AltWeeklies Wire
Critical Darlings the Hold Steady Deliver Againnew
Essentially, the Hold Steady is Springsteen for people raised on "all-ages hardcore matinee shows."
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
08-08-2008 |
Reviews
Orchestra Baobab Shows the World Its Comeback was No Flukenew
While it's not as gravely beautiful or immediately bracing as Specialist in All Styles, Made in Dakar is as lovely and deep a collection of new music as anyone's likely to release this year.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
08-01-2008 |
Reviews
Wolf Parade's Followup Lacks Nervy Zipnew
Wolf Parade has spawned countless offshoots, including Sunset Rubdown, Handsome Furs, Swan Lake, Megasoid, Johnny & the Moon, and the still-active Frog Eyes. Perhaps they have stretched themselves too thin locally.
The Memphis Flyer |
Stephen Deusner |
07-07-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer
Three 6 Mafia's Long-delayed New Album Exploits Memphis Crimenew

But while grounding their music in the city's crime epidemic, Three 6 Mafia don't actually put much thought into the topic, particularly what it might be like to be the victim of the criminality they glorify.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
06-27-2008 |
Reviews
Gossip Aims for a Big Crowdnew
In principle, I'm no great fan of the live album, but the Arkansas-born/Olympia-based Gossip is one band where a live album not only makes sense, it even makes sense as a major-label debut presumably meant to introduce the band to a larger audience.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
05-30-2008 |
Reviews
Roots Drummer ?uestlove Takes Al Green Back to His Classic Soundnew
After two pairings with Willie Mitchell back at his old Royal Studio stomping grounds, Green heads north here, recording with Amir "?uestlove" Thompson and keyboardist James Poyser producing and contemporary neo-soul stars Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, and Corinne Bailey Rae providing occasional support.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
05-30-2008 |
Reviews
Death Cub for Cutie Offers More Bite on 'Narrow Stairs'new
Plans, the band's previous album and the major-label debut, felt stubbornly inert and practically vanished on contact. Narrow Stairs is a different matter altogether.
The Memphis Flyer |
Werner Trieschmann |
05-30-2008 |
Reviews
Atmosphere Explores Other Folks' Lives in First Personnew
When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold is "dedicated to all dads," bracketed by the sounds from a child's music box, and focused on the lives of girls and women.
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
05-23-2008 |
Reviews
The Breeders Make a New Splashnew
The box-office returns of the Pixies reunion apparently roused the sleeping ambition of bassist and Breeders mastermind Kim Deal.
The Memphis Flyer |
Werner Trieschmann |
04-25-2008 |
Reviews
The Black Keys Expand Its Sound -- Slightynew
Attack & Release, the Keys' fifth album, may be a reaction to those accusations of repetitiveness; it's a small step out of their little room and into something larger.
The Memphis Flyer |
Stephen Deusner |
04-11-2008 |
Reviews
The Raconteurs: From Studio to Storesnew
The marketing of Consolers of the Lonely, the second album from Jack White's side project the Raconteurs, threatens to overshadow the music.
The Memphis Flyer |
Stephen Deusner |
04-04-2008 |
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
'Field Manual' Doesn't Live Up to the Controversynew
Despite the customs dust up and seizure of his hard drive, Chris Walla's social and political indictments are hardly harsh.
The Memphis Flyer |
Stephen Deusner |
02-08-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Chris Walla, Field Manual
The Black Lips Digs Deep, Even After the Gold Rushnew
Good Bad Not Evil is the band's fourth and arguably best album, concocting and sustaining an ideal blend of humor, chops, and even a little gravity.
The Memphis Flyer |
Stephen Deusner |
10-29-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: The Black Lips, Good Bad Not Evil
Shooter Jennings' Music is Anti-Nashville Countrynew
The Wolf harkens back to days when Shooter's daddy was making hits -- back then, the best prize a country star could receive was a radio hit and, with an army of songwriters supplying songs, the norm was to release two or more albums a year in hopes that one of them would have the golden single.
The Memphis Flyer |
Werner Trieschmann |
10-29-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Shooter Jennings, The Wolf