AltWeeklies Wire
The Sadies in Touch with Their Inner Cowboysnew
Their latest album, New Seasons, continues the country-rock winning streak they've been racking up, both on their own and with friends like Neko Case and Jon Langford.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
11-05-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: New Seasons, The Sadies
'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
Chicago's Bloodshot Records Diversifiesnew
The label's next step comes in the form of two recent releases: a barroom rumble from Deadstring Brothers, the other a fey tumble from The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
10-22-2007 |
Reviews
The Milwaukees Deliver Sounds of the Midwest, via Jerseynew
Oddly enough, the Milwaukees aren't from Milwaukee -- but it makes sense that this Jersey City quartet still chose our fine city as its namesake.
Shepherd Express |
Michael Popke |
10-05-2007 |
Reviews
Whatever Name He Chooses, Black Francis Rocksnew
On Bluefinger, Francis is channeling faraway echoes of classic, mid-'60s Kinks and early-'70s Lou Reed and New York Dolls
Shepherd Express |
David Luhrssen |
09-24-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Black Francis, Bluefinger
Save the Toddler-sized Wilco T-shirtsnew
Ronnie McCoury creates a bluegrass CD for kids that parents can listen to. Better yet, McCoury doesn't try to be cool while doing it.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
09-24-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Little Mo' McCoury
Soulive in Decline?new
Both 2005's Breakout and their latest, No Place Like Soul, find the once groove-solo-vamp focus replaced by a soul and R&B sound more akin to the modern-day handle of slow jams.
Shepherd Express |
Todd Lazarski |
09-10-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: No Place Like Soul, Soulive
Under-rated: Paul Butterfield and Michael Bloomfieldnew
Drummer Patrick Ford hopes to raise a the recognition of the late blues musicians through this live tribute album.
Shepherd Express |
Sonia Khatchadourian |
09-10-2007 |
Reviews
Maybe 2007 will be Better for Film Schoolnew
Inside the downward-cast glances of Film School's music -- the term "shoegaze" doesn't quite capture the tone -- are a great deal of sidelong resentments and gritted teeth.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
09-10-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: film school, Hideout
Chemical Brothers Keep it Piecemealnew
Taken cumulatively, We Are the Night is more a playlist of potential iPod moods than it is an old-fashioned album.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
08-14-2007 |
Reviews
Mavis Staples' Voice Leads the Way to Redemptionnew
On We'll Never Turn Back, she reinterprets freedom songs of African-American civil rights struggles and sings some new ones too.
Shepherd Express |
Jamie Lee Rake |
05-24-2007 |
Reviews
Fountains of Wayne's 'Traffic and Weather'new
The latest record increases the quartet’s streak of near-perfect LPs to four.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
05-11-2007 |
Reviews
Not Groundbreaking, but a Reminder of Her Potencynew
Smith the fan and Smith the artist aren't always reconciled, but even when they are, Twelve starts arguments.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
05-04-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Patti Smith, Twelve
Arcade Fire's 'Neon Bible'new
The Montreal indie-rock collective has created a sophomore surge rather than a sophomore slump.
Shepherd Express |
Jon Gilbertson |
04-03-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible