Music | AAN.org

Band of Brothersnew

While most modern bluegrass bands step lightly in Birkenstocks and ponytails and strum meandering, milquetoast newgrass, the Hackensaws stomp through their repertoire with a purposefulness that can be described only as blue-collar.

New Times Broward-Palm Beach | Jonathan Zwickel | 01-26-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: The Hackensaw Boys, Give It Back

Americana Idolnew

Dave Alvin maps the byways, wild lands, and roots rock of working-class L.A.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | J. H. Tompkins | 01-26-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: X, John Doe, Dave Alvin, Blaster, Exene Cervenka

Switch-Hittersnew

Scissor Sisters come out and play—for everybody.

Seattle Weekly | Steve Wiecking | 01-26-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Scissor Sisters

Mama Dramanew

After six predominantly acoustic solo albums, Kristin Hersh is playing some of the harshest, loudest music of her career with the trio 50 Foot Wave.

Cleveland Scene | D.X. Ferris | 01-26-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: 50 Foot Wave, Golden Ocean, Appalachian ballads, husband, sons, Throwing Muses

The Chicks Dig Itnew

Buckner's sex appeal makes perfect sense when you listen to his voice, a reedy baritone that keens and moans and subsides in a flourish of bright curlicues. He's seldom content to sing one note where three or four might do.

Illinois Times | Rene Spencer Saller | 01-25-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Richard Buckner, Dents and Shells

A Practical Vision of the Futurenew

Styrofoam marshals hissy beats, sissy singing, glitchy samples, and blissed-out guitar hooks in the service of futurist pop -- a future that assumes that tomorrow's people will want catchy melodies, memorable choruses, and a good beat you can dance to. Also reviewed is Hem's Eveningland.

Illinois Times | Rene Spencer Saller | 01-25-2005 | Reviews

Tags: Nothing's Lost, Styrofoam

David Dondero's Opening Actnew

David Dondero styles himself as an anti-folksinger, a writer who turns genre cliches on their heads. He bah-humbugs the bleeding-heart compulsions that seem to inspire most folk music.

East Bay Express | Justin Berton | 01-25-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: suicide, Minnesota, David Dondero, Duluth, Lisa Dawn Scott, Sunbrain guitarist Russ Hallauer, The Treatment

Trends That Will Rock Your Musical World in 2005new

Even worse white funk/pop than Talking Heads and Gang of Four is around the bend. Along with it will come heightened interest in the bass solo.

Dallas Observer | Paul Friswold | 01-25-2005 | Music

Tags: Various Artists, Various Titles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Can Resurgence, Le Bon

Deep Royal Bloodnew

For 13 years, Will Oldham has been releasing beautiful folk, country and rock with unexpected lyrical turns under various names, including Palace, Palace Music, and Bonnie "Prince" Billy. In a rare interview last week, he spoke about his newest work.

Monterey County Weekly | Stuart Thornton | 01-21-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Will Oldham, Superwolf

Steve Earle and Allison Moorer Do it Their Waynew

The double billing of Steve Earle and Allison Moorer on the concert trail has a yin-yang quality, with Earle's sociopolitical observations on one hand, and Moorer's introspective musings on the other. But their commonalities far outweigh their differences.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | James Kelly | 01-21-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Country Hit-Maker Darrell Scott Has it Both Waysnew

Singer-songwriter Darrell Scott has been on both sides of the Nashville music machine, finding his niche in the mainstream and the underground.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | James Kelly | 01-21-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Critics' Darlings Hit the Roadnew

Arcade Fire has been quietly gaining popularity with quivering, heartfelt pop tunes that are about resilience in the face of alienation, exile and the inevitability of death.

Creative Loafing (Atlanta) | Tony Ware | 01-21-2005 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Arcade Fire