AltWeeklies Wire
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.
Indie-Pop Phenom Creates Uncomfortable Intimacynew
Marcus Rubio's songs are invariably simple and repetitive, and most of the musical action comes from the painstaking arrangements, the way he layers violin, piano, glockenspiel, and the rest of the kitchen sink onto his adolescent musings.
San Antonio Current |
Gilbert Garcia |
10-31-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Marcus Rubio, The Life of Pillows
E.F.O.N. Spreads the Underground Lovenew
Every independent music scene needs a selfless character to help shine the light on other artists -- even when it detracts from his own spotlight. As far as Palm Beach hip-hop goes, that catalyst is a producer/MC by the name of E.F.O.N., but this time, he gathered underground singles from around the country.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Jonathan Cunningham |
10-30-2007 |
Reviews
Joy Division's Expanded Reissuesnew
With Rhino's expanded reissues of the dour Manchester quartet's three albums -- three different concerts (and one sound check) are tacked onto bonus discs -- plus noted rock videographer Anton Corbijn's new Ian Curtis biopic Control, Joy Division's moment has officially arrived.
Houston Press |
Chris Gray |
10-30-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Control, Joy Division
Hail Sinead, the Lord is With Theenew
For all their enduring words, the prophets and psalmists were mad in every sense, raging one minute and appeasing the next. If Sinead O'Connor had been born 2,700 years earlier, she would have fit right in.
Philadelphia City Paper |
M.J. Fine |
10-30-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Sinead O'Connor, Theology
'Interplay' Captures Coltrane in a Collaborative Rolenew
While this new box set doesn't contain any previously unreleased tracks or outtakes, it does present a wide selection of lesser-known material in one lavish package.
Shepherd Express |
Saby Reyes-Kulkarni |
10-29-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: John Coltrane, Interplay
Radiohead Embraces the Invisible Electro-Music Agenew
With an introspective web of humming sound that ranges from heaving convulsive rock to softly layered dreamscapes, Thom Yorke leads a more personal campaign on this outing, apparently nearing exhaustion with the pointed social cynicism of recent releases.
Shepherd Express |
John Figlesthaler |
10-29-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: In Rainbows, Radiohead
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
Coheed and Cambria: Ridiculous but Rightnew
There's so much about Coheed and Cambria's work that cries out for ridicule: the '70s-art-rock-derived instrumental wankery, the skyscraping, get-your-Geddy-on vocals and more. Somehow, though, the act's latest release works in spite of itself.
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
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
Farley's Steady Stream of Midtempo Strumming Wears Thinnew
But Moments and Memories is like a pot of custom-blended java: 11 doses may make you bristle, but a couple cups will get your head right.
Cleveland Scene |
D.X. Ferris |
10-26-2007 |
Reviews
Punk Purity and Political Protestnew
The Stiff Little Fingers earned the unfortunate billing "The Irish Clash" after Inflammable
Material, but in the two minutes and 45 seconds of "Alternative Ulster," they made The Clash sound like the English version of them.
Jackson Free Press |
Rob Hamilton |
10-25-2007 |
Reviews
A Rainbow of Inspirationnew
In Rainbows is an immensely beautiful offering, full of passion and feeling that is not to be missed.
Jackson Free Press |
Lindsey Maddox |
10-25-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: In Rainbows, Radiohead
Rugged Rural Rockabillynew
After a rough start, Shortstack's latest reveals warmth and intimacy.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-25-2007 |
Reviews
