AltWeeklies Wire
Bassist Avishai Cohen Takes a Lead Role on His New Trio Albumnew
Jazz "neocons" -- those who maintain that if it isn't blues-based, it isn't jazz -- will surely reject Gently Disturbed. There's not a 12-bar or a blue note to be found, because the disc is too subversive, and too damn good, to bother with such rigid constraints.
Washington City Paper |
Michael J. West |
05-23-2008 |
Reviews
Unrest's Bridget Cross Recalls Her Old Bandmates for New Projectnew
Cross now lives in Alaska, but for most of the tracks on Maybe It's Reno's self-titled debut, she reunites with her former Unrest mates, Mark Robinson and drummer Phil Krauth, to deliver an agreeably familiar mix of dreamy guitar and gawky grooves.
Washington City Paper |
Casey Rae-Hunter |
05-23-2008 |
Reviews
BORIS' Latest Has a Familiar Tingenew
If Smile is any indication, the Japanese metal trio has settled the debate on what BORIS is actually supposed to sound like -- and apparently the consensus is "loud."
Washington City Paper |
Aaron Leitko |
05-15-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Smile
'Nouns' is Rousing Without Coming Off as Calculatednew
No Age's biggest contribution to the world is deleting cynicism, contempt, and any ideas of starfuckery from the Los Angeles vocabulary.
Washington City Paper |
Jason Cherkis |
05-15-2008 |
Reviews
Dizzee Rascal Makes a Hard Climb Toward Mass Appealnew
A flop as a British MC, Dizzee Rascal tries to become an American one.
Washington City Paper |
Brent Burton |
05-09-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Dizzee Rascal, Maths + English
Santogold's Debut Sticks to Pop Basicsnew
The first two released songs portrayed Santogold as a hip-grinding purveyor of ambitious mutant-pop, somebody who could adeptly splice hip-hop with club rhythms and dub echoes. In other words, an M.I.A. who could sing. So it's a little shocking that Santogold is so sugary.
Washington City Paper |
Aaron Leitko |
05-09-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Santogold
MC Slug Drops the Introspection on Atmosphere's Latestnew
Without the bangers or the confessionals, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold doesn't have an immediate payoff. But give it time: There's lots to like in the duo's different yet still considered and craft-conscious work.
Washington City Paper |
Ben Westhoff |
04-24-2008 |
Reviews
How an Indie Rocker Became a Hardcore Reggae Boosternew
Ian Jones spent years in D.C.'s indie-rock world. Then he met Claudius Linton in Jamaica, and has since released two albums by the obscure artist.
Washington City Paper |
Aaron Leitko |
04-24-2008 |
Music
Will Indie Record Shops Survive?new
Two owners -- one who's doing well and another who's closing shop -- disagree on what the future holds as we approach National Record Store Day.
Washington City Paper |
Angela Valdez |
04-10-2008 |
Music
Nick Cave Has Gone to Seedinessnew
On his first album in four years with the Bad Seeds, the carnal and cadaverous Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, Cave ditches the script of the piano-heavy Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus and embraces the sound of his recent side project Grinderman -- itself driven by primitive electric guitars that recalled his '80s post-punk act the Birthday Party.
Washington City Paper |
Casey Rae-Hunter |
04-10-2008 |
Reviews
Howlin Rain Finds the Link Between Punk and Bluesnew
At some point, trend-chasing music fans -- like those who embrace Vampire Weekend's self-described "Upper West Side Soweto" -- are going to have to struggle with albums like Magnificent Fiend and come to terms with exactly what makes the blues seem so frozen in pre-punk amber.
Washington City Paper |
Brent Burton |
03-27-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Howlin Rain, Magnificent Fiend
Lionel Loueke's Guitar Playing Bridges Continentsnew
Despite Art Blakey's admonition that "jazz doesn't have a damn thing to do with Africa," musicians everywhere have never stopped trying to establish the link. Guitarist Lionel Loueke, who's from Benin, fuses his jazz with melodic West African pop.
Washington City Paper |
Michael J. West |
03-20-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Karibu, Lionel Loueke
Senor Flavio: Continental Drifternew
On Supersaund 2012, Flavio sticks his neck out to embrace a host of genres.
Washington City Paper |
Alfredo Flores |
03-13-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Senor Flavio, Supersaund 2012
Apes' New Singer Fits Right Innew
The group's best work has always teetered between avant-garde skronk and pop euphoria. On Ghost Games, the line is completely obliterated.
Washington City Paper |
Casey Rae-Hunter |
02-28-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Apes, Ghost Games
Drone of Artnew
Earth's new album is an inspired merger of repetition and twang.
Washington City Paper |
Brent Burton |
02-28-2008 |
Reviews
