Posts by Shane Handler

. I'd be glad to see Judas Priest push past their established sound and stretch out into new territory, making a case for their continued existence. However, it isn't their music that they were trying to stretch here, it was their egos.

If there’s an underdog pick for album of the year so far – Plants and Animals’ Parc Avenue deserves consideration.  The Montreal band, originally an acoustic/instrumental roots band, has grown into an expansive rock pop engine of epic anthems and ballads, much like fellow Montrealers Arcade Fire.  We emailed wise guy drummer Matthew Woodley a few questions…just don’t call him “hippie.”

Once Low Vs. Diamond cement their niche and get that song in film or television, they’ll be more than just another one of those bands sounding curiously familiar.

Stay Positive is supposed to represent the creative peak of a band that’s earned more Springsteen comparisons than Mellencamp.  Guitarist Tad Kubler even told Rolling Stone- "There are some bands that do five records that all sound similar.  We've tried to avoid that." Unfortunately, except the talk boxes, harpisichords, mandolins and horns, this is still the same Hold Steady.

For an artist as prolific as Beck- six proper studio album in the past ten years (10th overall) – one would either A.) be sick and tired of his never going away or B) completely in awe of his continual creative re-inventions. From the somber break-up hymns of Sea Change, the high energy romps of Midnight Vultures, the Odelay flashes of Guero or the “quasi hip hop” of The Information, Beck’s albums are becoming their own box of chocolates.

Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust is the first chance for Sigur Rós to expand beyond their own comfort zone and for listeners to do the same and maybe give Sigur Ros a chance, when previously it might of all been a bit too foreign.

n rock and roll debates 101, Robert Plant arguablys hold the greatest rock and roll voice.  Sure Steven Tyler, Bono, Roger Daltrey, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and Mick Jagger are up there too, but its not even worth  arguing. On even Simon Cowell’s list, Robert Plant is top five and his voice can do things that make 55 year old grown men in attendance jump the stage (which happened this evening in Phoenix) and 30 year old woman pass roses to the voice of  rock and roll’s most iconic songs.

Widespread Panic has held onto their fan base, keeping things comfortable and doing what they do best – not being trendy. The fans still hoot at the top of their lungs during “Love Tractor” and Widespread Panic still appears to be having tons of fun. Keep throwing those curveballs.

Viva la Vida is undoubtedly the bravest offering from this quartet to date, but that doesn’t necessarily make it triumphant.

Circular Sounds is the fourth LP from San Francisco’s home recording auteur Kelley Stoltz. Its 14 songs are a stereophonic advance on the lo-fidelity psych-fuzz of Antique Glow (Beautiful Happiness, 2004) and the mid-fi piano-rock of Below the Branches (Sub Pop, 2006): two modest masterpieces which, by a curious coincidence, both made #24 in MOJO magazine’s “Best Albums” list for their respective years.

Tom Waits is indeed one of those artists, whose enigma runs parallel to his creative aura. And Waits’ stage presence – consisting of porkpie hat, vintage suit, board-stomps and colorful megaphones dappled around the stage, did little to distract from his almost literary persona.

Covering their entire catalog from “10:15 Saturday Night” off 1979’s Three Imaginary Boys, to the new single “The Only One” from their forthcoming album, The Cure visited all eras of their 29 year career.

ust when you the thought the dance-rock thing had hit overkill, Foals tries to one-up the angular, jangly guitar movement. The Oxford quintet lists Steve Reich, Public Image Ltd and Afrobeat as key influences, but Gang of Four rings hard on their debut – Antidotes.

Zooey Deschanel (She) is best known for her roles in Elf and Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, while M. Ward (Him) is regarded as a guitar vitruoso amongst the new-wave of indie rockers. Volume One, their debut album as She & Him, is a throwback to old country and pop that reflects in Jenny Lewis’ recent old timey project with The Watson Twins.

Tokyo Police Club has nailed the atmospheric dynamics, ringing guitars and emo sentiments confidently, but they are still way away from making serious dents in critics' ears.  

What is it about festivals these days? How come every-time I visit a music related blog that’s not hyping Vampire Weekend, they are announcing another festival whose lineup card is bragging “my lineup can kick your lineup’s ass.” And more likely than a $5 bottle of Aquafina, that lineup will include Flaming Lips, NIN and Wilco.

Although most music fans are only familiar with Claude Coleman Jr. as the drummer for Ween. Little do they know that he’s created an intriguing body of work with his soul-rock group Amandla. The band’s sophomore release, The Full Catastrophe, is the result of a four year journey for Coleman following a 2002 horrific car accident that left him having to reacquire his abilities and motor skills to play instruments again.

Trouble In Dreams, Destroyer's eighth or ninth album (nobody knows for sure) hits on the same elements of 2006’s Destroyer’s Rubies. From the sharp angular rock of “Dark Leaves Form A Thread” to the dripping bass of “The State” and the howling guitar crescendo of “Introducing Angels,” the recording runs across diverse themes.

Scorsese proves there are moments where the Stones’ have slowed down in their old age and other moments where they can easily kick Coldplay’s ass. As the first rock band to age before our eyes, Shine a Light, big pay days aside, shows why the Stones have lasted longer than any other rock band.

Some artists communicate either through slashing guitar riffs, confessional lyrics, hydraulic drumming, catchy two part harmonies or long winded jamming.  L.A. based Dengue Fever chooses to communicate by taking a psychedelic ride on the Cambodian pop sounds of the 60’s.