AltWeeklies Wire
I'm Already Prepared to Forget Oasis' Latest Albumnew
I loved 1994's Definitely Maybe and liked 1995's (What's the Story) Morning Glory? pretty well. But do I recall anything substantial about, say, 2002's Heathen Chemistry? Hell, no -- and a year from now, I won't be able to tell you squat about Dig, either.
Tags: Dig Out Your Soul, Oasis
Kings of Leon Makes a Bid for Mass Popularity and Critical Acclaimnew
Caleb Followill and the other members of the Kings family once seemed content with updating '70s Southern rock for the new millennium -- but no more.
Tags: Kings of Leon, Only by the Night
TV on the Radio Gets More Accessible without Selling Outnew
Although the Radio crew's talent is well established, the band's music has always raised user-friendliness questions: Sure, 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain was excellent, but did anyone other than rock critics listen to it?
Tags: TV on the Radio, Dear Science
David Byrne and Brian Eno's Recent Work Sounds Familiarnew
Eno's musical settings recall the curious warmth of his mid-'70s recordings, and their sonic consistency prevents Byrne from indulging in the sort of genre exercises that have made his post-Talking Heads solo work so spotty.
The World Romantic Finds Its Soundnew
Maybe too well.
Richard Ashcroft Tries to Pick Up Where He Left Off with the Vervenew
After 1997's Urban Hymns proved to be a breakthrough for the Verve, frontman Richard Ashcroft went solo prematurely — and he was punished by having quite a bit of strong music be largely ignored.
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
Tickle Me Pink's Melancholy Receptionnew
It was well nigh impossible to judge this recording objectively on its release date due to the startling death of bassist Johnny Schou.
G Unit's Played Out Gangsta Rapnew
Five years ago, the smashing aggressiveness of "Straight Outta Southside" would have offset its lack of originality.
Beck and Danger Mouse Collaboration Sounds Satisfyingly Dense and Intricatenew
But despite its unusual touches, the recording gives off a somewhat musty scent.
Three 6 Mafia Show Missteps on 'Last 2 Walk'new
Even though the group is currently down to a duo, survivors DJ Paul and Juicy J are still basking in the glow of victory of their Academy Award.
Sigur Ros Tackles a Series of Firsts that Result in Its Most Accessible Albumnew
It's the first album to be mainly recorded outside its home base of Iceland, first to feature a track sung in English, and the first co-produced by a big-shot dial-twister. Somehow, though, this series of seemingly suspect compromises actually brings out new and beguiling qualities in the band.
Rose Hill Drive is Retro, So Deal With Itnew
Moon is the New Earth features several entertainingly excessive blues-rock booglarizers, the groups expands their horizons to include power pop, garagey rave-ups and even vintage psychedelia.
Lil Wayne Proves He Can Make a Cohesive Albumnew
Tha Carter III is pop rap to giggle to and marvel at, from "Phone Home," where Wayne gives his outer-space shtick the full treatment, to "Misunderstood," in which he disses Al Sharpton and imparts that he lives next door to a child molester.
Weezer Phones in Its New Albumnew
The group's latest self-titled release is practically a novelty disc, albeit a notably lazy one.
