti western mini-epic from Indiana’s Murder by Death. Though I feel compelled to admit that I swiped this thing from my editor’s desk primarily due to my all-too-obvious affection for the 1976 murder mystery farce (starring Peter Sellers and Maggie Smith, among others) of the same name, I was nearly as enthused regarding the subtle buzz that the group has been generating since early in the decade as a surprisingly literary alt-country goth outfit. Seriously… think REALLY-early-Bad Seeds Nick Cave in a head-hanging contest with the entirety of the Cure in a frontier-boom saloon. And Tom Waits slumps in the corner, drunkenly lighting a cigar with his own kerosene-soaked pinkie.
Metro Spirit |
Jason Sumerau |
04-27-2008 |
Reviews
Secret Lives of the Freemasons Get Radio-Readynew
The band has a unique sound that blends punk, alternative and contemporary rock into a different sound.
Metro Spirit |
Rich McCracken II |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
'Definitions' Leads to an Epihanynew
Actually, it wasn't so much an epiphany as it was my being force-fed a putrid, bile-coated trifecta of three great big pulsating blisters on the instep of American culture -- the King Ghidora of Americana, if you will.
Metro Spirit |
Josh Ruffin |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Definitions, Farewell to Freeway
In Like with 'I Love You, You're Awful'new
Except for the occasional awkward moments on the opening track when the lead singer's vocals remind me of Weird Al Yankovic (no offense, Al), I quite enjoy a fair amount of Ludo's You're Awful, I Love You.
Metro Spirit |
Dwight Bemisderfer |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: I Love You, You're Awful, Ludo
'The Hopeful and Unafraid' Kicks off Strongnew
This starts off with an inspired mini-opus that, upon first listen, reminded me of a cross between Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run closer, "Jungleland," and The Who's Who's Next opener, "Baba O'Riley"; though it's really nothing like either of those songs, if that makes any sense. Yeah, I didn't think it would!
Metro Spirit |
Dwight Bemisderfer |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Bronze Radio Return: Tamenew
OK, so I'm going to be completely, enema-minus-the-lube, brutally honest here. After skimming over the press kit I received along with Bronze Radio Return's new eponymous five-song EP, I very seriously entertained the thought of not even listening to the album.
Metro Spirit |
Josh Ruffin |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Bronze Radio Return
'The Special' Arrivesnew
The Mitch Marcus Quintet has a special blend of progressive and futuristic jazz music.
Metro Spirit |
Rich McCracken II |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Mitch Marcus Quintet, The Special
'Southern Exposure' Revisits Jazz Standardsnew
Dorothy Doring is a new musical artist with an individual sound.
Metro Spirit |
Rich McCracken II |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Dorothy Doring, Southern Exposure
Ashia Experiments on 'Pay to be Loved'new
The new artist Ashia has a unique sound that is not really in any category. It's not jazz or improvisation, and it has more sounds than experimental music.
Metro Spirit |
Rich McCracken |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Ashia, Pay to be Loved
Bloodkin Gets Retro on 'Lovesongs for Losers'new
The band has a rock 'n' roll sound with jangling guitars and retro sounds to each track on this CD. You can hear styles and influences of Aerosmith, White Stripes, LA Guns, Tom Petty etc.
Metro Spirit |
Rich McCracken II |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Bloodkin, Lovesongs for Losers
Janet's 'Discipline' is Her Routinenew
With Discipline, Janet Jackson's tenth album, it is quite obvious that she's not budging from her usual formula. From a thorough listen, we find that she still likes to dance, she still likes to talk about sex, and she still likes to give off this coy, and seductive demeanor.
Metro Spirit |
Frazia Lee |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: discipline, Janet Jackson
Fear Nuttin Band Get Spiritualnew
Evoking the spirit, if not quite the soul, of such reggae heavyhitters as Buju Banton and Toots and the Maytals (both of whom they've toured with) – not to mention the guitar-metal stylings of Living Colour's Vernon Reid – the Fear Nuttin Band hold their own within a crossbreeding genre that most certainly prides itself on breaking down the barriers of musical intolerance.
Metro Spirit |
Dwight Bemisderfer |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
The Gun and Doll Show Frontman Goes Solo with 'Celebration Songs'new
A quick peek at the official website of San Francisco's apparently infamous rock 'n' roll band reveals that they "have appeared before standing-room-only crowds since 1993" and that they’ve "built a devoted following" due, in part, to "an outrageous stage presence." However, you'd never know it by hearing the recent solo release of Killian MacGeraghty's "Celebration Songs."
Metro Spirit |
Dwight Bemisderfer |
03-12-2008 |
Reviews
