AltWeeklies Wire
M.I.A.: Mayanew

In 'Maya', M.I.A. is less of a rabble-rouser, and more of a dance-club diva-cum-punk high priestess.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
07-15-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: M.I.A.
'Predators': Monster Mishmashnew

Director Nimród Antal tried hard, but his effort to boost the Predator franchise with a much-needed shot of adrenaline failed.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
07-14-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Nimród Antal, Predators
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Mojonew

Tom Petty's massive vault-raiding effort to put together last year's The Live Anthology established a clear path to Mojo, a bluesy, jammy, slower and less-catchy record for Petty.
Tucson Weekly |
Eric Swedlund |
07-07-2010 |
Reviews
Softness and Closenessnew

The ever-calm Silje Nes gets just a little louder on her upcoming album.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
07-07-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
'I Am Love': A Woman Awakensnew

The stunning Tilda Swinton turns in her best work ever in this Italian drama.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
07-07-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: I Am Love, Luca Guadagnino
Andrew Collberg: On the Wreathnew

Andrew Collberg -- the 22-year-old singer-songwriter born in Sweden and raised in New Zealand and Tucson -- has released his second album, and it's a subtle killer, brainy and sophisticated, but never pretentious.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
07-07-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Andrew Collberg
Not So Super-Villainsnew

Ever since he was a kid, Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) has struggled with big dreams.
Tucson Weekly |
Colin Boyd |
07-07-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Despicable Me
Downward Spiral of a 'Solitary Man'new

Michael Douglas and Imogen Poots dazzle in this story of a once-successful man's downfall.
Tucson Weekly |
Colin Boyd |
07-02-2010 |
Reviews
Flying Lotus: 'Cosmogramma'new

In terms of dark instrumental hip-hop producers, Flying Lotus is less like, say, DJ Shadow, and more akin to Prefuse 73 or Four Tet.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-23-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Cosmogramma, Flying Lotus
The Dead Weather: 'Sea of Cowards'new

Released less than a year after the band's raucous debut, the Dead Weather's 'Sea of Cowards' is not exactly a rehash, but it is an extension of the former, with a few new wrinkles.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
06-23-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards
Cosmic Slop: Spit Don't Make No Babiesnew

Named for a classic album by Funkadelic, the local funk-rock band Cosmic Slop carefully straddles the fine line between clever and stupid.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-16-2010 |
Reviews
Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer of the Void (Sub Pop)new

Blitzen Trapper is a fascinating band. After five albums, the Portland, Ore., group seems unlikely to reinvent the wheel—yet upon closer inspection, the band's hybrid of folk-glam-pop is remarkably fresh and novel. Following the group's career-high Furr, Destroyer of the Void is an immensely enjoyable effort. The lows are more inconsequential than poorly executed. "Below the Hurricane" is an overlong cosmic folk ballad. The hushed duet "The Tree," with singer/songwriter Alela Diane, masks some intriguing lyrics with banal, by-the-numbers acoustic balladry. When the six-piece is kicking, however, the results are impressive. The opening, title track is less epic by length
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
06-16-2010 |
Reviews
Fishtank Ensemble: Woman in Sinnew

The third album by this amazing group from California is one of the best times to be found on disc so far this year.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-16-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Fishtank Ensemble, Woman in Sin
Endless Rhythmsnew

It's impossible to fully master the complex richness of Latin rhythms, according to Greg Gonzalez, bass player for the Texas-based Latin dance band Grupo Fantasma. "Latin rhythms are endless, man," Gonzalez said recently via phone from his home in Austin. "You can just become more knowledgeable about Latin rhythms; you can just become more informed; and you can never master them." Grupo Fantasma combines Latin dance music with rock, pop, blues, reggae and, especially, funk.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-16-2010 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Grupo Fantasma
'Karate' Kicking Assnew
Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan help 'The Karate Kid' remake surpass the original.
Tucson Weekly |
Bob Grimm |
06-16-2010 |
Reviews
Tags: Karate Kid, Harald Zwart