AltWeeklies Wire
Beachwood Sparks Reunite and Reignite Indie Rocknew
Call it bad timing. Beachwood Sparks signed to Sub Pop long after groups like Nirvana and Mudhoney had established the Seattle record label as an industry standard-bearer, but they were still a couple years ahead of the next wave of Sub Pop stars, like The Shins and The Postal Service.
San Diego CityBeat |
Dryw Keltz |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Sub Pop, Beachwood Sparks
Aesop Rock Reaches His Peaknew
Much like his Def Jux boss and labelmate El-P, Rock has defied commercial logic by developing a successful career dropping notoriously esoteric (and at times, indecipherable) rhymes over highly textured rhythms and angular bass lines.
Chicago Newcity |
Brad Knutson |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Now a Free Agent, Bilal Has More Love for Salenew
He shot Interscope to the left when the label shelved his 2006 sophomore album, Love for Sale. And now that he's independent, and resolutely so, he's composing most of his new material on Garage Band. Bilal likes it that way.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Laura Cantrell is Not the Least Bit Rock and Rollnew
Cantrell's path to a career in country was hardly straight, though her stint as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville was probably useful.
New Haven Advocate |
Jim Motavalli |
08-19-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Kansas Rebels Split Lip Rayfield Return to the Roadnew
In February 2007, they said farewell to longtime bandmate Kirk Rundstrom, who, after a yearlong battle, died of esophageal cancer. For the remaining members of Split Lip Rayfield, what followed was an uncharacteristic silence.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Bill Forman |
08-19-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Great Lake Swimmers Keep Music Light and Suds Strongnew
If Canadian band Great Lake Swimmers ever calls it a day, singer-songwriter-band-visionary Tony Dekker can always get a job promoting Fort Collins' New Belgium Brewing Company.
Colorado Springs Independent |
John Benson |
08-19-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Great Lake Swimmers, Ongiara
The Sublime Vacuum Rock of the Vivian Girls and the Crystal Stiltsnew
Crystal Stilts and Vivian Girls are two of the most exciting and, yes, wholly original bands around today. Both take feel-good pop sounds from the '60s and '80s and fuck with them, turning them on their head.
Baltimore City Paper |
Mike McGonigal |
08-19-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Scars on Broadway Showcases Black Humornew
In a wry comment on his reputation as a doctrinaire zealot, System of a Downer Daron Malakian kicks off the side project he shares with SOAD drummer John Dolyman by delivering "Serious," whose hook declares, "You're too serious for me."
Tags: Scars on Broadway
The Toadies Revert to the Bare Bones of Their Pastnew
It was a Big Deal time slot: Lollapalooza co-headliners Wilco and Rage Against the Machine were scheduled to go on at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, only about an hour after The Toadies were scheduled to perform their own gig at the three-day Chicago festival.
Dallas Observer |
Pete Freedman |
08-19-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
How Classical Composer Nico Muhly Became an Indie-Rock Darlingnew
And learned to hate Sasha Frere-Jones.
Seattle Weekly |
Brian J. Barr |
08-19-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Philadelphia Folk Fest Tests Its Traditionally Traditional Audiencenew
Two sides are struggling: One wants traditional folk. The other wants to dilute the tradition percentage with something maybe sorta, kinda ... hip?
Philadelphia City Paper |
Mary Armstrong |
08-19-2008 |
Concerts
Laura Barrett, Kalimba Queen and Holy Conduitnew
Barrett captures her audience with a charming set of sounds, from the warmth of her voice to the kalimba's music-box magic, and the delicate weaving of melodies, rhythms and clever words.
Montreal Mirror |
Lorraine Carpenter |
08-18-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Orco Muto Brings Classic Horror Soundtracks Back From the Deadnew
The people at Rue Morgue magazine's Festival of Fear commissioned a performance of Goblin classics, spurring Maurizio Guarini to assemble a new band with Chris Gartner and Great Bob Scott, formerly of Toronto's Look People.
Montreal Mirror |
Lorraine Carpenter |
08-18-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Johnny Winter Promises an Evening of 'Just Blues'new
Few white guitarists have made the same mark that Winter has in the largely African-American genre.
Shepherd Express |
Michael Muckian |
08-18-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: blues, Johnny Winter
Pack A.D. Prooves You Don't Need Balls to Play the Devil's Musicnew
Critics and fans can't get enough of the band's intuitive musicianship—the Pack's drums-guitar interplay has been compared with that of the Black Keys and the White Stripes. But there are still some silly ol' sexists out there who feel that selling your soul at the crossroads is a man's job.
The Georgia Straight |
Sarah Rowland |
08-18-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
