Jeff Strowe, Author at Glide Magazine

Reggie Watts: Live at Third Man Records

Jeff Strowe April 25, 2011 No Comments

Acerbic, arcane, and completely chaotic, Reggie Watts is one of the hottest names in comedy right now. Part funk musician, part beat-boxer, and full-time improvisational humorist, Watts has gained a great deal of exposure largely due to Conan O’Brien, who championed him as the opening act on last summer’s Legally Prohibited From Being on Television tour (Watts hilariously refers to him as Jimmy Fallon during this set). Since then, he has been touring worldwide and making frequent guest spots on Conan’s new late-night TBS talk show.

Old 97’s: Cat

Jeff Strowe April 21, 2011 No Comments

Rhett Miller wears many masks: the borderline creepy voyeur in “The Dance Class”, the ruthless libertine of “Won’t Be Home”, or the devotedly romantic lover in “Question”. The personalities that populate Miller’s landscape are complex and constantly shifting in their views, thoughts, and actions. In short, they are human: capable of being loved or loathed depending on the scene and situation

Caitlin Rose: Own Side Now

Jeff Strowe March 28, 2011 No Comments

Building upon the diverse styling of last year’s Dead Flowers EP, Caitlin Rose and her band continue their jumps and dives all over the musical map, sounding timeless yet fresh and new at the same tim

Middle Brother: Middle Brother

Jeff Strowe March 24, 2011 No Comments

Although not exactly household names, these three are no strangers to acclaim, as all three of their respective outfits’ work ranks equal to or above those of the more recognizable Monsters. And such is the case here, on Middle Brother’s gorgeously lonely self-titled debut collaboration.

Ben Ottewell: Shapes & Shadows

Jeff Strowe March 7, 2011 No Comments

For a band that features three uniquely talented songwriters, it’s no surprise that the members would find themselves stepping out for a diversion or two in the form of a solo record. And so it is that we find Ben Ottewell following the lead of bandmate Ian Ball’s 2007 sojourn with the release of Shapes and Shadows, a charming and impressionistic assemblage of tunes t dothan’t reinvent the Gomez sound, but serve as a nice addendum to their sturdy catalog.

Smith Westerns: Dye It Blonde

Jeff Strowe February 25, 2011 No Comments

Smith Westerns is a band with potential and they deserve the opportunity to develop and grow into their sound and style. However, with the raves coming in hot and heavy for Dye It Blonde, the peak may have crested and the accolades may never be as strong as they currently are. Here’s hoping the opposite comes true, and the youngsters are given the chance to do even bigger and better things.

Radiohead: ‘The King of Limbs’

Jeff Strowe February 21, 2011 No Comments

Once again they have bucked the system. Released worldwide this past Saturday through their website, Radiohead’s eighth studio album arrived for consumer download roughly one week after a succinct press

The Baseball Project: Volume 2: High and Inside

Jeff Strowe February 14, 2011 No Comments

Baseball and rock music make for great debate, so why not combine the two? Such has been the ethos of The Baseball Project; a whimsical collaboration between Steve Wynn, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Linda Pitmon.

The Decemberists: The King Is Dead

Jeff Strowe February 7, 2011 No Comments

Where previous releases found the band plodding along with ten to twelve minute meditations about murderous butchers, mysterious fowl, and shape-shifting lovers, The King Is Dead hearkens back to the earlier days of the band where Colin Meloy and company littered albums like Castaways and Cutouts with compact, yet charitably worded, pastoral folk rock. Boosted with appearances by alt-country superstars Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and graced with guitar stylings courtesy of the legendary Peter Buck, this album gallops along like a pleasant country breeze, projecting an aura of calmness and satisfaction and providing a concise rejoinder to the stylized grandeur of releases like The Tain EP and The Hazards of Love.

Alejandro Escovedo: Cat

Jeff Strowe January 31, 2011 No Comments

As long-time fans know, Escovedo, however, is not a one-trick pony. Like kindred spirit, Neil Young, he can tone down the bombastic tempest and enrapture the audience with his brilliant songwriting and storytelling. Back catalog classics like “Five Hearts Breaking” and “Rosalie” slowed the pace and brought a reverent hush over the crowd. And as the name would suggest, “The Sensitive Boys” can follow suit, adding subtle accompaniment and elegant grace that match the introspection of Escovedo’s words and images. The arrangements at this show stood on their own and came to life just as they do when Escovedo tours with his “Orchestra” and plays a more intimate setlist.

Jeff Strowe

View posts by year

Recent Posts

New to Glide

Keep up-to-date with Glide

Twitter