AltWeeklies Wire
India.Arie's Latest Has the Political Bite of Denturesnew
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics is too false and bright to be mistaken as real.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
L. Michael Gipson |
02-18-2009 |
Reviews
Wolves in the Throne Room: Green Metal?new
The Olympia, Wash., group skews the typical scorched earth imagery to commune with Mother Nature's malevolence in a slow aural grind.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
02-18-2009 |
Reviews
The Snake Charmers' 'Been Gone Too Long' Opts Out of Anything Flashynew
The muted Allman Brothers boogie of "No Mercy" and "Hoochie Mama" suggests the band is more than capable of cutting loose. Choosing not to, though, gives Been Gone Too Long a touch of class, and elevates it a step above run-of-the-mill barroom blues.
Houston Press |
Chris Gray |
02-17-2009 |
Reviews
Jason Isbell's Latest is a Bold Concept with Problematic Executionnew
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit is a bold step forward for him. He sets out to expand his sound on the album, dipping his toes into different sounds and genres of music. The results are as problematic as the idea.
Jackson Free Press |
Rob Hamilton |
02-13-2009 |
Reviews
Slank's 'Anthem for the Broken Hearted'new
They've sold 15 million records in their native Indonesia, and now the five members of Slank invade America with their first English-language album. Far from a reference to the lovelorn, the title refers to the inhabitants of a homeland riddled with strife and corruption.
Shepherd Express |
Michael Popke |
02-13-2009 |
Reviews
Simpleminded Musings: Ben Lee's 'The Rebirth of Venus'new
Aussie Ben Lee has abandoned his trademark catchy guitar-pop songs to make an odd, quasi-concept album that irks more than it inspires.
Tucson Weekly |
Kristine Peashock |
02-12-2009 |
Reviews
Andrew Bird's Dissertation Worthy 'Noble Beast'new
As a composition, Andrew Bird's latest is as complex and gorgeous as a George Eliot novel.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
02-12-2009 |
Reviews
Zach Condon Double-Teams Himselfnew
Zach Condon's two musical personalities get equal billing on his new double-EP.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Mark Hamilton |
02-12-2009 |
Reviews
Repetitive Strain: Vetiver's 'Tight Knit'new
If any band benefits from Robert Christgau’s rule that an album should always get a minimum of three listens, it’s the San Francisco–based folk band Vetiver.
Washington City Paper |
David Dunlap Jr. |
02-12-2009 |
Reviews
Josh Wink: Stay Out All Nightnew
Josh Wink, who came up in the Philly rave scene in the 1990s, is still chewing the pacifiers on his new LP When a Banana Was Just a Banana.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Patrick Rapa |
02-10-2009 |
Reviews
Crooked Fingers' 'Forfeit/Fortune'new
Forfeit/Fortune is a musical scrapbook album of sorts, documenting Eric Bachmann's recent travels and new friends he's made over recent tours.
Tucson Weekly |
James Hudson |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Mild Experimentation: 'Tonight: Franz Ferdinand'new
With this release, Franz Ferdinand takes an interesting path to bridge the chasm between the fans they quickly garnered and their relevancy in a constantly amnesiac music scene.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Or, The Whale's 'Light Poles and Pines'new
This glorious debut album by the San Francisco combo is perfect in its own right--rockin' contemporary alt-country feet planted firmly in the past and the future.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Titus Andronicus's 'The Airing of Grievances'new
This is either the best band named for a Shakespeare play, or the best album name borrowed from a Seinfeld episode; either way, fans of manic, raucous jangle-pop should take heed.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Wildly Accessible: Animal Collective's 'Merriweather Post Pavilion'new
This album's restrained approach creates something to warm up to, but its consistent beauty gives it serious legs.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
