AltWeeklies Wire
Blind Boys of Alabama Founder Clarence Fountain Returns With a Soul Albumnew
Stepping Up and Stepping Out stands as an exceptional gospel and soul release that you can spin anytime, anywhere—at a family barbecue, in your car on the way to work, at home alone.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
08-31-2009 |
Reviews
The Arctic Monkeys Go in a New Direction on 'Humbug'new
Humbug is the Monkeys at their most sincere and plaintive, and if you're not too cynical to follow them in this new direction, it should make your heart skip a beat or two.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
08-31-2009 |
Reviews
Joe Henry Creates His Own Dark Americana on 'Blood From Stars'new
Record-producer extraordinaire Joe Henry takes his own brand of pensive Americana a step deeper into the underworld on this dreamy and brooding album that just may be the peak of his career.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
08-31-2009 |
Reviews
Cara Gives New Life to Lost Songsnew
The quintet infuses Irish-inspired music with modern influences to create both traditional and contemporary music.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
New Modest Mouse Collection is a Fitting Snapshotnew
No One's First and You're Next mixes holdovers from previous LPs plus damaged pop, electrified folk and scrappy rock.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
08-28-2009 |
Reviews
At War Offers Right-Wing Thrashnew
With its pro-military message, Infidel is purest thrash, centered on fierce guitar riffs.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
08-28-2009 |
Reviews
The Skygreen Leopards' Latest Album is Purely Californianew
Gorgeous Johnny is laid-back folk-rock with pre-formed images of sunlight streaming through palm trees at the ocean.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
08-28-2009 |
Reviews
Eric D. Johnson Returns to the Fruit Batsnew
In the four years that have passed since the last Fruit Bats album, singer-songwriter-guitarist Eric D. Johnson has toured and recorded with the Shins and Vetiver, projects that encouraged him to open up to more collaboration in his own band.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Interpol's Paul Banks Strikes Out on His Own With an Alter Egonew
Since the album's title finds Banks literally describing his new alter ego for his audience, it's telling that he chooses to link this persona with the album's third track, "Skyscraper," an ambient, acoustic soundscape mostly sans vocals.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
Magnolia Electric Co.'s 'Josephine' is Somber and Deeply Evocativenew
Josephine finds Jason Molina bound by regret and fits of restless isolation, staring down his ghosts while forging a path of escape through deep shadows and the faraway horizon.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
Busdriver's Latest Album is Both Playful and Fiercenew
Like an auctioneer on speed, Busdriver's impressively fast rhyming skills help him stack the strange, intriguing Jhelli Beam with a word count generally reserved for major Russian literature.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
Los Campesinos! Refine and Conquernew
Set to embark on another globetrotting tour, Los Campesinos! barely blinked while losing a member, endlessly recording and making themselves available to fans.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
08-12-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Cobra Starship's Ephemera Has Its Placenew
Hot Mess is a consummate piece of throwaway pop music: vapid and empty, but fun.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
08-05-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Hot Mess, Cobra Starship
Vicious Fun with the Dead Weathernew
Members of well-known decibel-heavy groups constitute the Dead Weather, who have just released a sludgy, nasty and--not shockingly--loud album of excellent blues-rock.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
08-05-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Horehound, The Dead Weather
'The Legend of God's Gun': Spaghetti Trailblazingnew
Whether you're into jazz, film scores or instrumental music in general, this Gun's aim is dead-on.
Tucson Weekly |
Jarret Keene |
08-05-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Spindrift, The Legend of God's Gun
