AltWeeklies Wire
Green Day Breaks Down 21st-Century Politicsnew
21st Century Breakdown proves that Green Day still has the power to rally the troops, even without a specific enemy to fight against. The band has been vaulted to mainstream punk's socially conscious mouthpiece, and the trio's Bay Area lefty ideals are as lofty as its songwriting gestures.
Kanye's Latest is a Singular Testament to Indescribable Sufferingnew
Thematically, 808s and Heartbreak plunges deeper into West's usual neuroses (insecurity, spiritual unease, and the difficulties of celebrity). The death of his mother and a relationship fissure have brought these concerns into sharper focus.
Davila 666 is Puerto Rico's Answer to the Black Lipsnew
Disparate patches of Radio Birdman, the Dead Boys, and rudimentary jangle pop are all threaded onto the album, the charms of which are multiplied by the fact that Davila 666 sounds like it was recorded live at a basement birthday party.
Tags: Davila 666
N.E.R.D. Shows All Technique and No Soulnew
Human emotion cannot be created using ProTools.
Liz Phair Returns From 'Guyville' Exilenew
By rereleasing Exile in Guyville and taking it on the road, she's allowing her fans to revel in that time when she crystallized the experience of taking bad boys to bed.
Usher's Latest Doesn't Break the Rulesnew
On Here I Stand, Usher claims to be a player no more, making the album a bit of a snore.
Black Angels Sophomore Album Plays It Safenew
Directions to See A Ghost isn't spooky, or inspired.
The Roots Still Fight the Fightnew
The state of "conscious" rap is in serious flux right now, which is why the Roots' aggressive, disorienting Rising Down feels timely and urgent.
Foxy Brown Gets Too Predictablenew
Since her days as a 16-year-old prodigy on her multiplatinum debut Ill Na Na, her voice has lost all traces of vulnerability, and here she's morphed into a law-evading, fucking, materialistic caricature.
Inspired By Who?new
The press release for Alopecia claims that Why? ringleader Yoni Wolf was inspired "as much by MF Doom and Lil' Wayne as J. Newsom and Big Dylan."
Twelve Ways the Hives Could've Made a Better Record for Interscopenew
Beyond employing Timbaland or Pharrell Williams.
Tags: The Hives, Tyrannosaurus Hives
Too $hort's Latests Falls Shortnew
Get Off the Stage's ten songs mostly regurgitate past work; it's hard to believe the rapper has never made a song called "Broke Bitch" before.
Tags: Too $hort, Get Off the Stage
The Best CDs of 2007new
Here is a list of my most favorite discs coming with me into 2008.
Little Brother Splits with Atlantic Records and 9th Wondernew
Getback is largely a personal reflection on the past year's events, which also includes the duo's parting ways with producer 9th Wonder.
Tags: Getback, Little Brother
Is Ghostface as Dumb as He Wants You to Think He is?new
Ghostface Killah is a brilliant storyteller and lyricist, and is the only Wu-Tang Clan member still making relevant solo albums. He's also a cry baby.
