AltWeeklies Wire
Jay-Z's Latest 'Blueprint' is Still Less Inspired and Less Fluid than the Firstnew
Mostly, the album is Jay's attempt to get hip -- or hipster -- as he enlists a crop of fresh new talent discovered by Kanye West to help him sound relevant. Unfortunately, much like a 40-year-old divorcee who hits the town with her daughter's friends, it's clear that Jay doesn't quite fit in among this crowd, and The Blueprint 3 suffers for it.
Whitney Houston's New Album is Almost Absurdly Gimmick-Freenew
I Look to You sounds out of time, and if one didn't know better, one might suspect it was released a decade or two ago. But the timeless approach works. There's something extremely refreshing about a performer who refuses to kowtow to whatever they're calling the newest generation of brats.
Why is Jack White Playing the Drums for the Dead Weather?new
It's perplexing that in the Dead Weather, White's current project and the most ubiquitously publicized band of 2009, he's playing ... drums? It feels like a novelty for novelty's sake, like Michael Jordan trying baseball.
'If Tomorrow Comes ...' Doesn't Really Work as an Albumnew
Maino doesn't have enough variation in his style, too many of the songs sound alike, and the narrative skits throughout are not especially believable or interesting. Still, in an era when the traditional long-version album has all but disappeared as an art form, it's hard to hold these complaints against him.
'Far' Feels More Serious Than Regina Spektor's Previous Albumnew
Sure, this is an album that contains a line about constructing a computer out of macaroni pieces, but sturdy production and easy, memorable piano melodies manage to ground nearly all of the songs.
Tags: Far, Regina Spektor
Elvis Costello's Latest Offers a Lot to Likenew
The latest from the reliably prolific Cos (his 11th album this decade) is the T-Bone Burnett-produced Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, which can broadly be called his "country album" (though the same can be said, with just about as much accuracy, of 2004's The Delivery Man).
Asher Roth Is 'Asleep'new
Being a privileged white guy from the Philly suburbs doesn’t disqualify Asher Roth from legitimate hip-hop MC status—not being able to spin an interesting yarn does.
Jim Jones' 'Pray IV Reign'new
While many established rappers are being downsized from major-label deals to "independent" contracts, Harlem MC Jim Jones is climbing up the food chain.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'It's Blitz!'new
Watching an act like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs realize their potential is the closest thing childless music nerds may have to watching a kid grow up, and though it may not be nearly as enriching, it's satisfying nonetheless.
Bishop Allen's 'Grrr...'new
Poor Bishop Allen. They were Vampire Weekend before Vampire Weekend was Vampire Weekend.
On His Latest Album, Morrissey Lets Us Know 'I'm OK By Myself'new
Years of Refusal is Morrissey's ninth solo album and the most compelling argument for fans to finally move on from his former life.
'Tonight: Franz Ferdinand'new
The Scottish quartet don’t tinker with the formula too drastically on Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. Good thinking.
'Day & Age' Might be the Best Killers Album Yetnew
If you can get past the clunky lyrics, there's a lot to like about the Killers, especially on their recently-released third album.
Tags: The Killers, Day & Age
Travis' Sixth Album Introduces a Heavier Soundnew
The end result is an album that's good, but not great, and unlikely to move the needle on the band's evidently declining fan base.
Tags: Travis, Ode to J. Smith
Shiny Toy Guns' Sophomore Album is Varied and Boringnew
It's clear that Shiny Toy Guns didn't want to simply make a soundtrack to sweaty nights on dance floors. Which is admirable from an artistic standpoint, sure. But that doesn't mean Season of Poison is any fun to listen to.
Tags: Season of Poison, Shiny Toy Guns
