AltWeeklies Wire
Bad Things Happen When Fans Get Behind the Cameranew
Digital democratization of the means of film production has brought us to the point where every subculture on the planet seems to have generated its own documentary. Formlessness and boosterism afflict all of these films to some damaging degree, but Until the Light Takes Us is in a class of its own for wasted cinematic potential.
Chicago Reader |
Cliff Doerksen |
07-27-2009 |
Reviews
Leaving Camp: Antony & the Johnsons 'The Crying Light'new
Antony Hegarty sings earnest torch songs for the natural world.
Chicago Reader |
Noah Berlatsky |
01-26-2009 |
Reviews
Pop White People Like: Andrew Bird's 'Noble Beast'new
Precious anachronisms, whistling, the approval of both NPR and the Gray Lady — what’s not to like about Andrew Bird?
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
01-26-2009 |
Reviews
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
Ashanti Proves She's Out of Step on 'The Declaration'new
Hip-hop and R & B merged years ago, but Ashanti's still playing catch-up.
Chicago Reader |
Noah Berlatsky |
06-16-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Ashanti, The Declaration
Portishead is Back and More Depressing than Evernew
As a minimalist distillation of the emotional judo that's the band's specialty, Third is an undeniable coup. Beth Gibbons and company have graduated to a new sophistication, conveying with tiny gestures and rough stabs what used to take them long builds and whole songs.
Chicago Reader |
Brian Nemtusak |
05-05-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Third, Portishead
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
What's Happening Goes Beyond Bossa Novanew
The compilation proves biodiversity is hardly the only kind of variety in Brazil.
Chicago Reader |
Peter Margasak |
03-03-2008 |
Reviews
Rebirth of 'The Cool'new
Lupe Fiasco continues to flout hip-hop convention with a fable about greed and fame-seeking.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
12-26-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Lupe Fiasco, The Cool
Family Feudnew
Creative differences may be eating away at the Wu-Tang Clan, but even at cross purposes they can produce flashes of brilliance.
Chicago Reader |
Dustin Seibert |
12-17-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: 8 Diagrams, The Wu-Tang Clan
Celebration and Dragons of Zynth Are Under the Influencenew
TV on the Radio are one of the best bands in the world, but having them all over your record can be a mixed blessing, as these two bands prove.
Chicago Reader |
Jessica Hopper |
11-26-2007 |
Reviews
Robert Wyatt's Casual Brilliancenew
It may not sound like he puts much thought into his songs, but they're loaded for bear.
Chicago Reader |
Peter Margasak |
10-29-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Comicopera, Robert Wyatt
Country Means Never Having to Say You're Sorrynew
Why Merle Haggard can make a middling detour into bluegrass and still bounce back.
Chicago Reader |
Noah Berlatsky |
10-22-2007 |
Reviews
Two Guitarists Engage with Abstract Expressionismnew
Keith Rowe's The Room and Loren Connors' The Hymn of the North Star draw significant inspiration from Mark Rothko.
Chicago Reader |
Bill Meyer |
09-24-2007 |
Reviews
Kanye Cum Laudenew
On Graduation, he's at his most ambitious -- and his most vulnerable.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
09-10-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Kanye West, Graduation
