AltWeeklies Wire
Yes, Inferno: Yes, Infernonew

Yes, Inferno call themselves a progressive instrumental rock band. This is only partially true.
San Antonio Current |
Adam Villela Coronado |
06-30-2011 |
Reviews
David Gray Renews His Soul With a Renovated Soundnew

There's hardly a musician who wouldn't love to have the success David Gray enjoyed with his 1998 multiplatinum album White Ladder and its breakthrough hit, "Babylon." After languishing in obscurity for his first three albums, the self-financed release became an international sensation characterized by a mix of acoustic folk and electronic elements.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
06-29-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: David Gray
Foster the People: Torchesnew

This Los Angeles band's name reminds me of a similarly-titled James Taylor song ("Shower the People"). But the shiny, insistent dance rhythms on its heralded full-length debut -- featured recently on that bastion of respectability, NPR -- will immediately hip listeners to the fact that this band has little to do with the venerable folk troubadour, except for endlessly catchy melodies.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
06-29-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Foster the People
Bitter Resolve's Misfits March Forwardnew

The monolithic riffs and malevolent rhythms of Bitter Resolve's proto-metal suggest the sort of bros who would bludgeon Chapel Hill's stereotypical indie rocker in the back alley behind Local 506 just for fun. But that would be missing the message.
INDY Week |
Corbie Hill |
06-29-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Bitter Resolve
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On: 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Editionnew

It's arguably the finest soul album ever recorded. After a decade as Motown's premier hit maker, Gaye wanted to tackle themes of urban decay, war, and our mortgaged future.
San Antonio Current |
Chris Parker |
06-29-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Marvin Gaye, What's Going On
Hagage "AJ" Masaed Learns the Art of Hip-Hop Diplomacynew

Raised in the 'hoods of Buffalo and North Oakland, an Arabic rapper parlays his skills to stave off violence, in Yemen.
East Bay Express |
Madeleine Bair |
06-29-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Chucha Santamaría y Ustednew

Representing Oakland by way of Puerto Rico and New York, Sofía Córdova and Matthew Kirkland (aka Chucha Santamaría y Usted) are all about the mezcla.
San Antonio Current |
M. Solis |
06-29-2011 |
Reviews
The Kreayshawn Mythnew

The creation of an "outlaw" pop star.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
06-29-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
RX Bandits Guitarist Steve Choi Reflects on 16 Yearsnew

To hear Steve Choi of RX Bandits tell it, there was never a proper sit-down about changing the sound of the SoCal third-wave ska group formed in 1995.
San Antonio Current |
Adam Villela Coronado |
06-29-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: RX Bandits, Steve Choi
Shonuff Puts a Funky Spin on Rock and Reggaenew

Madison Ruckel can hardly control his giddiness about this week's Shonuff shows. "I don't know which one I'm more excited about," he says. "Between the Marley and the Pour House, they're both just going to be great."
Charleston City Paper |
Jared Booth |
06-28-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Shonuff
Okkervil River: I Am Very Farnew

Will Sheff is operating on a higher plane these days. On Okkervil River's stunning I Am Very Far, Sheff revels in ambiguous and evocative imagery that keeps pace with inspired studio wizardry.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
06-27-2011 |
Reviews
Tags: Okkervil River, Will Sheff
A new collaboration lets Shirlette Ammons finally speak on sexnew

"It seems like queerness has become sort of a pop culture circus as opposed to the way some people are choosing to live their lives every day."
INDY Week |
Jordan Lawrence |
06-23-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Shirlette Ammons
Much Ado About the ’Roonew

Squat now or forever hold your pee. I was presented with a moral dilemma — should I make the long trek to the Port-o-Pots where there’d inevitably be a line, or strip my shorts down to my ankles, balance myself between the tires of two cars, and let it go?
LEO Weekly |
Sara Havens |
06-23-2011 |
Music
Tags: Music Festivals, Bonnaroo
Darkness Audiblenew

The Civil Wars discover their own special joie de mort
Colorado Springs Independent |
Tom Lanham |
06-23-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Cerebral yet Carnalnew

Titus Andronicus hopes to avoid pillow fights on this trip to Tucson.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
06-23-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Titus Andronicus