AltWeeklies Wire
A Jazz Classicnew
This is basically a Duke Ellington record when he was recording in Paris in 1963, but it features the amazing vocal stylings of Sathima Bea Benjamin.
Metro Spirit |
Rich McCracken II |
02-27-2008 |
Reviews
A Fresh and Honest Approach to Hip-hopnew
Inverse has what it takes to push through the humdrum atmosphere of the industry.
Metro Spirit |
Frazia Lee |
02-27-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Inverse, So Far (The Collection)
Raheem DeVaughn is Teetering on the Edge of Mainstream Glorynew
On the recent Grammy-nominated "Woman," which seems to be the sequel to "You," he presents the ultimate ode to the female, equipped with dramatic strings and piano against a hip hop beat.
Metro Spirit |
Frazia Lee |
02-27-2008 |
Reviews
Stephen Malkmus Lets the Guitar Do the Talkingnew
Real Emotional Trash sees Malkmus continuing the guitar wankery of 2003's Pig Lib, but while some of the longer tracks used to meander only to showcase his ever-increasing guitar vocabulary, Trash highlights his interplay with the rest of the band.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
02-27-2008 |
Reviews
'Bahia Band' Highlights Experimental Music Adventuresnew
"Free Mesopotamia" is percussion on a new level. There are multiple percussion instruments used on this track and the result is amazing. The alignment of jazz with the percussion makes the tune stand out. It's great listening for all musicians of any style.
Metro Spirit |
Rich McCracken III |
02-27-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Bahia Band, Mike Ellis
Emperors of Japan Sounds Like It's on a Fabulous Tripnew
The Phoenix band's latest album has the amazing ability to bridge the best parts of early college radio rock with modern pop experimentation.
Phoenix New Times |
Niki D'Andrea |
02-26-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Activator, Emperors of Japan
Bob Mould Sounds Sugary Once Morenew
Although remnants of his electronic era linger on District Line, it mainly follows the playbook of his last CD, Body of Song, sounding more like his earlier stuff than something you'd hear at a club.
Tags: Bob Mould, District Line
SYNTHAR's 'Evenings and Weekends'new
Because of its synthesizer and drum machine instrumentation, Evenings and Weekends presents a musical framework often reminiscent of the new wave music of the late '70s and early '80s. The album contains solid, melodic vocals that add a unique alt-country quality to the work.
Jackson Free Press |
Patrick McKinnis |
02-22-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Evenings and Weekends, SYNTHAR
Bringing it All Backnew
While including nature footage in a music documentary is a little unusual, the clips show how influential Sigur Ros' homeland is to their music. The group writes beautiful, sprawling pieces as majestic and awe-inspiring as the snow-capped glaciers and jagged mountains of Iceland.
Jackson Free Press |
Lindsey Maddox |
02-22-2008 |
Reviews
Bob Mould Cranks Pain Through Amplifiersnew
On District Line, the unwelcome knowledge is that growing older is no guarantee, where the heart is concerned, of growing wiser.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
02-22-2008 |
Reviews
Social 'Distortion'new
The Magnetic Fields finds melody and romance amid the searing shoegaze noise.
Los Angeles CityBeat |
Chris Morris |
02-22-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Distortion, Magnetic Fields
Down by Avalon: Simple, Precise Popnew
Frontman Alan Martin considers life and love with energy inherited from singers like Van Morrison, Ray Davies and Paul McCartney.
Tags: Down by Avalon
Dom Casual Moves Past Homagenew
On the band's latest, Espanta Muerto, they've created a fully-formed, rich-sounding, original testament to their touchstones.
Tags: Dom Casual, Espanta Muerto
The Mountain Goats Flex Their Rangenew
Heretic Pride isn't the band's best record by a Bethesda mile. But, perhaps more than any other, it is uniquely capable of articulating what they do so well.
Tags: Heretic Pride, The Mountain Goats
Better Than the Originalnew
Shelby Lynne's tribute to Dusty Springfield often winds up surpassing her.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
02-21-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Just a Little Lovin', Shelby Lynne
