AltWeeklies Wire
At War Offers Right-Wing Thrashnew
With its pro-military message, Infidel is purest thrash, centered on fierce guitar riffs.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
08-28-2009 |
Reviews
The Skygreen Leopards' Latest Album is Purely Californianew
Gorgeous Johnny is laid-back folk-rock with pre-formed images of sunlight streaming through palm trees at the ocean.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
08-28-2009 |
Reviews
Eric D. Johnson Returns to the Fruit Batsnew
In the four years that have passed since the last Fruit Bats album, singer-songwriter-guitarist Eric D. Johnson has toured and recorded with the Shins and Vetiver, projects that encouraged him to open up to more collaboration in his own band.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Depression-Era North Carolina String Band is Generously Anthologized on New Two-CD Setnew
The subtitle of the anthology, The Complete Recordings of the Red Fox Chasers (1928-31), is truthful: The two discs contain the entire recorded output of Brooks, Miles, A.P. Thompson and Bob Cranford.
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs Chat About the Second Volume in Their Covers Seriesnew
In June, power-pop darlings Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs released Under the Covers, Vol. 2, which focuses on the '70s. The album spans prog, sappy folk, power-pop and rock royalty.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Legendary Brazilian Psychedelic Group Os Mutantes Return With a New Albumnew
Haih or Amortecedor, the band's first new album in 35 years, is willfully weird, and one wouldn't expect anything less from Os Mutantes. But the youthful, wide-eyed psychedelia of the group's classic work has given way to a wiser -- if not older -- outlook.
The Portland Mercury |
Ned Lannamann |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Haih or Amortecedor, Os Mutantes
Diet Kong Fizzes With Fun and Ominous Undertonesnew
Countless bands can trace their beginnings to one or maybe two significant and serendipitously accidental meetings, but Diet Kong, the collaborative effort between the Brooklyn-based, husband-and-wife team of Keith Gladysz and Jenn Penn is highly unusual and touching, even for the most cynical music fan.
New York Press |
William Ruben Helms |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
John Surman's Jazz Quartet Shakes Things Up on 'Brewster's Rooster'new
Brewster's Rooster is more of an outlier than it might seem. Granted, aside from the occasional skronk, the album is rather tuneful and approachable. But, in a genre that is contracting rather than expanding, what could be more radical than a musician who sees the entirety of jazz as part of a single lovely continuum?
Washington City Paper |
Brent Burton |
08-27-2009 |
Reviews
2Mex Looks Back on the Visionaries and Plunges Ahead With the Look Daggersnew
"I'm basically a record label's nightmare," says 2Mex, "We're like, 'Career suicide is our style!'"
Colorado Springs Independent |
Bill Forman |
08-27-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
How Brent Knopf Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Songnew
Under the moniker Ramona Falls, Knopf has created an eclectic collection of avant-pop songs that, on the surface, sound similar to his work with Menomena.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
08-26-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Avett Brothers Step Forward With 'I and Love and You'new
Despite seven years on the road, slowing down may be a difficult proposal for the Avett Brothers. And the buzz around their upcoming album, I and Love and You -- slated to hit shelves Tuesday, Sept. 29 -- isn't going to make that any easier.
Boise Weekly |
Amy Atkins |
08-26-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
NYC Trio Naam Puts a Fine Finish on Sludgenew
It's refreshing to hear a prog-rock element in a band that isn't a sit-down proposition, such as Tortoise. "I wanted to make [prog-influenced music] in a much more loud, droning, drug-induced sense," Naam bassist John Bundy says.
Baltimore City Paper |
Michaelangelo Matos |
08-25-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Kingdom EP, Naam
The Grownup Noise Continues to Grow Upnew
The jazzy, low-key folk quartet doesn't fit into any of Boston's music scenes. But despite its varied approach to songwriting, fans have been converted, one by one. The task now is doing that to the rest of the country.
Weekly Alibi |
Simon McCormack |
08-25-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Grownup Noise
Brandon Patton's 'Underhill Downs' is Full of Smoothly Produced, Heavily Overdubbed Tracksnew
Though his debut Should Confusion was released near the beginning of the decade, Staten Island, N.Y., singer/songwriter Brandon Patton didn't put out his second album, Underhill Downs, until now, owing to his steady gig as bassist for nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
08-25-2009 |
Reviews
Jay Reatard Switches Gears for a Less-Than-Spastic Pace on 'Watch Me Fall'new
Jay Reatard's second proper album is a refined pop offering that oozes with three-chord depression and loathing.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
08-25-2009 |
Reviews
