Archive for 'Music'

The kids are alright

The kids are alright

When it comes to music, