AltWeeklies Wire
Pictures Alive: Wovenhand Gets Spiritual in Order to Communicatenew
When David Eugene Edwards, leader of the gothic-industrial-Americana band Wovenhand, turns his profoundly deep voice to a biblically inspired lyric, he's not just exercising potent metaphors.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Otis Taylor Shines New Light on an Ancient Instrumentnew
With each record, Otis Taylor has blazed a trail, or at the very least carved a trailhead, moving from self-described "trance-blues" to special blends that draw on jazz and back-mountain country, on the internal and the universal. His current release, Recapturing the Banjo, brings Taylor and most of his collaborators on the project to Duke University.
INDY Week |
Rick Cornell |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Army of Two: Au’s Dynamic Duo Does the Work of 30new
Verbs, the latest record from expansive experimental pop group Au, pulses with the unbridled passion of an exuberant mass of people, nearly 30 collaborators in all. Its manic keyboards, swooning horns, complex percussion and manifold other instruments combine with Luke Wyland’s voice and at times an ebullient choir to generate a sweeping feeling of propulsion.
New York Press |
Amre Klimchak |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tune In to the Turned-On Dropouts, Asa Ransomnew
"I Like to walk to the center of an intersection!" wails Jacob Bills, lead singer and sole guitarist of Brooklyn-based four-piece rock noisemakers Asa Ransom, a touch of whimsy and madcap paranoia in his voice. Playing up on the extreme highend of his guitar’s neck, his bandmates musically swirling around him, Bills's description of playing amidst traffic seems pretty apt.
New York Press |
Greg Burgett |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Doll Parts: The Making of Lissy Trullienew
Plenty of models have tried their hands at music; the architects behind Lissy Trullie have done a smooth retro take on hookladen pop. A bisexual teenybopper fantasy is being built, but there are no buyers yet.
New York Press |
Matt Harvey |
01-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Merriweather' Is One More Step Up the Evolutionary Laddernew
When distorted guitar loops bleed into Animal Collective's trademark slur of serene mantras, the many layers of Merriweather Post Pavilion rise to the surface and dangle threads just waiting to be tugged, while only offering hints at what further listens will reveal.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-21-2009 |
Reviews
'Drone Trailer' Is a Welcome Respite From Hippie Clichésnew
MV+EE with the Golden Road's Drone Trailer is a dark record filled with lingering drones, lurking weirdness and a quietude that revels in sparse and blissful isolation.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
01-21-2009 |
Reviews
Much of 'iSouljaBoyTellem' Apes Its Predecessornew
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em charms the pants off of you, except when he's annoying the life out of you.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
01-21-2009 |
Reviews
The Gourds Deliver Their Music From a Ground-Level Perspectivenew
The whores, hitchhikers, metalheads and country gals who populate Haymaker!, the band's ninth studio release, come off unvarnished and real, set to a midtempo twang spiced with accordions, fiddles and piano that never gets ahead of itself.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
David Lee Simmons |
01-21-2009 |
Reviews
Apostle of Solitude Rocks the Mini-Barnnew

A mini-barn is the unlikely birthplace for doom metal quartet Apostle of Solitude, who have risen through the Indianapolis music scene.
NUVO |
Wade Coggeshall and Kris Arnold |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Rappers With Low Self-Esteem: Bragging About Going Brokenew
In our ironic age, it shouldn't be surprising that a new crop of MCs is boasting about a lack of cars, women, and riches. San Francisco actor and comedian Erik Weiner can genuinely hold his own on the mike.
SF Weekly |
Ben Westhoff |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Minneapolis's Aby Wolf Delivers Album of Mesmerizing Folknew
Wolf talks about her songwriting on Sweet Prudence.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Andrea Swensson |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Nobunny Loves Us: Punk Matters (shorter. faster. louder.)new
Nobunny plays what amounts to the mutant child of the Ramones, the New York Dolls, and Jay Reatard, burned at the stake and raised from the dead to declare war on the living.
San Antonio Current |
Mitch Clem |
01-21-2009 |
Concerts
Portland Experimentalist Finds Inspiration at the Skating Rinknew

Portland musician Ethan Rose is a geek for antiquated instruments. His latest effort is made chiefly from an 86-year-old Wurlitzer organ at Oaks Park Skating Rink.
Willamette Week |
Robert Ham |
01-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Killers Show a Lighter Side on 'Day & Age'new
Brandon Flowers' charm and talent carries The Killers' latest release to success.
Tucson Weekly |
James Hudson |
01-15-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: The Killers, Day & Age