AltWeeklies Wire
Pop Meets Soul in Sharon Jones' New Releasenew
Something a little different is definitely happening on album No. 4 by Daptone Records flagship act Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
Tucson Weekly |
Carl Hanni |
04-15-2010 |
Reviews
Murs and 9th Wonder: Kicking It Classicnew
Murs has been among the best MCs in hip hop for nearly a decade, impressively straddling the line between the underground and the mainstream—and he ably proves himself again on his latest collaboration with DJ and producer 9th Wonder.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
04-15-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Fornever, Murs and 9th Wonder
Darren Hoff: Country Via Rocknew
Former Weary Boy Darren Hoff is getting back into the music groove with the Hard Times.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
04-15-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
"Hippies': Garage Rock Done Rightnew
Garage rock done right aches for the sort of unbridled enthusiasm at the core of Hippies, the first Matador record from this trio. The band's bouncy, melodic garage rock is colored with flecks of soul and surf rock, but it's the fantastic songs that hold it aloft.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
04-08-2010 |
Reviews
Skip Heller the Genre-Hoppernew
While Skip Heller has another excellent and relatively new album of charming country and jazz tunes available in stores, his latest release is this remarkable CD full of his exotica compositions.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
04-08-2010 |
Reviews
'The Winter of Mixed Drinks' is a Production-Heavy Affairnew
With the release of The Winter of Mixed Drinks, Frightened Rabbit displays a grander pop ambition.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
04-08-2010 |
Reviews
Experimental rock-band Yeasayer is just trying to stay ahead of the curvenew
The Yeasayer sound is an amalgam of indie rock, electronica and glitchy pop, subtly touched by African, Middle Eastern and Asian influences, and—now on Odd Blood—unabashed dance music.One might wonder how the group can blend such diverse sounds without the results seeming contrived, but Yeasayer pull it off convincingly.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
04-08-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Astro Coast' More Promise Than Achievementnew
The debut from the quintet Surfer Blood stitches together the big hooks of party rock, a bit of '80s synth, surf-inflected indie rock and some dance-y Brit-pop.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
04-01-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Astro Coast, Surfer Blood
Erykah Badu the Myth Makernew
Erykah Badu is an incredible artist who has never put out a bad record--and this is one of her best.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
04-01-2010 |
Reviews
Stylistic Detours: 'The Monitor'new
One of the more impressive young bands to revel in loud, sloppy angst is Titus Andronicus. The Monitor may be loosely based on the Civil War, but it is certifiably ambitious and remarkable.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
04-01-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: The Monitor, Titus Andronicus
Righteously Energetic: Ted Leo's 'The Brutalist Bricks'new
The Brutalist Bricks is more of Ted Leo's signature brand of surging, thinking-man's punk rock, with soaring melodies to counterbalance the cranked amps and pummeling drums.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
03-25-2010 |
Reviews
Breakthrough Record: Backyard Tire Fire's 'Good to Be'new
An all-too-common trap for Americana bands is to lay down an easy beat and dial in some twang. Backyard Tire Fire settles in miles away from that cookie-cutter approach, mixing barreling roadhouse rockers with lean, catchy, soulful tunes.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
03-25-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Backyard Tire Fire, Good to Be
Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Shares His Dark Vision of America's Ruinationnew
Since heavy metal's inception 40 years ago, back when Black Sabbath's eponymous debut was released, the notorious genre has been politically aware and sensitive to the state's growing power at the expense of individual liberties.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
03-25-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Tradition of Essential Music That's as Mechanized as it is Carnalnew
I hate electronic music that's devoid of any humanity; the best electronica reframes human experience in a compelling way. Think Tricky's derelict spacecraft love ballads on 1995's Maxinquaye.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
03-17-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Causers of This, Toro Y Moi
Xiu Xiu's Albums Have Never Been Anything Less than Subversivenew
Xiu Xiu's seventh album of new material is among its best, embracing synth pop and avant-garde noisemaking more than ever.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
03-17-2010 |
Reviews
