AltWeeklies Wire
New Big Star Box Set is a Supermarket of Pop
Keep An Eye On The Sky brings new insight and appreciation to the Memphis power-pop band's catalog.
The Golden Silvers are a Band That Just Wants You to Have a Good Timenew
The debut album from London's Golden Silvers is a melange of Saturday-morning cartoon pop, rock opera and disco dance party.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
09-16-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Golden Silvers, True Romance
Oh My God Juggles Eccentric Art Rock, Grimy Blues and Pop Songcraftnew
The duo of singer-bassist Billy O'Neill and organist-singer Ig have created a disarmingly emotional statement of 10 songs that explore the struggle and strife of day-to-day living.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
09-16-2009 |
Reviews
The Fleet Foxes' J. Tillman Makes Dark and Quiet Folk Musicnew
J. Tillman's clear talent in arranging acoustic instruments to draw richness from simplicity and his strong voice make this album pleasing, perfect for a quiet room and watching the twilight fade to darkness.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
09-16-2009 |
Reviews
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are Becoming an Indie Sensationnew
When the band's self-titled debut LP was released in February, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart had the attention of tastemakers from The New York Times to Pitchfork and Stereogum, but Kip Berman says it was hardly an overnight turn.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
09-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Popular Songs' Showcases Yo La Tengo as a Self-Assured and Versatile Bandnew
Yo La Tengo's latest album concludes with three endlessly mesmerizing jams that stretch across the album's final 37 minutes -- and it's some of the most beautiful, cogent music the band has made.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
09-16-2009 |
Reviews
To Call 'Blue Roses' Atmospheric Would be a Vast Understatementnew
If Tori Amos stole Harriet Wheeler's larynx and used it to make a baroque folk album with Rufus Wainwright's cabaret sensibility, you'd get Blue Roses, the eponymous debut of Yorkshire vocalist/guitarist Laura Groves.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
09-16-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Blue Roses, Laura Groves
Mount Eerie's 'Wind's Poem' is Best When Quietnew
As the dust settles, it is clear that Phil Elverum's black metal is a different breed.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
09-16-2009 |
Reviews
Fishtank Ensemble Keeps it Extremely Old-Schoolnew
The band combines traditional gypsy music and varied other styles into a gloriously eclectic mixture.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
09-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Mantles Keep it in the Family and Create a Cali Pop Classicnew
Fueled by friendship and romance, the Mantles are relaxed enough to enjoy absurdity, whether it arrives in the form of a shirtless dude in a Yoda mask or entails playing the role of "psychedelic band" and "mid-tempo downer" at a sweltering garage rock party where people are doing cannonballs into a pool.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Johnny Ray Huston |
09-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Mantles, indie pop
Why is Modest Mouse Frontman Isaac Brock Starting from Scratch With Obscure Portland Bands?new
Brock, 34, acknowledges that his new role as an indie label kingpin is a departure, though he's quick to add that he's always been interested in the business side of music.
Willamette Week |
Casey Jarman |
09-16-2009 |
Music
Despite Shoegaze Sound and Forlorn Name, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are a Joy to the Earsnew
Stifle your groans and suppress that grimace. Sure, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart may be the most emo-ish band name in history. And, yeah, their Belle & Sebastian-esque cover art and cutesy band members are as twee as kittens sliding down rainbows. So, what does that make them -- tweemo? Thankfully, no.
San Diego CityBeat |
AnnaMaria Stephens |
09-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
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.
We Found the First Jackson Five Recording, and It's Earlier Than Anyone Thoughtnew
This was supposed to be the story of the Jackson Five's first single, cut in Chicago in 1967. But while writing it, we picked up the trail of a tape nobody knew existed: the earliest known studio recording of Michael Jackson and his brothers.
Chicago Reader |
Jake Austen |
09-14-2009 |
Music
Seattle Rapper D. Black Trades Rhymes for Religionnew
Most musicians with a brand new album would probably spend a Friday night at clubs or music venues, either playing a show or promoting their record. But Black isn't interested in any of that. In fact, he's ready to give up rap entirely.
Seattle Weekly |
Jonathan Cunningham |
09-14-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
