AltWeeklies Wire
Old Lights' David Beeman Gets by with a Little Help from His Friendsnew

Old Lights played its first official gig in April of this year, and after only about fifteen shows, the band has become one of the most talked-about -- and most promising -- new bands to emerge from St. Louis in the last few years.
Riverfront Times |
Christian Schaeffer |
10-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
While the Backstory of 'Guilty Women' is Interesting, the Music Stands on its Ownnew
When Chris Gaffney died, Dave Alvin lost both a close friend and the frontman of his band, the Guilty Men. Alvin formed the Guilty Women to perform at a festival last fall because, he said, he couldn't bear seeing the empty spot onstage where Gaffney used to stand.
Tucson Weekly |
Linda Ray |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
'Before the Frost ...' is a Return to Form for The Black Crowesnew
The Crowes have not sounded this relaxed and vital at the same time in many years, tackling classic rock, psychedelia, blues, country and R&B.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
The Big Pink Feels Like a Marketing Ploynew
On A Brief History of Love, they've taken everything self-indulgent and whiny about Oasis and fused it with everything redundant and artificial about The Postal Service.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
Brooklyn's Grooms Have a New Album and a Distinctive Take on Today's Soundnew
The band doesn't quite fit in with the current, decidedly '60s and '70s signifiers of indie rock cool. "Sometimes people will listen to our music and say, 'It’s kind of '90s, and it reminds me of Pavement,' and I really don't think it does. We sometimes worry that we're out of step with the trend."
New York Press |
Adam Rathe |
10-15-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Mirror Universe Tapes Helps Revive Interest in a Once-Dead Formatnew
It's hardly worth declaring a cassette revival, or even to say tapes are the new vinyl. But the recent success of the Charleston-based cassette-only record label Mirror Universe Tapes seems to indicate otherwise.
Charleston City Paper |
Bryan Reed |
10-14-2009 |
Music
Andrew Whiteman's Apostle of Hustle Cooks Up an Ornately Far-Out Experiencenew
As he lives in an overpopulated world conquered by an excess of information, Whiteman's artistic theft is his way of balancing the creative eco-system. "My music is made up of stolen things," he says.
East Bay Express |
Reyan Ali |
10-14-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sprial Stairs Dishes on His New Album and Pavement's Hyped Reunionnew

Five years after the last Preston School of Industry album was released, Scott Kannberg is ready to present his fans with an album full of material that sounds nothing like his previous bands' output. He's back to being Spiral Stairs, but this time, there's not as much to joke about.
San Diego CityBeat |
Dryw Keltz |
10-14-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Flaming Lips' 'Embryonic' is a Surprising, Giddy Rushnew
Small-w weird in the best possible sense, the record cranks back the clock hands a full two decades, reveling in the kind of "whatever the fuck we want" experimentalism it seemed the Lips long ago shucked.
Philadelphia City Paper |
J. Edward Keyes |
10-13-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: The Flaming Lips, Embryonic
Is the Madonna on 'Celebration' Compilation a Material Girl, or a Beautiful Stranger?new
Oh, remember when Madonna promised to lead us through the wilderness with a witty, ambitious combination of disco sex appeal, businesswoman savvy and cardinal danger? Remember when she had her own cheekbones?
C-Ville Weekly |
Cathy Harding |
10-09-2009 |
Reviews
Romani Music and Punk Rock? Together? Yup. Meet Gogol Bordellonew
Under the balls-out direction of the band's founder, Eugene Hütz, Gogol Bordello has redefined punk rock ethics and brought traditional Romanian music to the headphones of popular music fans around the globe.
The Inlander |
Leah Sottile |
10-08-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Gogol Bordello
Sunny Day Real Estate's Dan Hoerner Leaves a Quiet Life to Play Rock Star Againnew
For Hoerner, a Spokane resident and native, this isn't just a reunion tour. It's a visit to a past life -- a life buried under births and deaths, under 9-to-5 jobs, long-gone fame and quiet anonymity.
The Inlander |
Leah Sottile |
10-08-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
In Step with New Model Armynew

Justin Sullivan explains why he and his band will not go gently into anyone's good night.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Bill Forman |
10-08-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Matt Wilson Throws Some Left Hooks into the Rite of Swingnew

"The reason jazz is such a great music is that everybody is enjoying it in the moment, and it's never gonna happen the same way again."
Colorado Springs Independent |
Bill Forman |
10-08-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Debut from Girls is Shaggy and Masterfulnew
A stunning success of musical pastiche, Album, like Girls leader Christopher Owens, appeals as equally touching and troubled.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
10-07-2009 |
Reviews