Who the Heck is Alison Goldfrapp?
With undulating drum ticks and thrusting rhythms zipping along side analog synth ornamentation, Goldfrapp’s latest, Black Cherry is in serious danger of going completely unnoticed. The genre of avante-pop, as it stands, is sorely obscured by current trends in pop-emo and pop-punk. Is there room on the radio for electronic lullabies like “Forever” or damn-near disco tracks like “Train”? Read more…
By Brian Small Posted in Reviews
Obie Trice Gives Us Nothing To Cheer About
Detroit has recently become a cornucopia of hip-hop, from Eminem to the sick, twisted rhymes of D12. The new kid on the block, Obie Trice, hails from the same hood with his first release, Cheers, but unfortunately, doesn’t manage to kick it like his fellow Detroit hip-hop stars. Read more…
By Fred Pilarczyk Posted in Reviews
A Purchase of Minor Significance
Minor Threat’s First Demo Tape is as titled: their first recording, made at a small house in Arlington, Virginia in 1981. For most people this album should pose little interest unless you are especially curious of the roots of the band, or if you think it might make a good collector’s item. For the determined MT fan however, the album is well-mixed and the demo songs are actually quite good – played a little slower then their popular versions with the vocals more pronounced. Read more…
By Mike Verzella Posted in Reviews
Nu-Metal Pros Give It Another Go
When a rock band experiences as much success as post alt-rockers Staind have, the next logical step for any legitimate industry player is to champion newer up and coming artists, who then proceed to ride the wake of their mentor’s success. Aaron Lewis, taking a lesson from his own predecessor/mentor Fred Durst, follows suit with the creation of 413 Records. The label’s first release is Lo-Pro, a nu-metal all-star band comprised of former members of Ultraspank, Snot and Godsmack. Read more…
By Taylor Whipple Posted in Reviews
Some Devils Play Solo
Some Devil is Dave Matthew’s first solo studio album. It is typical DM; with a slow blend of home-style acoustic, southern soul, and smooth jazz. The Dave Matthews Band itself does not appear on Some Devil, but rather Matthews is backed up occasionally by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, et al. The change is pronounced as the music loses one sort of fullness and gains another. Read more…
By Thea Cooke Posted in Reviews
Almost Awesome
I am almost a fan of My Morning Jacket…almost. With lazy, summery, lemonade-and-hammocks drum beats; twangy, Mazzy Star and Cranberries-ish guitar parts; Beach Boys-esque harmonies; and lead vocals somewhat reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian and Catherine Wheel…this band is almost completely awesome. Read more…
By Elizabeth Halvorsen Posted in Reviews
Elvis Costello Records Album from Coma
Elvis Costello’s latest, North, with its cinematic swells and lush lounge arrangements, will be a real hit at the bingo pre-party at the old folks home. North is sopping wet with sleepy jazz rhythms, piano-heavy ballads, and never climaxes with anything beyond moderate toe tapper “Impatience.” Good music to fall asleep to in your Lay-Z-Boy while the game blares on mute, but nothing for fans of classics like “Accidents Will Happen” or “Every Day I Write the Book.” Read more…
By Brian Small Posted in Reviews
