AltWeeklies Wire
The South Rises Again with Dead Confederatenew
These are hard-drinking, hard-living Southern boys with names like Walker and Hardy, but they'd still rather drink bourbon in a dive bar with a toothless gent than hang out with Paris Hilton.
San Diego CityBeat |
Seth Combs |
11-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Dead Confederate, Wrecking Ball
Austin's The Sword Worships the 'Gods of the Earth'new
When a band titles its debut Age of Winters and follows it up with a record called Gods of the Earth, the road's pretty much been paved for the kind of meal you're to be served. The dueling guitars, meaty, brimming with confidence, attack from all sides.
Chicago Newcity |
Tom Lynch |
11-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Gods of the Earth, The Sword
Johnny Cash Gets the Remix Treatmentnew
Cash purists have every right to blanch at these mixing-board artistes slicing and dicing his songs, but the results suggest that even from beyond the grave, the old man is fully capable of busting a move.
Houston Press |
Chris Gray |
11-04-2008 |
Reviews
Deerhunter Confounds and Delights Againnew
Deerhunter doubly rewards fans' faith and rebuffs critics who dismiss the band as all reverb/echo flash and no songwriting chops -- literally, because Microcastle is actually two albums in one: Microcastle proper and a bonus disc of odds and ends titled Weird Era Cont.
Baltimore City Paper |
Raymond Cummings |
11-04-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Deerhunter, Microcastle
Eagles of Death Metal Strives for Greatnessnew
With celebrity political endorsements as commonplace these days as stacked Marshall amps at hard rock shows, it's refreshing to hear Eagles of Death Metal front man Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes's take on mixing between-songs banter with presidential proclamations.
The Georgia Straight |
Jenny Charlesworth |
11-04-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Eagles of Death Metal, Heart On
Tom Morello Explores Activism and Despair as the Nightwatchmannew
What's interesting about the Nightwatchman's new album, The Fabled City, is its development away from the stark polemics and rudimentary arrangements of the 2007 debut One Man Revolution.
The Georgia Straight |
Adrian Mack |
11-04-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Pigeon John Breaks the Rules of Hip-Hop and Winsnew
Pigeon John claims to be an average Joe, the kind of Taco Bell-eating, Xbox-playing guy that only John McCain couldn't relate to at least a little bit. He's got a gift for language, pop hooks and wisecracks that brings together people who might never interact otherwise.
Isthmus |
Jessica Steinhoff |
11-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Mexico's Jaguares Bring Their Roar North of the Bordernew
Americans of a certain age will likely assume that [45], the latest album by Mexico City's Jaguares, is a nod to the age of vinyl singles. But the title digits actually allude to a far grimmer subject: the approximately 45 million Mexicans currently living in poverty.
Westword |
Michael Roberts |
11-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Blind Shake is Scary Goodnew
Through the interplay of their dueling baritone and straight guitars, Jim Blaha and his lookalike brother Mike create such an unnervingly taut and unpredictable tension that the anticipation of release leaves the listener with almost no choice but to close their eyes and rattle off of the next sonic cliff they choose to scale.
Seattle Weekly |
Hannah Levin |
11-03-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: post-punk, The Blind Shake
Gang Gang Dance Decimates Every Jam-Rock Cliche on 'Saint Dymphna'new
In short, it's an album of such bizarre ambition that even Bjork will have to remove her headdress of human hair, have a long look at the mirror, and worry about what to do next.
Washington City Paper |
Aaron Leitko |
10-31-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Gang Gang Dance, Saint Dymphna
The Spinto Band Prepares to Soarnew
Moonwink starts a few miles high and stays elevated, its tone shifting into progressively brighter colors.
The Portland Mercury |
Tobias Carroll |
10-31-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Moonwink, The Spinto Band
Army of One: The Coup's Frontman Goes Solonew
How does one emcee lead the revolution without a DJ, his fellow rappers, and backing band? With an acoustic guitar.
The Portland Mercury |
Ezra Ace Caraeff |
10-31-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Coup, Boots Riley
The Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady Consummate Their Mutual Crushnew
For a certain breed of rock fan -- those who like their rock literate and loud -- this tour is a wondrous fantasy, Hanukkah come early, OMFG. But for all the mutual man love going around, the two bands don't necessarily seem like a logical pairing.
Nashville Scene |
Lee Stabert |
10-31-2008 |
Music
Election '08: Considering Campaign Songsnew
The idea of using pop songs as campaign themes makes sense. With such clear choices this year, it seems fitting that the current presidential contenders might also appropriate music to help define their political personas.
Riverfront Times |
Lee Zimmerman |
10-31-2008 |
Music
This Little Undergroundnew
As happens with any stimulus, the heavy Swedish metal I've been around lately has apparently modulated my tolerance quite a bit. That would explain why my impression of Opeth is locked in a state of nonplus.
Orlando Weekly |
Bao Le-Huu |
10-30-2008 |
Music
