AltWeeklies Wire
Blame Sally's Intriguing Songs Still Pack a Punchnew

Blame Sally's origins go back nine years, to a point when four Bay Area singer-songwriters channeled already-promising careers into one collective, harmony-drenched effort. Comparisons to classic-era Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young aren't uncommon.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Bill Forman |
11-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Blame Sally, Night of 1000 Stars
Monsters of Folk Offers a Master Class in Supergroup-ismnew
Instead of sounding like a lumpy blend of styles, Monsters of Folk sounds like an album from a new band with four familiar members.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
11-04-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Monsters of Folk
Mark Knopfler's Latest Solo Album is a Working-Class Paeannew
Knopfler's sixth solo effort is his best in terms of his material, yet it's his weakest fret-board effort.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
11-04-2009 |
Reviews
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Frontman Strikes Out on His Own with 'Mo Beauty'new
While this "solo" debut finds the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman sounding comfortable and more accomplished as a singer-songwriter, the band is so excellent -- flawless, really -- that the album's only weak spots come from Alec Ounsworth himself.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
11-04-2009 |
Reviews
Former Green on Red Guitarist Chuck Prophet Returns with a New Albumnew
Ever since he joined Green on Red 25 years ago, I've wanted to ask singer-songwriter and guitarist Chuck Prophet if he was born with that last name. He set the record straight in an interview last week. "Would I make that up?" he said, in mock offense.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
11-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Dick Valentine of Electric Six Wants to Put the Fun Back in Rock 'n' Rollnew
As frontman and lyrical/musical force behind the deliciously over-the-top Electric Six, Valentine has been delighting those who get it, and confusing the hell out of everyone else.
East Bay Express |
Kirsty Evans |
11-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Kill, Electric Six
The Dutchess and the Duke Break Hearts on Acoustic Stringsnew

Sunset/Sunrise is permeated by a much darker mood than the band's debut, She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke, but the follow-up succeeds by using the same simple arrangements.
SF Weekly |
Jennifer Maerz |
11-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Bop and Swing Give Way to New Percussive Influences in Jazznew

Almost no one disputes the achievements of bebop and swing percussion. The big argument today is whether that's the way jazz drumming has to sound or whether it's just one of the ways jazz drumming can sound.
Baltimore City Paper |
Geoffrey Himes |
11-03-2009 |
Music
Resurrecting the Dead Milkmennew
When we heard that the Dead Milkmen were officially back in the picture -- playing shows, making new music -- and blowing it out with a big Halloween bas, we gave frontman Rodney Anonymous a word count and set him free.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Rodney Anonymous |
11-03-2009 |
Music
Tags: Dead Milkmen, punk rock
Jazz Singer Claudia Acuna Opens a New Door in Her Charmed Careernew
With her debut for Marsalis Records, she's focused on a personal sound, singing primarily Latin American songs she's known from her youth, plus two originals. Because of its introspective quality, En Este Momento gives up the gifts of its fragrant sensuality only to attentive listening.
Weekly Alibi |
Mel Minter |
11-03-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Ponys Ride Againnew
Why did one of Chicago's best-loved garage bands disappear at their peak? And after two years, what's bringing them back?
Chicago Reader |
Brian Costello |
11-02-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Ponys
Nirvana: Back in 'Bleach'new

The first Nirvana album was probably the last one you heard, but it marks a critical chapter in Seattle music history. It's worth going back to for a fresh -- or first -- listen, even two decades after the fact and long after grunge was laid to rest.
Seattle Weekly |
Chris Kornelis |
11-02-2009 |
Music
The Nurses' 'Apple's Acre' is Instantly Invigoratingnew
On paper, the Nurses' formula sounds a shade of awful: hootenanny percussion, two guys singing in layered high-pitched caterwauls, and plinking pianos topped with synthesizers. But what music ever sounds good on paper?
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Apple's Acre, Nurses
The Slits Are Back, Sounding as Uncompromising and Relevant as Evernew
The current Slits sound remarkably like the original Slits, but with fewer rough edges and more instrumental sophistication. On Trapped Animal, The Slits mix poppy, dubby reggae and danceable rock-reggae with articulate but streetwise dreadlocked British feminist ideology.
Tucson Weekly |
Carl Hanni |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Trapped Animal, The Slits
Star and Micey: Legend in the Making?new
Memphis' newest export is Star and Micey, a young three-piece that arrives full-born with its self-titled debut CD.
Tucson Weekly |
Carl Hanni |
10-29-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Star and Micey