Marilyn Manson Proves Man of Few Words in Boston (SHOW REVIEW/PHOTOS)
Marilyn Manson Proves Man of No Words in Boston (SHOW REVIEW/PHOTOS)
Willie Nelson Announces New LP of Original Songs, ‘Last Man Standing’
Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Last Man Standing, Willie Nelson’s new studio album (and 11th for the label), on Friday, April 27. Arriving just in time for Willie’s 85th birthday (April 29), Last Man Standing will be available on CD, 12″ vinyl LP and digital formats. The first single from […]
Sparta Bring First Tour in Six Years to Austin (SHOW REVIEW)
Let’s get this out of the way first: when At the Drive-In dissolved in 2001, it split into two groups. Singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez formed The Mars Volta. Singer/guitarist Jim Ward, drummer Tony Hajjar, and bassist Paul Hinojos formed Sparta. The Mars Volta went on to weirdness and Grammy success. Sparta stayed […]
‘Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool’ Shines in Performances, But Not Much Else (FILM REVIEW)
All the charisma in the world isn’t quite enough to make this memorable.
Shannon & the Clams Go Hip Swinging/Garage Rocking/Surf Pop on Golden LP ‘Onion’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
[rating=9.00] The fifth album from the Oakland based Shannon & the Clams continues their winning 60’s surf pop on acid style but takes on an extra emotional level as the artists grow and deal with tragedy. The four-piece of Shannon Shaw (bass/vocals), Cody Blanchard (guitar/vocals), Nate Mahan (drums) and Will Sprott (keyboards), work through these […]
J.D. Wilkes, Legendary Shack Shakers Front Man, Stays Experimental On Solo Debut ‘Fire Dream’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
[rating=9.00] J.D. Wilkes has always been an experimentalist. True to form, this, his solo debut, Fire Dream, doesn’t easily fit into any one genre of music. There is just too much going on. It’s as if Tom Waits was held prisoner by a bunch of hillbillies insisting he blends his own vintage vaudeville type jazz […]
I’m With Her (Jarosz, Watkins, O’Donovan) Team Up On Tender Tones With Debut ‘See You Around’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
[rating=6.00] The idea of a supergroup was a popular one back in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s when modern music was accelerating rapidly and itinerant musicians were motivated by wanderlust to seek for new areas of exploration and other artists with whom they could collaborate. Those restless intents are still at work today of […]
Craig Gerdes Echoes Outlaw Hardship Via Debut ‘Smokin Drinkin & Gamblin’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
[rating=8.00] This clever line from Jamey Johnson – “You’ll find me between Jennings and Jones” is applicable not alphabetically, but musically to Craig Gerdes on his debut Smokin Drinkin & Gamblin. Gerdes echoes many of the best classic country outlaws like Haggard and Johnny Paycheck too but six of the nine tunes here are his […]
Hail to the King: ‘Black Panther’ Takes the Throne (FILM REVIEW)
Both superheroes and Marvel are pushed far in the latest MCU epic.
Texas Pianist Harvey McLaughlin Pays Homage to Pulp Mags & Urban Legends on ‘Tabloid News’ (ALBUM REVIEW)
[rating=8.00] Equal parts Tom Waits, Professor Longhair, Warren Zevon and Randy Newman, Texas-based pianist and singer-songwriter Harvey McLaughlin brings a bizarre set of tunes, zany attitude, and plenty of sarcasm on his first solo outing Tabloid News. McLaughlin is at heart a roots-rocker with punk sensibilities who seems less interested in musical mastery than he […]