AltWeeklies Wire
'Plastic Beach,' From Gorillaznew
Gorillaz’ first album in five years is neither light nor easily digestible. It has hooks, but none as immediate as past Gorillaz hits Feel Good Inc. or 19-2000.
NOW Magazine |
Richard Trapunski |
03-12-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Plastic Beach, Gorillaz
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's 'Beat the Devil's Tattoo'new
In case your faith in Black Rebel Motorcycle Club was traumatically shaken by their courageous but thoroughly unlistenable 2008 experimental instro album The Effects Of 333, you’ll be relieved that BRMC are once again revving their rock ’n’ roll engines.
NOW Magazine |
Jason Keller |
03-12-2010 |
Reviews
Lindsey Buckingham Proves the Pop-rock Chord is Alive and Wellnew
Buckingham's furious fingerpicking guitar style is front and centre on the sweet "Bel Air Rain," and opener "Great Day" would be a great song if it weren't a total knock-off of Don Henley's "Boys Of Summer."
NOW Magazine |
Jordan Bimm |
10-06-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Lindsey Buckingham, Gift of Screws
TV on the Radio Get Tense on 'Dear Science'new
Similar to their two previous records, it has little rejoicing lyrically; it's mostly unease and disaffected sentiment. But this time the words don't bring down the music.
NOW Magazine |
Jason Keller |
10-06-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: TV on the Radio, Dear Science
Chad VanGaalen Tries to Sounds Like a Naive Boy Againnew
VanGaalen releases another terribly twee basement tinker tape that answers the question no one dared ask: what would Destroyer sound like if Dan Bejar were obsessed with Neil Young instead of David Bowie?
NOW Magazine |
Tim Perlich |
09-08-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Chad VanGaalen, Soft Airplane
Divine Brown Achieve Musical Divinty on 'The Love Chronicles'new
Approximating Jully Black's earthy power, Mariah Carey's Olympic range and a sonic texture similar to Alicia Keys, Divine Brown may not be a consistent force in pop, but she should be, as she's an almost flawless vocalist and song sculptor.
NOW Magazine |
Addi Stewart |
08-26-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Divine Brown, The Love Chronicles
Gilberto Gil Shows a Whimsical Side on 'Banda Larga Cordel'new
This is achieved despite the weighty subject matter, which deals with the cultural and artistic challenges posed by technological advancements in information transmission.
NOW Magazine |
Tim Perlich |
06-30-2008 |
Reviews
Dan Bejar Creates Another Solid Albumnew
In between working on releases with his other projects (Swan Lake; Hello, Blue Roses and the New Pornographers), Dan Bejar somehow had time to record Trouble In Dreams.
NOW Magazine |
Jordan Rimm |
04-18-2008 |
Reviews
Britney's Album is Packed with Hitsnew
Britney Spears Inc.TM has generated enough capital over the years, she's managed to afford producers and songwriters who can capably negotiate her voice and notoriety into a brilliant, exciting pop-dance album.
NOW Magazine |
Jason Richards |
11-05-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Blackout, Britney Spears
James Murphy and Pat Mahoney Prefer Funk to Punknew
Their selection of mostly pre-'90s tracks wisely avoids disco's embarrassing pop crossover attempts in favor of the kind of cosmic funk that ruled underground dance clubs before house.
NOW Magazine |
Benjamin Boles |
11-05-2007 |
Reviews
Levon Helm: Comeback of the Yearnew
Doctors told Levon Helm that throat cancer would prevent him from ever warbling another tune. That was nine years ago, and judging by the way he's belting out the old-time mountain traditionals, reports of his singing career's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
NOW Magazine |
Tim Perlich |
11-05-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Dirt Farmer, Levon Helm
Spiral Beach Creates Catchy Debutnew
If anyone's a product of the Internet age, it's Spiral Beach. Rather, they clearly have a massive collection of downloaded music.
NOW Magazine |
Bryan Borzykowski |
11-05-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Ball, Spiral Beach
'Cease' is High-Water Mark of Contemporary Yacht Rocknew
At some point, Band of Horses must've realized that being the poor man's My Morning Jacket wasn't going to keep them in flannel, so they've softened their approach, strengthened the melodic component of their compositions, tightened up the harmonies and cranked up the repetition of catchphrases.
NOW Magazine |
Tim Perlich |
10-12-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Band of Horses, Cease to Begin
Kevin Drew's Solo Disc Sounds Like His Work with Broken Social Scenenew
The Toronto band's fans will welcome it, but the rest of us will have to wait for the real Kevin Drew solo album
NOW Magazine |
Tim Perlich |
09-14-2007 |
Reviews
Tags: Kevin Drew, Spirit If ...
50 Cent Flips to Autopilotnew
Curtis is filled with typical talk about being a felon, a killer, a hustler, a pimp and a gun owner -- listening hard for anything more substantial will just exhaust you.
NOW Magazine |
Jason Richards |
09-14-2007 |
Reviews
