AltWeeklies Wire
'In Search of Stoney Jackson' is a Return to True-School Rhythm and Soulnew

Stoney features a procession of newcomer MCs and old-school voices rhyming over backdrops of ghetto psychedelia. The resulting texture weaves samples from the '80s, '90s and now into an unrelenting groove that peppers classic cuts.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-26-2010 |
Reviews
Fahrenheit is An Accessible Yet Exploratory Brand of Crossover Jazz-Rocknew

Fahrenheit is Dan Nettles' strongest offering yet, loose and swinging while exhibiting all the modern, rock-influenced flourishes one might expect from a record by one of Nettles' better-known compatriots.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Gabe Vodicka |
01-26-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Kenosha Kid, Fahrenheit
Misconceptions Abound: Vampire Weekend's 'Contra'new
There are two rampant misconceptions about Vampire Weekend. One is that the group's music is Afro-pop, or has pretentions to be Afro-pop. The second is that it sucks. Neither is true.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
01-26-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Contra, Vampire Weekend
Afro-Beat Evolution in 'Black Man’s Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti'new

Compilation features artists who both inspired and were inspired by Nigeria’s most famous musician. Fela Kuti died of AIDS in 1997. Before that he was Nigeria’s most famous musician, pioneering Afro-beat.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
01-19-2010 |
Reviews
Same Song: The Goner Fest 4 DVD/CDnew

The DVD dutifully documents Memphis, Tenn.'s annual garage-punk marathon from 2007 with clean, nonintrusive camera work, but after a while it all starts to look and sound the same.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-19-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Goner Fest 4
More Money, More Problems: 'We Are Young Money'new

Young Money has been on a roll recently. An imprint of Cash Money helmed by Lil Wayne, it is home to two of 2009's biggest breakout stars, Drake and Nicki Minaj. Indeed, it's hard to turn on the radio recently without hearing a Young Money song, particularly the cutesy bubblegum-rap track "Bedrock."
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
01-19-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: We Are Young Money, Young Money
'Fire In My Bones': Post-World War II African-American Gospelnew

Fire in My Bones functions like an unofficial sequel to Dust-to-Digital's inaugural collection of pre-WWII African-American gospel music, Goodbye, Babylon – albeit far less grandiose in its presentation.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-19-2010 |
Reviews
Rod Stewart: 'The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971-1998'new

There are dozens of Rod Stewart compilations covering everything from his early years as the sassy, strutting "Rod the Mod" Faces frontman to his most recent incarnation as a somewhat unlikely crooner of the great American songbook. This isn't one more. Rather, the four-disc box unearths rarities.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Hal Horowitz |
01-12-2010 |
Reviews
Muddy Waters: The N.E.C.'s 'Is'new

The group’s latest EP plunges headlong into dark, psychedelic murk. The semantics of a word like "progressive" need to be handled delicately when it comes to the band, which is defined by an ever-constant push to better itself. But progress for the N.E.C. is a process of refinement.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-12-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: The N.E.C., Is
A History Lesson, Courtesy of The Dimesnew

The Dimes' second album contains 12 jangly pop songs about early American history. Harbour tackles subjects like the Great Boston Fire of 1872, Susan B. Anthony, Winslow Homer and Beantown's Charles Street Jail... which is now a luxury hotel.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
01-12-2010 |
Reviews
PBR Poetry: Chickens and Pigs' 'See Through Soul'new
See Through Soul by the group Chickens and Pigs balances introspective moments with “aw shucks” inflections.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-12-2010 |
Reviews
Deep Impact: The Dutchess & the Duke's 'Sunset/Sunrise'new

Sunset/Sunrise reaches deeper than The Duchess & the Duke's raw-nerve, indie-folk-strumming ‘08 debut.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-12-2010 |
Reviews
DJ DiBiase & Singh Slim: 'So Far So Gucci'new

Seeing as Gucci is known for tailoring his flows to his original beats, he sounds disjointed on such tracks as "Every Freaky Girl in the World" and "Running Closer," although their slower tempos make it easier to understand his words.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
01-12-2010 |
Reviews
Animal Collective: Same Song and Dancenew

Animal Collective’s vibrant, psychedelic pop experiments have settled into the proverbial ass-groove in the couch
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-12-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Fall Be Kind, Animal Collective
New From Manu Chao, the Modern-Day Populist Troubadournew

Filmed in a packed bullring in the southern French city of Bayonne, deep in Basque country near the Spanish border, this live double-album and DVD captures the essence of the former Mano Negra frontman's colorful career as an artist.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Alejandro Leal |
01-12-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Baionarena, Manu Chao