Jason Pierce, front man and driving force of Spiritualized, may look a little like Paul McCartney…but he pulls off a vocally improved Bob Dylan much better. The band’s fifth studio album in thirteen years, Amazing Grace, is an amalgamation of influences from acid jazz to Dixieland to the White Stripes. Read more…
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As if trapped in a foggy lull, A Perfect Circle elegantly and gracefully fuse elements of hard rock with beautiful string melodies against moody, textured backgrounds. This unique band is the brainchild of former Tool guitar tech, Billy Howerdel, who inspired Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan to join the project. Following a few lineup changes, the current all-star cast also includes former Marilyn Manson bassist “Twiggy” Ramirez, former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and drum veteran Josh Freese. Three years after releasing their stunning debut album, Mer de Noms, A Perfect Circle once again grace us with The 13th Step.
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Today we introduce the Mxdwn Triple Threat! This new format gives three writers a chance at an album that has been around for a while and proven that it has some merit. Together with our Creative Director Adam Baker and our Promotional Representative Paul Jarrett, we decided that the ideal first candidate for the Mxdwn Triple Threat would be RJD2’s Deadringer. If this is a format you would like to see us revisit on occasion, let us know! Read more…
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8 Bit Monk is one of those “give it another chance” albums. You know the kind; you put it into your music player, listen to the first couple of tracks, think it’s way too weird, and ban it to the Island of Misfit CDs. Indeed, this was what followed my first encounter with Woven’s newest album. With sounds ranging from ambient to alternative rock, drum n’ bass to down-tempo hip-pop, this L.A. sextet is all over the board inosculating genres left and right. It may be this mishmash of musical ingredients that put me off at first, but truth be told, this album grew on me when I sat down and took the time to give it a second listen. Read more…
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Is any one out there sick and tired of the same old rock bands? Are you ready for someone in the realm of rock and roll to stand up and proclaim: “We are not any of those other mundane cookie-cutter bands, and damn it, we’re going to prove it!”? If you are…this isn’t your lucky day. Read more…
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Big Boi and Andre 3000 have come back from the land of Stankonia and brought 2 discs, dedicated to their own musical influences and obsessions. Speakerboxxx by Big Boi and Andre 3000’s The Love Below are very individualistic endeavors, the former being influenced from old school hip-hop and rap. The latter, on the other hand, is… an amalgamation of sorts. Read more…
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Wire, the band formerly known as Wir which was formerly known as Wire, is back – with a kick – to re-claim the lead among bands redefining punk music as we know it. The four members of this musical revolution returned from a hiatus of solo careers a couple of years ago and have now hit us with Send, a progressive blend of electronica, techno, and punk – spiked with a style and grace only the UK can provide. Arguably the peak of their experimental discography, Send has its own energized heartbeat that burns hot from beginning to end. Read more…
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Musicians in rock rarely release their most ambitious works thirty-five years into their career. Apparently, no one told Neil Young. Greendale Young’s newest album featuring only himself, Ralph Molina and Billy Talbot of his long time backing band Crazy Horse might he is most remarkable work since Freedom, or maybe even as far back as Rust Never Sleeps. It might be hard to believe but this is Neil Young at his finest doing of all things, a concept album. Greendale is the story of a town by the same name and in particular the Green family. The Green family suffers a series of tragedies including murder, incarceration and media scrutiny only to end in the youngest daughter Sun Green moving to Alaska to fight for environmental causes. Read more…
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In a recent MTV interview, the members of Thursday were asked about the near tragic bolt of lightning that struck the band’s touring van earlier this summer and described it as a feeling of “getting punched in the chest.” Ironic, because this is much like the sensation delivered by Thursday’s third effort and Island Records debut, War All The Time. Upon deafening conclusion the listener is both intrigued and confused, reminiscent of the first time you ever listened to a Misfits album and you weren’t sure whether Glenn Danzig had left you enlightened or verbally assaulted. Read more…
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Staying true to the same modus operandi that made them pioneers of mechanized dance music over 30 years ago, Kraftwerk manages to kraft an album so meticulous in form and structure, it is hard to believe the record is from a group just off of a 15-year hiatus. Read more…
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