AltWeeklies Wire
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Frontman Strikes Out on His Own with 'Mo Beauty'new
While this "solo" debut finds the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman sounding comfortable and more accomplished as a singer-songwriter, the band is so excellent -- flawless, really -- that the album's only weak spots come from Alec Ounsworth himself.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
11-04-2009 |
Reviews
The Nurses' 'Apple's Acre' is Instantly Invigoratingnew
On paper, the Nurses' formula sounds a shade of awful: hootenanny percussion, two guys singing in layered high-pitched caterwauls, and plinking pianos topped with synthesizers. But what music ever sounds good on paper?
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Apple's Acre, Nurses
The Slits Are Back, Sounding as Uncompromising and Relevant as Evernew
The current Slits sound remarkably like the original Slits, but with fewer rough edges and more instrumental sophistication. On Trapped Animal, The Slits mix poppy, dubby reggae and danceable rock-reggae with articulate but streetwise dreadlocked British feminist ideology.
Tucson Weekly |
Carl Hanni |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Trapped Animal, The Slits
Star and Micey: Legend in the Making?new
Memphis' newest export is Star and Micey, a young three-piece that arrives full-born with its self-titled debut CD.
Tucson Weekly |
Carl Hanni |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Star and Micey
Hope Sandoval Releases Another Album Full of Deceptively Simple Songsnew
Fans of the former Mazzy Star vocalist will rejoice to learn she has a new disc out, and that it is perhaps a more beautiful psychedelic dream-pop experience than her first record.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Pardon the Colloquialism, but the New Mountain Goats Album is Super-Duper Goodnew
The Life of the World to Come is so good it may make you giggle and squirm and play it over and over again.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
While the Backstory of 'Guilty Women' is Interesting, the Music Stands on its Ownnew
When Chris Gaffney died, Dave Alvin lost both a close friend and the frontman of his band, the Guilty Men. Alvin formed the Guilty Women to perform at a festival last fall because, he said, he couldn't bear seeing the empty spot onstage where Gaffney used to stand.
Tucson Weekly |
Linda Ray |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
'Before the Frost ...' is a Return to Form for The Black Crowesnew
The Crowes have not sounded this relaxed and vital at the same time in many years, tackling classic rock, psychedelia, blues, country and R&B.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
The Big Pink Feels Like a Marketing Ploynew
On A Brief History of Love, they've taken everything self-indulgent and whiny about Oasis and fused it with everything redundant and artificial about The Postal Service.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
The Debut from Girls is Shaggy and Masterfulnew
A stunning success of musical pastiche, Album, like Girls leader Christopher Owens, appeals as equally touching and troubled.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
Circulatory System's Latest Pushes the Band's Experimental Side to the Forefrontnew
Eight years have passed since its first album, and Circulatory System is back with Signal Morning, a hectic and sonically dense collection.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Signal Morning, Circulatory System
Metal Stalwarts Dying Fetus Take on an Empire With Clawsnew
Pared down to a three-piece Baltimore's Dying Fetus should possess a diminished sonic presence. However, such is definitely not the case with Descend Into Depravity; indeed, the band sounds absolutely recharged.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
The Raveonettes' 'In and Out of Control' is Unevennew
The Raveonettes' terrific last record focused on hedonism, consequences be damned. Now, they're talking about the fallout of indulging in bad things, and that's just not as fun.
Tucson Weekly |
Kristine Peashock |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
'Aim and Ignite' by fun. is Theatric and Happynew
Aim and Ignite rushes along with the exuberant flair and candied adrenaline that you'd expect from a band named fun.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Aim and Ignite, fun.
The Self-Obsessed Songsmith Lou Barlow Returns with 'Goodnight Unknown'new
After Sebadoh and the uninspiring Folk Implosion, Lou Barlow's releasing his second solo album -- and it's nice to have him back.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews
