Reviews

The Flaming Lips | The Terror (Warner Bros.)

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Written by Jennifer Metzler Thursday, 16 May 2013 20:22

flaming-lips-the-terrorThe music of The Terror is striking, a perfect balance of chilling and soothingly hypnotic at the same time.

 

Cold War Kids | Dear Miss Lonelyhearts (Downtown)

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Written by Kiernan Scrima Wednesday, 15 May 2013 17:57

Miss LonelyheartsIt starts off fairly well, with the bluesy, roots rock I enjoyed so much in the past, but brought up to date.

   

Frank Turner | Tape Deck Heart (Xtra Mile/Interscope)

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Written by Mike Koehler Saturday, 04 May 2013 19:04

tape-deck-heart-frank-turnerTurner has consistently provided very heartfelt, genuine lyrics, and continues that same path here.

 

Johnny Marr | The Messenger (Sire/ADA)

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Written by Jeff Church Tuesday, 30 April 2013 20:39

themessenger 75Marr’s intricate finger work and arpeggios are well known, and it is his style that makes this a gratifying listen.

   

Fantasia | Side Effects of You (19 Recordings/RCA)

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Written by Ashley White Wednesday, 24 April 2013 20:30

fantasia 75This is definitely an album about love, but not about being in love.

 

Emeli Sandé | iTunes Session (Capitol)

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Written by Ashley White Sunday, 21 April 2013 19:45

emilisande 75One thing I love about musicians is their ability to turn their art into a beautiful story of how dreams come true and hearts break on the road to winning.

   

Deerhoof | We Do Parties (Polyvinyl Records)

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Written by Brian Cheli Saturday, 06 April 2013 08:21

WeDoPartiesDeerhoofIn their most recent EP, Deerhoof delivers a collection of tracks that blends synthetic sounds with a wide array of possible interpretations.

 

 

 

Iggy and The Stooges | Ready To Die (Fat Possum)

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Written by Jason Neubauer Saturday, 06 April 2013 00:00

readytodieIggy Pop and the Stooges delivers an album that combines Raw Power’s protopunk mastery with the addition of a sophistication befitting songs crafted by much more world-weary men.

 

 

   

London Suede | Bloodsports (Suede LTD/Fontana)

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Written by Mike Rengel Sunday, 24 March 2013 15:09

suede blood_sqBrett Anderson isn’t shy about his trademark romantic, druggy, sexual, often utterly ridiculous yet charming turns of phrases, both old and new.

 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club | Specter at the Feast (Abstract Dragon/Vagrant)

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Written by Mike Koehler Sunday, 24 March 2013 13:05

cd brmcTheir songs are no less powerful or intense, just no longer at a rocket’s pace.

   

Billy Bragg | Tooth & Nail (Cooking Vinyl)

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Written by Mike Koehler Thursday, 21 March 2013 08:51

cd billy-braggAge is giving Bragg's voice a more wizened, powerful tone that is heartfelt and works so wonderfully with this style of music.

 

Avant | Face the Music (Capitol/EMI/Mo-B Entertainment)

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Written by Ashley White Sunday, 17 March 2013 11:18

avant face_75His vocals are like velvet interlaced through the beat.

   

Shuggie Otis | Inspiration Information/Wings of Love (Epic/Legacy)

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Written by Jim Ousley Friday, 01 March 2013 15:53

cd shuggie-otisFrom the first bar of the opening title track, you’re in the park early in the summer, daydreaming with your lover and looking for shapes in the clouds.

 

Iceage | You're Nothing (Matador)

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Written by David Von Nordheim Sunday, 17 February 2013 20:56

iceage yourenothingEach track careens into the next with breakneck abandon, giving listeners precious little time to steel themselves for the next sonic thrashing.

   

Various Artists | 2013 Grammy Nominees (Capitol Records/The Recording Academy)

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Written by Ashley White Monday, 11 February 2013 20:32

grammy2013 sqListening to each of the 22 songs, I understand what makes music so indicative of how we are all connected and just why each of these artists should be recognized for their achievements.

 

Helloween | Straight Out of Hell (The End)

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Written by Jim Ousley Tuesday, 05 February 2013 21:54

helloween straight_sqHelloween makes no secret of its love for keyboards to add mood and subtext, and they’re put to effective use.

   

Midian | Midian EP (AOL Music)

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Written by Ashley White Tuesday, 05 February 2013 21:49

Midian.170x170-75It’s easy to see that Midian appreciates the craft of being an artist and knows the sound she wants for herself.

 

Kevin Renick | Under the Wishing Tree (s/r)

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Written by janet m Sunday, 03 February 2013 22:38

wishingtreeThere’s an air of serenity that surrounds the entire album.

   

Adam Ant | Adam Ant the Blueblack Hussar Is Marrying the Gunner’s Daughter (Blueblack Hussar)

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Written by Laura Hamlett Thursday, 31 January 2013 18:20

cd adam-ant_75I’m incredibly happy—for you and me both—that you’re making music again, and that Blueblack Hussar is as good as it is.

 

Oliver | Mechanical EP (Fool’s Gold)

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Written by Brian Cheli Saturday, 26 January 2013 12:42

oliver 75When the light turns green, you don’t blast down the road, because you’re just chill as shit right now.

   

The Indians | Somewhere Else (4AD)

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Written by David Von Nordheim Sunday, 20 January 2013 15:25

cd indiansSomewhere Else is simply a serviceable patch of electronic wallpaper, lacking anything original or interesting in its production, compositions, or subject matter.

 

Patti LuPone | Far Away Places: Live at 54 BELOW (Broadway)

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Written by Sarah Boslaugh Thursday, 17 January 2013 21:55

lupone 54belowIf you’re a Patti LuPone fan, or if you just appreciate great singing, you need this album.

   

Free Energy | Love Sign (Free People)

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Written by Mike Koehler Thursday, 17 January 2013 21:13

Free-Energy-Love-Sign-125x125This is an album about fun, summer, good times with your friends, and girls.

 

Willy Mason | Don’t Stop Now (Communion)

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Written by Mandy Jordan Tuesday, 15 January 2013 22:11

willymason cant_75Like any respectable music nerd, I bought his debut full-length album at the merch table after the show and played it on repeat for the better part of three weeks.

   

V/A | West of Memphis: Voices for Justice (Legacy)

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Written by Sarah Boslaugh Sunday, 13 January 2013 21:16

WOM 500The highest praise I can offer for this album is this: It does justice to its cause.

 

Jenny O. | Automechanic (Holy Trinity)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Thursday, 10 January 2013 14:28

cd jenny oListening to the record makes me think of the ’70s, of the singers who had decent voices but managed to get more attention because of how they used them.

   

Bettie Serveert | Oh, Mayhem! (Palomine)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Thursday, 10 January 2013 14:25

cd betty serveertThe Dutch group manages to keep an American appeal over time and deserves more than a quick glance or overlook

 

Yo La Tengo | Fade (Matador)

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Written by David Von Nordheim Thursday, 10 January 2013 14:22

cd yo-la-tengoWith Fade, Yo La Tengo’s vision only grows brighter

   

Revisiting Christmas | Three CD Reviews

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Written by Sarah Boslaugh Monday, 17 December 2012 14:44

Christmas With_The_Rat_Pack-1-200-200-100-cropIf you’re a fan of the Rat Pack vocalists and the period and don’t already have a Christmas album by them, this one is a fine choice.

 

Art Garfunkel | The Singer (Sony Legacy)

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Written by Jim Ousley Friday, 07 December 2012 14:42

garfunkel thesingerThe crown jewel in this collection is the disc-two track "I Wonder Why," a duet with the late, great Kenny Rankin.

   

Mission of Burma | Unsound (Fire Records)

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Written by Jason Green Friday, 30 November 2012 09:36

Does all of this experimentation sound off-putting? You’d think so, wouldn’t you? And yet, oddly, it isn’t.

 

 

Doug Stanhope| Before Turning the Gun on Himself (Roadrunner)

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Written by Jason Neubauer Monday, 26 November 2012 09:28

stanhope sqPerhaps his self-proclaimed apathy these days is what allows his humor to be so honest.

