AltWeeklies Wire
DragonForce's Latest is its Finest to Datenew
The album's title -- Ultra Beatdown -- is apt, since after enduring the eight epic tracks (the shortest clocking in at more than five minutes), one feels absolutely pummeled by the pure, unadulterated shred unleashed by lead guitarist Herman Li.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
10-30-2008 |
Reviews
More Wal-Mart Mediocrity, Courtesy AC/DCnew
Lead singer Brian Johnson has stated in recent interviews that Black Ice is the best AC/DC record since he joined the band; perhaps the drugs have finally taken over.
Tucson Weekly |
Jon Hobson |
10-30-2008 |
Reviews
Parts and Labor's Latest Album Was Created with Some Help from Fansnew
While recording Receivers, the band put out a call to its audience to submit audio samples of any kind that would then be incorporated into the music. Hundreds of samples showed up, and the band was able to use them all, working the snippets of sound into its combination of psychedelic rock, noise-punk and electronic music.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-30-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
R.A. the Rugged Man is McCain in the Membranenew
While he doesn't have the reach of Jay-Z, Nas, or any of Obama's other major-label shills, Rugged Man is using his notoriety and knack for controversy to rally troops behind the red team.
Boston Phoenix |
Chris Faraone |
10-30-2008 |
Music
The Best of the Worst: Metal's Most Notorious Album Coversnew

Heavy metal and Halloween go hand in hand.In that spirit, let's take a closer look at some of metal’s most notorious album covers.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Keith Carman |
10-30-2008 |
Music
Joan Baez is More Diamonds Than Rustnew
The folk legend doesn't think much of presidents in general, but if pressed, she's impressed by Obama.
Boston Phoenix |
Daniel Brockman |
10-30-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Green Party VP Candidate Rosa Clemente on Musical Activismnew

Despite the inroads made by the hip-hop generation toward political mobilization, Clemente says, many of these organizations focus solely on getting out the vote and fall short of providing the information necessary to empower the community.
San Antonio Current |
M. Solis |
10-30-2008 |
Music
Bassnectar Gets Funky with Electronicanew
Bassnectar is ferocious dance music as thick as peanut butter, with a bottom end that'll rattle your toenails; a sound so visceral that you feel it as much as hear it. "It's got this kind of heavy aggressive undertone in the bass frequencies," says Bassnectar creator Lorin Ashton.
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Grant Britt |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Man Man's Genre-Defying Musicnew
It's not just the instruments that make Man Man so different from anything else you might have seen live before. It's the energy they put forth and the random acts of screaming, jumping and flailing about.
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Jeff Hahne |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Man Man, Honus Honus
Screaming Mechanical Brain Isn't Afraid to Piss Off Your Grandmanew
Over the past few years the electro-metal locals have carved out a place for themselves nationally, and they inform me matter-of-factly that their CDs and merchandise are now sold through Hot Topic, another development they can't quite explain.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Andrea Swensson |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Soundtracking Change This Election Daynew

As the world awaits the results of the most important presidential election in, oh, 40 years, we've put together a playlist with song selections from some of Portland's finest musicians of tracks to listen to on Election Tuesday.
Willamette Week |
Michael Mannheimer |
10-29-2008 |
Music
Jimmy Hughes Gets Another Chance at FAMEnew

A collection of 18 remastered tracks Hughes recorded at FAME studios in the 1960s will be released this week.
Gambit |
Alison Fensterstock |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sarah Palin, in Songnew
The Sarah Palin songwriting competition that we launched four weeks ago drew in seventeen submissions, ranging from pop tune rewrites to fully choreographed videos.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan, Kathleen Richards and Nate Seltenrich |
10-29-2008 |
Music
Magnetic Morning Proves it's Darkest Just Before the Dawnnew
Sure, Interpol and Swervedriver might be easy reference points for Magnetic Morning, but the comparison is rendered lazy once you hear the music.
San Diego CityBeat |
Seth Combs |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Ted Leo Makes Protest Music for the Massesnew

When asked about the concept behind the recent download-only EP Rapid Response, Leo can barely contain his disgust for the events that inspired its release. Outraged by the police-incited violence at this year's RNC, Leo and the band decided that a musical response was not only appropriate, but necessary.
San Diego CityBeat |
Todd Kroviak |
10-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews