AltWeeklies Wire
Great Big Sea Finds Success the Old-Fashioned Way
In a business defined by fads and gimmicks, this Newfoundland band is a consistent favourite.
Monday Magazine |
John Threlfall |
07-22-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Great Big Sea, Something Beautiful
Despite Kookiness, Mark's New CD Delivers Great Tunes
The bastard love child of John Prine and Patsy Cline, Carolyn Mark returns with an album that, while occassionally frustrating, is one of the finest I’ve heard this year.
Monday Magazine |
Robert Wiersema |
07-22-2004 |
Reviews
Songs That Demand to Be Hummednew
A honeycomb tangle of bright, sticky hooks and tart counterpoint, this disc teems with ideas. Also reviewed is Petracovich's Blue Cotton Skin.
Illinois Times |
René Spencer Saller |
07-22-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: A.C. Newman, The Slow Wonder
Write Place, Write Timenew
While his latest CD is an occasion to celebrate his musical persona once again, Dr. John should also be appreciated as one of New Orleans' great songwriters.
Gambit |
John Swenson |
07-21-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Rock by Numbers
To determine if there's any rhyme or reason to music writing on the Web, guitarist Loren Wilson analyzed the language used in record reviews on Pitchforkmedia.com.
Chicago Reader |
J. Niimi |
07-20-2004 |
Music
Shooting Blanksnew
Imagine the rock world’s version of The Real World (or, more appropriately, The Surreal Life). Take one estranged-and- palpably-frustrated backup band; add one charismatic (and often socially troubled) lead singer -- preferably one who hasn’t had a hit in a while; stir in a liberal dose of media hype; and, voila! Instant million-seller.
Tags: Velvet Revolver, Contraband
Pitchfork's Progress: Influential E-Zine Gets Spoofednew
The funniest Onion-esque fake news story penned so far this year sprang from Sub Pop Records, which deserves full credit for "Pitchfork Staff Member Says 'Hi' to Real-Life Woman."
East Bay Express |
Rob Harvilla |
07-16-2004 |
Music
Tags: Illinois, Chicago, record labels, Minnesota, Pitchfork, Minneapolis, a Pitchfork writer and advertising director, Anniversary's album Your Majesty, bootlegged videos, Canadian art-rock collective Broken Social Scene's You Forgot It in People, Chris Jacobs, Eric Carr, Pitchfork mastermind Ryan Schreiber, staff writer Brent DiCrescenzo, Sub Pop's marketing director and unofficial ringleader of the Popdork parody
The More Things Change...new
The sound of !!! is goofily anarchic, a jumble of scabrous funk, brittle postpunk, and pockmarked disco, a clanging, clattering, sample-studded din that suddenly opens up to reveal disquieting spaces. Also reviewed is Eleni Mandelli's Afternoon.
Illinois Times |
René Spencer Saller |
07-15-2004 |
Reviews
Tags: !!!, Louden Up Now
Prince and the Evolutionnew
His name is Prince again, and he's still funky, but did he ever stop?
Gambit |
Alex Rawls |
07-12-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Prince, musicology
Haunted by High Expectations, Wilco Produces a Minor Ghostnew
Ghost is far from awful -- in fact, it's often painfully lovely -- and, if you can get past the occasional proggish pretense, the interminable stretches of pure noise, and some embarrassing lyrical missteps, you'll find much to admire.
Illinois Times |
René Spencer Saller |
07-08-2004 |
Reviews
Ambitious Singer/Songwriter Is a Critic's Dreamnew
Michigan-bred Sufjan Stevens is about as likely to appear on the side of populism as Britney Spears or Linkin Park are to land on a year-end list. But the hushed-voiced creator of folk-based arrangements is optimistic that a change may be coming.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Nikhil Swaminathan |
07-08-2004 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Sufjan Stevens
Drum and Drummer: Dave Lombardo Rejoins Slayer for Ozzfestnew
Slayer are no strangers to Ozzfest, but this is the first year they’re bringing along original drummer Dave Lombardo.
Boston Phoenix |
Sean Richardson |
07-08-2004 |
Music
Defenders of the Faithnew
The music Judas Priest made was easily marginalized, and at a remove of several decades, most of the material on their "Metalogy" boxed-set sounds ephemeral.
Boston Phoenix |
Carly Carioli |
07-08-2004 |
Reviews
Iron Mennew
Black Sabbath get boxed in time for Ozzfest.
Boston Phoenix |
Matt Ashare |
07-08-2004 |
Music
Remain the Same, or Reinventnew
Most artists survive by reinventing themselves. But rock star Patti Smith, like God and Edith Piaf, is eternal. Also reviewed is "Uh Huh Her" by PJ Harvey, who is in some ways Smith's heir and in others her opposite.
Illinois Times |
René Spencer Saller |
07-02-2004 |
Reviews
