Album Reviews

Like Iggy Pop before him, Frank Black went from being the leader of a highly influential rock band, to landing a successful solo career. As a result, the Pixies front-man has been in a position to call his own shots in more ways than one. This liberty came to light before last year

This collection of songs of bitterness and self-destruction are sure to be popular with those who can relate to reveling in your own low self-esteem.

The latest John Hiatt offering was produced by Jim Dickinson and features his two sons, Cody and Luther (from the North Mississippi Allstars) on guitar and drums. With impassionate lyrics, the singer/songwriter paints confessional narratives with a sundry assortment of styles.

Guitar upstart DJ Williams looks like he ought to be serving you fries, not the kind of heavy jazz-tinged funk and soul on his debut, Projekt Management. The surprisingly mature young bandleader relies heavily on his Projekt of Richmond funk all-stars for the record

As a child, Mike Gordon and his family took a trip to the Bahamas. It was there, sitting by the pool, that he first heard the smooth, calypso rhythms of the Mustangs. Years later he would bring “Ya Mar” to the Phish table, but those island sounds would stay with him for much longer.

Honky-tonk bars and love-sick cowboys aren’t exactly common on Long Island. And they certainly don’t make it into the New York punk scene. But somehow Earl Pickens managed to transition his Anti-Folk, East Village holler to more subdued, Lone Star drawl and do just that.

With all their talent, Bering Strait is bound to attract the kind of following of an influence like Nickel Creek.

You can judge this book by its cover. This is cute and fierce grrrl power-pop that had a little punk rock as part of their complete breakfast

The Cowboy Junkies rarely record other songwriter’s material. However, when they do they are usually diamonds in the rough that only the hardcore fans of a particular artist have heard.

Dwight Yoakam was too Country for Country when he debuted in 1986 and 2005 is no exception. In the era of candy coated Country, Dwight again finds himself the outsider. However, if the past is any indication of Yoakam

Despite the gloomy messages, the album

Indie fans will naturally flock to Youth Group for their sensible chord progressions and thoughtful lyrics, but this is a band with the potential to attract fans of all types.

Ted Stevens is a tortured soul. For one thing, the Mayday frontman can

At the age of 66, bluegrass legend Del McCoury has certainly been there and done that. As a true ambassador for bridging bluegrass to a younger and wider audience, the genre owes the man some due resects. So rather than lay back and bask in fame and glory, McCoury is still making the best music of his life, while remaining a road horse.

The twelve tracks on Haughty Melodic display Mike Doughty

‘I

As Grateful Dead scholarship goes, the summer of 1971 presents an eye-popping, mouth-watering slice of Dead history in transition, and until the unearthing of these

Stairs and Elevators, the band

So if you

Retrospective reminds us once again of how powerful a songwriter Jay Farrar really is and how great a band could sound in the studio. Have one listen to