   

Kelly Clarkson | Greatest Hits, Chapter One (RCA)

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Written by Jim Campbell Monday, 26 November 2012 08:46

kelly sqThey say you never forget your first. Kelly Clarkson was the first person to win American Idol way back in 2002, and is still as fresh and relevant as she was then.

 

Yowie | Damning with Faint Praise (Skin Graft)

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Written by Brian Cheli Tuesday, 20 November 2012 21:34

yowie damningThis St. Louis trio come together and work as one sporadic, yet deceivingly well-oiled machine.

   

Autumn Owls | Between Buildings, Toward the Sea (PledgeMusic)

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Written by Laura Hamlett Thursday, 15 November 2012 20:49

cd autumn-owlsGary McFarlane's voice is yearning, understated, and wholly captivating, the music continually making sharp jabs and jags.

 

The Babies | Our House on the Hill (Woodsist)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Sunday, 11 November 2012 21:09

cd babiesThe album might not be anything particularly new or overly creative, but it is a really solid example of what indie rock is and should be.

   

Frightened Rabbit | State Hospital EP (Canvasback/Atlantic)

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Written by Laura Hamlett Wednesday, 07 November 2012 13:28

cd frightened rabbit-epDespite its brevity, the EP delivers a walloping reminder of why this band deserves to be at the top of playlists everywhere.

 

Morning Parade | s/t (Astralwerks/EMI)

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Written by Laura Hamlett Friday, 02 November 2012 19:57

morningparade 75It’s everything you want it to be: beautiful, upbeat, reflective, and rollicking—but in an indie rock sort of way.

   

Placebo | B3 (UMe)

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Written by Laura Hamlett Friday, 02 November 2012 19:50

placebo-b3ep-300x300It is here where Stefan Olsdal really shines, reminding us why he deserves a place among guitar’s elite.

 

Dum Dum Girls | End of Daze EP (Sub Pop)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Wednesday, 31 October 2012 10:44

cd dum-dum-girlsThe EP is full of heavy bass lines and meaningless, overwhelming vocals that never seem to fit.

   

Ben Folds Five | The Sound of the Life of the Mind (ImaVeePee/Sony)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Wednesday, 31 October 2012 10:38

cd ben-folds-fiveThis record was made for fans, not for anyone else.

 

Slim Twig | A Hound at the Hem (Calico Corp/Pleasance)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Wednesday, 31 October 2012 10:35

cd slim-twigOn the first listen, I knew this was the album I have been waiting for all year.

   

Flying Lotus | Until the Quiet Comes (Warp)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Wednesday, 31 October 2012 10:30

cd flying-lotusSteve Ellison has been making music for years, so there is no surprise that he has perfected the art.

 

The Sword | Apocryphon (Razor and Tie)

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Written by Brian Cheli Saturday, 27 October 2012 22:43

The-Sword-ApocryphonI get the feeling that they were angry when they wrote and pretty much busted it out in one recording.

   

V/A | Best of Bond…James Bond (Capitol/EMI)

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Written by Sarah Boslaugh Thursday, 18 October 2012 15:49

bond sqIn honor of the 50th anniversary of the Bond film franchise, EMI is releasing a 50-track collection that includes the theme songs from all 22 Bond themes, plus the Bond theme and incidental music songs heard in many of the films.

 

PINK | The Truth About Love (RCA)

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Written by Ashley White Friday, 12 October 2012 20:10


pink truthaboutPink really chronicles her marriage with every tune: the cloud nine feeling, the heartbreak, and the forgiveness.

   

Muse |The 2nd Law (Warner Bros.)

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Written by Brian Cheli Friday, 12 October 2012 15:39

muse 2ndlawAs we all know, Bellamy’s goal in life is to become Freddie Mercury.

 

Icona Pop | Iconic EP (Big Beat)

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Written by Kristyn Potter Wednesday, 03 October 2012 19:06

cd icona-popThe lyrics are something Santigold could’ve written herself, with a playground-pop feel.

   

A.C. Newman | Shut Down the Streets (Matador)

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Written by Justin Thompson Wednesday, 03 October 2012 08:41

ole-992 a.c._newman_shut_down_the_streets-51703_200x200The greatness of music comes from the quality of songwriting and how it affects you.

 

Black Moth Super Rainbow | Cobra Juicy (s/r)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Friday, 28 September 2012 07:59

CD black-mothIt seems like the perfect song for the drive home after a long night out—or, better yet, the walk home.

   

Sinkane | Mars (DFA)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Friday, 28 September 2012 07:57

cd sinkaneIt has the right amount of everything, and not too much of anything.

 

Jens Lekman | I Know What Love Isn’t (Secretly Canadian)

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Written by Mike Rengel Sunday, 23 September 2012 20:30

cd jens-lekmanThe album conveys an air of grace and honesty that can catch you completely off guard.

 

   

Richard Hawley | Standing at the Sky’s Edge (Parlaphone)

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Written by Mike Koehler Thursday, 20 September 2012 20:47

hawley standingHis songs are really good to sit and relax to while enjoying generous amounts of bourbon.

 

Generationals | Lucky Numbers EP (s/r)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Monday, 17 September 2012 22:00

generationals luckyGenerationals manipulate traditionally mundane pop sounds with that of apathetic vocals and gritty guitars.

   

Ben Gibbard | Former Lives (Barsuk)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Monday, 17 September 2012 21:19

gibbard foreverI really wanted to love this record, but I don’t. I don’t think a lot of people will love it, either.

 

Mount Eerie | Ocean Roar (P.W. Elvrum & Sun, L.T.D.)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Tuesday, 11 September 2012 07:25

Mount-Eerie-Ocean-RoarYou are led, from place to place, with no real sense of consciousness, while vocals suggest dreaming and field recordings; it is really almost like a dream.

   

Wild Nothing | Nocturne (Captured Tracks)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Tuesday, 11 September 2012 07:19

wn nocturneLet me start by saying Nocturne is not a terrible record, but it is not a great record.

 

Robyn | Body Talk (Interscope)

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Written by Ashley White Wednesday, 05 September 2012 20:37

body-talk-pt1-animatedShe takes you to the drawing canvas, paints out every single detail about the relationship; if you haven’t experienced it, you feel like you have, but in an energetic, feel-good way.

   

Paul Simon | Graceland: 25th Anniversary Edition (Sony Legacy)

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Written by Sarah Boslaugh Friday, 31 August 2012 14:30

graceland2012I love the African sounds, but Simon’s voice and lyrics seem tacked on, with him taking a free ride on the talent of more talented musicians.

 

Minus the Bear | Infinity Overhead (Dangerbird)

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Written by Jenn Metzler Friday, 31 August 2012 12:16

cd minus-infinityThe quintet has an impeccable way of mixing dark and light sounds and subject matter.

   

Amanda Mair | s/t (Labrador)

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Written by Mike Rengel Monday, 13 August 2012 17:45

cd amandaMair’s self-titled debut LP is occasionally giggle-inducingly naive, but that’s part of its charm.

 

Slim Twig | Sof’ Sike (Paper Bag)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Monday, 13 August 2012 17:42

cd slim-twigThe album deserves appreciation and reflection rather than merely being taken at face value.

   

The Smashing Pumpkins | Pisces Iscariot (EMI)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Monday, 13 August 2012 17:29

cd pumpkinsThe reissue makes me wish we still had music like this on Top 40 radio.

 

Antony and the Johnsons | Cut the World (Secretly Canadian)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Monday, 13 August 2012 17:26

cd antonyAntony Hegarty is an artist, in the entire sense of the word.

 

   

They Might Be Giants | No! (Rounder/Idlewild)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Monday, 13 August 2012 17:24

cd tmbgWhen I do have kids one day, I don’t want them listening to some modern Barney singing about wanting ice cream and how we can all be friends if we just get along.

 

 

The Hives | Lex Hives (Disques Hives)

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Written by Alex Hodschayan Monday, 13 August 2012 17:21

cd hivesThe problem isn’t that this isn’t a good album; it is, but it lacks something.

   

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