Album Reviews

Sauerwine outfunks even the strongest 70s bands you

The flippant music of Madness casts a dark shadow over the compositions of Kaiser Chiefs and Gwen Stefani, but unlike their contemporaries Gang of Four, they don

In the case of Tribeca, their debut album is extremely problematic because it accomplishes a rare feat

As a whole, this collection proudly recognizes each artist

Those expecting to hear the David Gray we knew from his breakthrough album White Ladder will be disappointed. But that doesn’t mean that his new album Life In Slow Motion is a let-down, it

Rarely does a record come along so layered with rich lyrics and melodies, and despite motifs of death and life fading away, the songs never succumb to melancholy. Strange Geometry isn

Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado is one of the most exclusive outside venues. The beautiful surroundings of the amphitheatre seem to uplift and inspire the the bands that play there. The Dave Matthews Band captured their September 9-12, 2005 Red Rocks stint via a double disc album and concert DVD compilation called, Weekend on the Rocks.

The many levels contained within Toubab Krewe’s self-titled album, surround and reward the ear upon multiple listens. The polyrhythmic spider webs entangle; meshing scurrying string romps with the pulsing of low end, the result is sense of community formed with the musical world as a whole, and a great rookie release from the Krewe.

Stepping forward from their all instrumental debut Maximalist, Burlington, Vermont

For those of you out there that got subjected to listening to oldies radio on those long car rides with your parents, all the songs here will take to back to those days fighting with your brother and sister in the back seat, and they will be as familiar as the artists covering them.

Exasperating for the unassuming, Year of Meteors is twelve tracks of hypothesis and theories for those who are willing to reach the gratifying conclusion, you can judge a record by its cover: beautiful, lingering, and peculiar.

JFJO enters an area that they previously let lay untouched. They stray away from their wild unruly live performances and move to a cohesion and maturity as a band. They bring highs to jazz that are virtually unheard of today while continuing to weave together solid song basses. The Sameness of Difference is filled with obvious stand outs.

At just over 30 minutes, I Am a Bird Now is deceptively short; a beautifully concise effort that demands to be listened to in one sitting, and rewards the experience with a glittering sonic halo.

Not evolving into the mediocrity of Counting Crows, The Long Winters fall into the category of indie in the vein of more than one hit wonder bands Harvey Danger and Nada Surf, who are passionate and attentive about personal experiences yet have commercial appeal. Ultimatum becomes a genial sample for a band that isn

Jamie McLean, known for his full-time gig with New Orleans’ funk bastions The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, is no one-trick pony, evident on his first solo release, This Time Around.

With his whispery vocals that a pin drop would overpower and a Dylan-inspired metaphor for every situation, Bartlett, who is the primary songwriter, spins ten tales of solitude and hopelessness in the big city that Nick Drake or Iron and Wine

This is a reminder that the spirit of music is alive and well somewhere out beyond LA, with its gourmet coffee corporate monolith.

Buzzing with a Protestant work ethic that would put Donald Trump to shame, Sevendust took their advance money from Universal and have been spending it as if it had come from a political organization, busying themselves at a campaign trail of odd but strategic guest appearances at motorcycle races, special radio meet-and-greets and anything else short of toastmastering a Weight Watchers meeting.

Descended like Vultures is not only beautiful, but heavy and textured pop that crawls under your skin with emotive lingering.

One Fell Swoop, the sophomore CD by Spill Canvas, is hard to dislike. From the very first note, this hard rocking band is in overdrive. They slow it down for