AltWeeklies Wire
Neil Diamond Taps Los Volcanoes for Grammy Partynew

How an obscure local tejano band came to share a bill with Coldplay and Tim McGraw.
Seattle Weekly |
Mike Seely |
02-10-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Woodpigeon Adds Subtle Twists to the Truthnew
Although Woodpigeon's two new discs vary wildly in sound — Treasury Library Canada is lushly orchestrated dream-pop, while Houndstooth Europa is essentially an acoustic home recording — a sense of immediacy is one aesthetic constant.
The Georgia Straight |
Alexander Varty |
02-09-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Crooked Fingers' 'Forfeit/Fortune'new
Forfeit/Fortune is a musical scrapbook album of sorts, documenting Eric Bachmann's recent travels and new friends he's made over recent tours.
Tucson Weekly |
James Hudson |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Mild Experimentation: 'Tonight: Franz Ferdinand'new
With this release, Franz Ferdinand takes an interesting path to bridge the chasm between the fans they quickly garnered and their relevancy in a constantly amnesiac music scene.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Or, The Whale's 'Light Poles and Pines'new
This glorious debut album by the San Francisco combo is perfect in its own right--rockin' contemporary alt-country feet planted firmly in the past and the future.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Titus Andronicus's 'The Airing of Grievances'new
This is either the best band named for a Shakespeare play, or the best album name borrowed from a Seinfeld episode; either way, fans of manic, raucous jangle-pop should take heed.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Wildly Accessible: Animal Collective's 'Merriweather Post Pavilion'new
This album's restrained approach creates something to warm up to, but its consistent beauty gives it serious legs.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
02-05-2009 |
Reviews
Celebrating Blue Note Records' 70th Anniversarynew
In honor of Blue Note's 70th anniversary, the label assembled an all-star band, dubbed the Blue Note 7, to play a celebratory three-month concert tour and record an album of classic tunes from the label's vintage hard-bop years.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
02-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Magic Marker Records Celebrates Year Number Tennew
Over the past decade Magic Marker Records has established a legacy whose impact resonates far beyond the Portland city limits.
The Portland Mercury |
Ezra Ace Caraeff |
02-05-2009 |
Music
A Wealth of Free Musicnew
Bigger crowds for bands, higher sales for bars, and cheaper nights for fans: So why aren't all shows free?
Tags: live music, economic issues
The Dark Side of Extra Lifenew
Extra Life’s 2008 debut Secular Works strikes a curious balance between angular instrumentation and ancient melody.
New York Press |
Chris Richards |
02-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
What Pop Music Sounds Like Coming From the Pure at Heartnew
The charms of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the jangly guitars, dreamy boy-girl harmonies and atmospheric distortion, are hard to resist.
New York Press |
Amre Klimchak |
02-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Hip-Hop and the Obama Effectnew

Nas, Young Jeezy and others don't think Obama's presidency spells the end of hip-hop.
New York Press |
R.M. Schneiderman and Ray LeMoine |
02-05-2009 |
Music
Tags: Barack Obama, hip-hop
Annuals Tend the Future of Indie Popnew

Raleigh, N.C.-based indie-pop act Annuals started as a side project of Sunfold, but now the percussion-heavy sextet is the main attraction. And, though the group's members are now only in their early 20s, they're touring in support of their sophomore studio album as well as discovering and producing up-and-coming bands along the way.
Mountain Xpress |
Alli Marshall |
02-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Radiohead Cover Band Seeks to Unlock Thom Yorke's Geniusnew
What's That? recreate some of modern rock's most complex songs.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Bradley Campbell |
02-04-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews