Music | Reviews | AAN.org

Former Shock Rocker Returns to Formnew

Alice Cooper rediscovers his garage roots for such imaginatively titled, pedal-to-the-metal rockers as "Woman of Mass Distraction," "Sunset Babies (All Got Rabies)" and "Your Own Worst Enemy."

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | Hal Horowitz | 08-25-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Alice Cooper, Dirty Diamonds

Touring the Prairie Statenew

Before writing the CD's 22 songs, Stevens buried himself in books, reading everything from Saul Bellow novels to out-of-print regional histories to familiarize himself with the state of Illinois, and he produced an emotionally authentic work of art.

Illinois Times | René Spencer Saller | 08-22-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Illinois, Carl Sandburg, Greetings From Michigan, Sufjan Stevens, The Great Lake State

Huey Lewis Churns Out Easygoing Setnew

Adding a three-piece horn section to these energetic, if not terribly innovative, reworkings of hits, oldies and a few surprisingly tough recent tunes makes for a pretty terrific set.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | Hal Horowitz | 08-18-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Huey Lewis & the News, Live at 25

Trio Whir in Secret No Morenew

Because this album is two-thirds cover songs, it allows listeners a glimpse in to what makes the Secret Machines tick more than where the road is leading the group.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | Tony Ware | 08-18-2005 | Reviews

Tags: The Secret Machines, The Road Leads Where It's Led

Passing the Test of Timenew

The more things change, the more they stay the same, and Repeater sounds better now than ever.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | Chad Radford | 08-18-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Fugazi, Repeater

Wise Guysnew

On their new albums, country singers Rodney Crowell and Marty Stuart cope with the middle-age blues by taking a hard look at this world -- and the hereafter.

Nashville Scene | Neal, Chris | 08-17-2005 | Reviews

Tags: The Outsider, Rodney Crowell

Lizz Wright Gets It Rightnew

Even if she’s not exactly revolutionizing jazz vocals, Lizz Wright is by no means an industry-issued knockoff, and this, her second album, reveals a singer of exceptional promise.

Illinois Times | Rene Spencer Saller | 08-17-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Dreaming Wide Awake, Lizz Wright

Across the Universenew

The Secret Machines slow time and stretch space with psych-rock monuments -- and their music makes you think.

Miami New Times | Jonathan Zwickel | 08-15-2005 | Reviews

Tags: The Secret Machines, Now Here Is Nowhere

Legend in the Makingnew

As a teenager, John Legend was already recording with Lauryn Hill. Seven years later, he's only gotten bigger.

Dallas Observer | Michael Roberts | 08-15-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Get Lifted, John Stevens, Lauryn Hill

Moments Feel Cheap and Emptynew

On Appetite - which the band, tellingly, co-produced with Dave Fridmann - the quartet try to listlessly remake the Flaming Lips and Pink Floyd in their own image.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | Ray Cummings | 08-11-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Hopewell, Hopewell & the Birds of Appetite

Many Standouts on Albumnew

Of the 40 tracks included here, it is futile to identify a few standouts. What's even more important than the actual quality of the work (which is amazing) is the historical significance of many of the cuts.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | James Kelly | 08-11-2005 | Reviews

Tags: June Carter Cash, Keep On The Sunny Side: Her Life In Music