AltWeeklies Wire
A Byrne-ing Sensationnew
After decades of pushing the boundaries of how pop music (and music in general) can be defined, David Byrne and Brian Eno have performed the only shock maneuver remaining to them: turning tail and running from the avant-garde.
New York Press |
Jamie Peck |
08-25-2008 |
Reviews
Enjoy Neil Halstead's Latest When the Girlfriend's Awaynew
The twilight-saturated folk-pop of Neil Halstead is a pleasure to listen to, even if, like soy products, his music diminishes manhood.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
08-21-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Neil Halstead, Oh! Mighty Engine
Doubledutch Aims for Psychedelic Soulnew
While things never get too creepy, the mostly slow- to mid-tempo pace of the songs and warmth of the recordings definitely take Alicia Keys' catalog to heart.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
08-20-2008 |
Reviews
The Valiant Arms Sound Like Old-school Portlandnew
One can find traces of legendary Portland outfits like Hazel and the Crabs in the Arms' (whose first release was, unsurprisingly, a Crabs tribute) new disc, Blue Skies and a Clean Getaway--from the punk-paced snare hits to the rumbling, pumped-up low end and cleanly enunciated vocals.
Willamette Week |
Casey Jarman |
08-20-2008 |
Reviews
The Walkmen Perfect Their Own Stripped-down Post-bender-rocknew
The bare-bones drone that defined previous albums’ least accessible tracks still forms the basis for many of the songs on their latest release, but the edges have been smoothed with a warm and fuzzy vintage sound.
San Antonio Current |
Jeremy Martin |
08-20-2008 |
Reviews
Scars on Broadway Showcases Black Humornew
In a wry comment on his reputation as a doctrinaire zealot, System of a Downer Daron Malakian kicks off the side project he shares with SOAD drummer John Dolyman by delivering "Serious," whose hook declares, "You're too serious for me."
Tags: Scars on Broadway
Lindstrom's Dance Fever Cooldownnew
Dance-floor types who get the blues from IDM will need to pop a Paxil while listening to Where You Go I Go Too, which is smarty-pants all the way.
Washington City Paper |
Shannon Zimmerman |
08-18-2008 |
Reviews
Freshness to a Tired Genrenew
Bitter:Sweet's sounds not unlike a pop standard from a classic Broadway musical, but updated for a 21st-century dance club.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
08-15-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Drama, Bitter:Sweet
Sam Phillips Strips Down for 'Don't Do Anything'new
As on all of her best work, Phillips is humble and open-hearted, invitingly tuneful but unsparing in her assessment of the emotional wreckage she sees.
San Antonio Current |
Gilbert Garcia |
08-13-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Sam Phillips, Don't Do Anything
Paul Westerberg Releases a New Online-only Concept Albumnew
The songs themselves—or the segments of the track that could be divvied up as songs, given that nothing on 49:00 is separated or labeled—are, for the most part, straightforward and representative of Westerberg's songwriting style.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Andrea Myers |
08-13-2008 |
Reviews
Bark Hide and Horn Debuts With Sprawling Sing-along Diary 'National Road'new
Inspired by singer Andy Fergeson's large collection of vintage National Geographic magazines, the record narrates the supposed adventures of Melville Bell Grosvenor, editor of the mag from 1957 to 1967 and grandson of Alexander Graham Bell.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
08-13-2008 |
Reviews
A New Six-Disc Set Documents Two Years of Live Suicide Havocnew
Filling six discs with 13 complete sets from New York and Europe, Live 1977-78 is perhaps, as the back cover text admits, "Not for the fainthearted or casual fan." (Is there even such a thing as a casual Suicide fan?)
Baltimore City Paper |
Marc Masters |
08-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: suicide, Live 1977-78
Nas Revels in Frictionnew
There are a multitude of obvious reasons why Nas would choose to christen a record about race relations in America with an unprintable epithet, but there are subtler implications, as well.
Philadelphia City Paper |
J. Edward Keyes |
08-12-2008 |
Reviews
Tom Waits on the Other Side of the Worldnew
Tom Waits descends on Dublin, Ireland, and the whole city is abuzz.
North Bay Bohemian |
Gabe Meline |
08-08-2008 |
Reviews
Critical Darlings the Hold Steady Deliver Againnew
Essentially, the Hold Steady is Springsteen for people raised on "all-ages hardcore matinee shows."
The Memphis Flyer |
Chris Herrington |
08-08-2008 |
Reviews
