AltWeeklies Wire
Thieves Like Us: Again and Againnew
The music of Thieves Like Us is saturated with the unmistakable sounds of new wave -- specifically, synth sounds straight out of Joy Division, New Order and The Cure's sound banks.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
07-30-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Thieves Like Us
Never Satisfiednew
Ariel Pink has come a long way since his early home recordings.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
07-30-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Ariel Pink
The Tangelos: Greatest Hitsnew
There's a careful balance of folk-rock, soul and country in these 11 tunes, written by singer and guitarist Joshua Butcher.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
07-29-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: The Tangelos
M.I.A.: Mayanew
In 'Maya', M.I.A. is less of a rabble-rouser, and more of a dance-club diva-cum-punk high priestess.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
07-15-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: M.I.A.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Mojonew
Tom Petty's massive vault-raiding effort to put together last year's The Live Anthology established a clear path to Mojo, a bluesy, jammy, slower and less-catchy record for Petty.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
07-07-2010 |
Reviews
Softness and Closenessnew
The ever-calm Silje Nes gets just a little louder on her upcoming album.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
07-07-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Andrew Collberg: On the Wreathnew
Andrew Collberg -- the 22-year-old singer-songwriter born in Sweden and raised in New Zealand and Tucson -- has released his second album, and it's a subtle killer, brainy and sophisticated, but never pretentious.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
07-07-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Andrew Collberg
Flying Lotus: 'Cosmogramma'new
In terms of dark instrumental hip-hop producers, Flying Lotus is less like, say, DJ Shadow, and more akin to Prefuse 73 or Four Tet.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-23-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Cosmogramma, Flying Lotus
The Dead Weather: 'Sea of Cowards'new
Released less than a year after the band's raucous debut, the Dead Weather's 'Sea of Cowards' is not exactly a rehash, but it is an extension of the former, with a few new wrinkles.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
06-23-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards
Cosmic Slop: Spit Don't Make No Babiesnew
Named for a classic album by Funkadelic, the local funk-rock band Cosmic Slop carefully straddles the fine line between clever and stupid.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-16-2010 |
Reviews
Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer of the Void (Sub Pop)new
Blitzen Trapper is a fascinating band. After five albums, the Portland, Ore., group seems unlikely to reinvent the wheel—yet upon closer inspection, the band's hybrid of folk-glam-pop is remarkably fresh and novel. Following the group's career-high Furr, Destroyer of the Void is an immensely enjoyable effort. The lows are more inconsequential than poorly executed. "Below the Hurricane" is an overlong cosmic folk ballad. The hushed duet "The Tree," with singer/songwriter Alela Diane, masks some intriguing lyrics with banal, by-the-numbers acoustic balladry. When the six-piece is kicking, however, the results are impressive. The opening, title track is less epic by length
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
06-16-2010 |
Reviews
Fishtank Ensemble: Woman in Sinnew
The third album by this amazing group from California is one of the best times to be found on disc so far this year.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-16-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Fishtank Ensemble, Woman in Sin
Endless Rhythmsnew
It's impossible to fully master the complex richness of Latin rhythms, according to Greg Gonzalez, bass player for the Texas-based Latin dance band Grupo Fantasma. "Latin rhythms are endless, man," Gonzalez said recently via phone from his home in Austin. "You can just become more knowledgeable about Latin rhythms; you can just become more informed; and you can never master them." Grupo Fantasma combines Latin dance music with rock, pop, blues, reggae and, especially, funk.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-16-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Grupo Fantasma
Sarah Jaffe: Suburban Naturenew
The music of Sarah Jaffe will remind some listeners of that of Cat Power or PJ Harvey, although at 24, the singer-songwriter is a generation younger.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-09-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Suburban Nature, Sarah Jaffe
Holy Rolling Empire: Noise Will Be Noisenew
The new EP by Tucson combo the Holy Rolling Empire, Noise Will Be Noise, is a strong effort in a growing body of work that consistently hits the sweet spot between hard-edged power pop and psychedelia.
Tucson Weekly |
Curtis McCrary |
06-09-2010 |
Reviews
