AltWeeklies Wire
A Legend Livesnew
After 35 years, Brian Wilson's Smile has finally delivered its payoff -- peace of mind, the redemptive power of love, and Heaven as a place with great surfing.
Boston Phoenix |
Brett Milano |
10-19-2004 |
Reviews
Mystery Mannew
Even to the guitarists who make up much of his avid body of fans, John Fahey is something of a riddle. A new DVD makes him no less enigmatic but does provide an up-close look of elements of his style.
Boston Phoenix |
Ted Drozdowski |
10-19-2004 |
Reviews
Sleepwalker: Elliott Smith's Unhappy Dream Lifenew
Elliott Smith died on Oct. 21, 2003, of what most think was a self-inflicted stab wound to the heart. Now the entertainment industry has set a new world record: shortest period between an artist’s passing and the cottage industry created to exploit him.
L.A. Weekly |
Alec Hanley Bemis |
10-18-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Costello Deliversnew
The Delivery Man is Costello's first album for Lost Highway and his first with the Imposters. He's joined by two first-time guests: Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams. But as with all his releases, the real power resides not in novelty but in the songwriting.
Illinois Times |
Rene Spencer Saller |
10-18-2004 |
Reviews
Spin Doctornew
Tom Waits finds his political muse on Real Gone.
Boston Phoenix |
Ted Drozdowski |
10-15-2004 |
Reviews
Dangerous Magical Dirtnew
The Dirtbombs play in the rock and roll style.
Tucson Weekly |
Curtis McCrary |
10-14-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
A Different Medleynew
The Fiery Furnaces put together a boat that floats.
Tucson Weekly |
Annie Holub |
10-14-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Fiery Furnaces, Blueberry Boat
Group Makes Connections Not Originally Intended to Existnew
The group mixes sprawling shards of percolating percussion with burbling bass and hiccuping vocals, creating a micro-edited chaotic bliss. But where past material bristled, Connector bustles.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Tony Ware |
10-14-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: Mouse on Mars, Radical Connector
Live and Well Celebrates Parton's Recent Worknew
Recorded and filmed at her theme park Dollywood, the 23 tracks are loaded heavily with bluegrass, but Parton gives some time to the string of '70s and '80s era pop-country hits such as "Islands in the Stream" and "Here You Come Again."
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
James Kelly |
10-14-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: Dolly Parton, Live and Well
The Faint Pads its Pants a Bit With Latest Releasenew
Wet From Birth, the third full-length from serrated synth-pop revivalists the Faint, is -- despite the title -- neither a birth nor rebirth for the Omaha-based quintet; it is a gestation.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Tony Ware |
10-14-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: The Faint, Wet From Birth
The Stripped Sounds, Dry Wit and Humor of Liverpool's Clinicnew
Clinic's music is built from small shards of melody and rhythm cobbled together unhurriedly rather than slogged out in terse studio sessions. That is surprising considering the taut nature of many of the concise songs.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Tony Ware |
10-14-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Clinic, Winchester Cathedral
Reissues Reveal Troubled Brilliance of Brian Wilsonnew
Wilson has completed and finally released SMiLE (Nonesuch), his "teenage symphony to God" and an exercise in "modular" recording. Now the obvious question would be does SMiLE live up to its legend?
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Tony Ware |
10-14-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: Brian Wilson, Smile
Chaka Khan Keeps it Real About Life, Drugs and Musicnew
Chaka Khan gives the scoop on her wild twister of a life, including a long battle with drugs, and her music, since she's just released ClassiKhan, a new album of standards ("I'm in the Mood for Love"), show tunes ("Big Spender"), and movie themes ("Goldfinger").
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Craig Seymour |
10-14-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Chaka Khan, ClassiKhan
No Easy Way Outnew
Amid the lingering doubts about Elliott Smith's cause of death and the release of new merchandise, the question remains: would he have signed off on his long-awaited album?
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Kimberly Chun |
10-13-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Fifteen Years Down the Line, De La Soul Is Still Shining, Still Grindingnew
As one of the creators of bohemian rap, an ambitious and wildly creative alternative to the hardcore macho idioms that dominate hip-hop culture, the Long Island trio is a certified legend, the b-boy equivalent of Sonic Youth.
Miami New Times |
Mosi Reeves |
10-13-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
