AltWeeklies Wire
Erk tha Jerk Makes Bay Area Hip-Hop a Whole Lot Smarternew
Erk tha Jerk is a slender guy with horn-rimmed glasses and a gallows humor. He isn't afraid to clown someone using insults that could potentially go over that person's head. And his most famous song, "I'm So Dumb (the Hyphy Diss Song)," might have been the most petulant thing to air on KMEL this year.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
07-24-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Coheed and Cambria Shake Off the Bumpsnew
Coheed and Cambria knew they had unfinished business ahead after releasing Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV in 2005. It just wasn’t the kind they were expecting.
San Diego CityBeat |
Alan Sculley |
07-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Jacksons' 'Destiny' Reissues Foreshadows the Rise and Fall of Michaelnew
After an awkward stretch which saw them leave Motown, split with brother Jermaine, and languish in bad-song hell, Destiny found them taking over the production reins, writing their own material, and re-establishing themselves as the first family of bubblegum soul.
San Antonio Current |
Gilbert Garcia |
07-23-2008 |
Reviews
Blind Musical Prodigy Juanito Castillo is 19, and He Knows What He Wantsnew
It seems like only yesterday Juanito was a little boy with an accordion in his hands, playing for crowds at Market Square and local church festivals. Hailed as brilliant at an early age, Juanito quickly moved up the ranks to the conjunto elite and captured the attention of many Tejano musicians on the scene.
San Antonio Current |
Kiko Martinez |
07-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
A Handful of PDX Pop Now!'s Founders Reminisce, Persevere and Conquer Genrenew
The annual PDX Pop Now! festival, which celebrates its fifth birthday this Friday through Sunday at Rotture, shows no signs of aging--even if it has caused a few gray hairs among the heads of four of its founders.
Willamette Week |
Casey Jarman |
07-23-2008 |
Concerts
Beck Offers Gloom You Can Move to on 'Modern Guilt'new
By enlisting DJ Danger Mouse, Beck seemed poised for a return to the madcap sound collages of his early landmark albums. But on Modern Guilt, Beck's 10th album, Danger Mouse streamlines the meditations on personal stasis and existential dread that have been the core of Beck's output since the acoustic gloom of Sea Change.
C-Ville Weekly |
Kaveh Ardalan |
07-23-2008 |
Reviews
The Radiators Show Their Rough Side on 'Wild & Free'new
This two-disc set of unreleased rarities, outtakes, flotsam and jetsam of 30 years of playing comes across as something of a basement tapes recording with rougher, more laidback versions of fan favorites.
Tags: The Radiators, Wild & Free
C-Murder Creates Gangsta Nostalgia on 'Screamin' 4 Vengeance'new
Corey Miller, aka C-Murder, releases a new project while awaiting a retrial on murder charges. The record is filled with stomping, lead-heavy beats and menacing gangsta growl and features a guest spot from No Limit star Mia X. It's not a thriller, but does strike chords of nostalgia.
Tags: C-Murder, Screamin' 4 Vengeance
John Cleary Channels New Orleans Legends on ' Mo Hippa'new
Jon Cleary's new album captures some of the unfettered groove of New Orleans legends like James Booker and Professor Longhair on a record of authentic Crescent City stomp and boogie-woogie.
Who is Zoltan Szekely?new
The self-proclaimed mad Hungarian and leader of Zoltan Orkestar opens up. A little.
Weekly Alibi |
Marisa Demarco |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
New Orleans Legend Allen Toussaint Crowns the First Week of the 2008 New Mexico Jazz Festivalnew
It's hard to turn a musical corner just about anywhere in American pop, rock 'n' roll, R&B or funk from the late '50s onward without encountering the influence of Toussaint--composer, producer, arranger, pianist, singer, sideman and 1998 Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
Weekly Alibi |
Mel Minter |
07-22-2008 |
Music
Lyle Lovett's Not-quite-as-Large Band Hits the Roadnew
This summer, Lovett will turn his attention from writing to touring. This time out, the Large Band won't be quite as big (er, large) as it has been on some tours.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Alan Sculley |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Black Pegasus Mixes Politics with Punchlinesnew
The Black Mexican may sound like a gimmicky concept itself, but it's no novelty record. As a battle rap veteran, Robert Houston offers up plenty of punchlines, but serious subtexts also find their way into the mix.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Bill Forman |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Steve Winwood Keeps the Faithnew
Former Traffic frontman looks back on Blind Faith and reunites with Eric Clapton.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Alan Sculley |
07-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Phoenix Metal Band Fracture Point Sounds Like a Mastodon Stampedenew
But instead of directionless destruction, this beast intelligently winds its way through a well-constructed maze of down-tuned guitars, burly bass lines, screaming solos, and tricky timing changes.
Phoenix New Times |
Niki D'Andrea |
07-22-2008 |
Reviews
