AltWeeklies Wire
Three 6 Mafia Show Missteps on 'Last 2 Walk'new
Even though the group is currently down to a duo, survivors DJ Paul and Juicy J are still basking in the glow of victory of their Academy Award.
The Contantines Strike a Balance Between Creativity and Commercenew
Despite a deliberate approach, Kensington Heights, the latest recording by the Canadian combo, doesn't sound fussy or effete.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
07-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sigur Ros Tackles a Series of Firsts that Result in Its Most Accessible Albumnew
It's the first album to be mainly recorded outside its home base of Iceland, first to feature a track sung in English, and the first co-produced by a big-shot dial-twister. Somehow, though, this series of seemingly suspect compromises actually brings out new and beguiling qualities in the band.
Gnarls Barkley Never Meant to Go Crazynew
How do you follow up a signature hit for the entire decade? Easy. Stop trying.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
06-30-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Rose Hill Drive is Retro, So Deal With Itnew
Moon is the New Earth features several entertainingly excessive blues-rock booglarizers, the groups expands their horizons to include power pop, garagey rave-ups and even vintage psychedelia.
Lil Wayne Proves He Can Make a Cohesive Albumnew
Tha Carter III is pop rap to giggle to and marvel at, from "Phone Home," where Wayne gives his outer-space shtick the full treatment, to "Misunderstood," in which he disses Al Sharpton and imparts that he lives next door to a child molester.
Weezer Phones in Its New Albumnew
The group's latest self-titled release is practically a novelty disc, albeit a notably lazy one.
Sub Pop's Twentieth Anniversary Spurs Denver's Unlikeliest Band Reunionnew
The Fluid was the first group based outside the Pacific Northwest to ink with Sub Pop, the indie that served as the launching pad for what became known as the grunge sound; as such, it became a key component of a musical revolution that helped define the late-'80s/early-'90s rock era.
Mates of State Satisfy with More Catchy Cutsnew
For the most part brushing aside the experimental flourishes that informed some of their earlier work, here the two instead focus on what they do best, setting oft-devastating lyrics to electric-organ- and drum-based tunes.
Girl Named Kyle Needs Some More Buildingnew
No, the world hasn't been waiting for another folkish band fronted by a precocious, big-voiced singer, and the familiar nature of the strummier material on Let's Build doesn't help separate Girl Named Kyle from the pack.
Silver Jews Pair Simple Melodies with Complex Lyricsnew
Even after trading chemical dependency for religion, David Berman remains a deadpan wit of charm and skill, as he demonstrates on Lookout, the first Silver Jews record made without assistance from Berman's longtime cohort, Pavement leader Stephen Malkmus.
Denver's Music Scene Deserves to be Heardnew
In the sober light of day, Denver is indeed more than just the Fray — or any of the other acts that have been called up to the majors. We're elated for and proud of those bands that have graduated, of course, but to pin all of our aspirations on them is more than a bit shortsighted.
Westword |
Dave Herrera |
06-17-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Erykah Badu Makes Statements, Not Singlesnew
"Artists work so hard to create these projects," she says. "They're not meant to be 99 cents per track. They're meant to be listened to back to back. That's how I create them."
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
06-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Roots Get Heavynew
Thematically, it's heavier than Jared Fogle before he realized how much money he could make crediting his weight loss to sandwiches.
Death Cab for Cutie Already Made This Albumnew
Narrow Stairs sounds just like Plans, right down to the obvious production, weepy lyrics and inoffensive guitar, continuing Death Cab's tradition of aping Morrissey lyrics without Moz's counterintuitive turns of phrase or dark jokes.
