AltWeeklies Wire
Smokey Robinson's First CD in Three Years is Well-Timed but Misses the Marknew
Though Robinson's name is practically synonymous with Motown, its signature soul and pop sounds are nowhere to be found on this work, which skews toward contemporary R&B and smooth jazz.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Slaughterhouse's Four MCs Display Pure, Old-School One-Upmanshipnew
Composed of critically respected but commercially unheralded underground MCs Joell Ortiz, Royce da 5'9", Crooked I and Joe Budden, the group's self-titled debut serves mainly as a platform for each man to attempt to one-up the others through punchlines, dexterity and flat-out velocity.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Dan Sartain Wonders into Darker Terrain With His Latest Releasenew
On the A-side, "Bohemian Grove" glows with skeletal, moonlit arrangements. Adam Renshaw lays down drums over a minimal and motorik piano plod courtesy of Jack White. There's a devil-as-crooner quality to it all, and what really gives the song girth is White's glassy production.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Dan Sartain, Bohemian Grove
Finally Punk's Debut Full-Length Features No-Wave Aestheticsnew
Jagged sounds and riot grrrl sneers provide the backbone to Casual Goths.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Casual Goths, Finally Punk
Killer Mike Lets a Diverse Group Loose on 'Underground Atlanta'new
The two-disc set is charming and solid all the way through, and features highlights from such lesser-known talents as Rich Kidz ("Bowling") and Prynce Cyhi ("Don't Go Outside"), as well as winners from veterans including Pastor Troy and Trillville, whose "I Be Off Dat" recalls the group's crunk-era glory.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Blue-Eyed Soulster Mayer Hawthorne Proves His Songwritingnew
These tunes are just slightly more soulful than the pop ditties that made the Rascals, the Association, and the Lovin' Spoonful '60s favorites. What's strange is how often you find yourself pressing repeat.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
L. Michael Gipson |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Calvin Richardson Pleasantly Reimagines Bobby Womacknew
Richardson's commitment to traditional interpretations of this popular material highlights Womack's skill as a lyricist and arranger on par with Barry White, Leon Ware and Willie Hutch -- a fact often lost because of the prominence of Womack's unique vocal ability.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
L. Michael Gipson |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Visceral Hooks Reign Supreme on The Pinx's Latestnew
Rock exuberance a la Sabbath, Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age puts an emphasis on skewed pop, which comes across in the bellow and chug of frontman Adam McIntyre.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Look What You Made Me Do, The Pinx
On 'Time to Grow,' The Lovell Sisters Prove to be Bluegrass' New Standard-Bearersnew
Bluegrass and acoustic music are experiencing intriguing paradigm shifts as old-guard traditionalists like Bill Monroe and Jimmy Martin pass on, and crews of youthful, energetic musicians bring their contemporary ideas into the mix.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
James Kelly |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Circulatory System's 'Signal Morning' is a Mess of Noisy and Bombastic Experimentsnew
Former Olivia Tremor Control leader Will Cullen Hart is at his hallucinogenic best when focusing on melodies and songwriting, but he rarely allows Signal Morning's songs to exist free of layers of sonic clutter.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Melanie Fiona's 'The Bridge' is a Fine Crossover Debutnew
The Guyanese vocalist is ankle-deep in the still-lingering '60s retro-soul revival.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
L. Michael Gipson |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Melanie Fiona, neo-soul
Simon Joyner Has Reached an Apex with 'Out into the Snow'new
Out Into the Snow is another link in a chain of crystalline, post-Dylan perfection.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Out Into the Snow, Simon Joyner
Box Elders' Debut Unveils the Group's Beautiful, Jagged Soundnew
The noisy concoctions of surf and '60s pop inflections in "Stay," "Necro" and "Talk Amongst Yourself" will inevitably draw comparisons to the Black Lips, but beyond the murk and garage riffs, ramped-up pop energy drives the record through to the end.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Chad Radford |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Alice and Friends, Box Elders
The Revelations Create a Roof-Raising Soul Albumnew
Deep Soul owners looking for unreleased material on producer Bob Perry's 15-track set will enjoy Rell's greasy, slow drag of Carole King's "It's Too Late," Williams' ripping version of Latimore's "Let's Straighten It Out," or the oh-you-dirty-dog single "How Do I Tell Him."
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
L. Michael Gipson |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Darien Lifts the Gentleman-Soul Mantle on 'Walls'new
While boatloads struggle to be Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway or Marvin Gaye, one Mount Vernon, N.Y., artist is lifting the gentleman-soul mantle from Peabo Bryson's tight grasp.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
L. Michael Gipson |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
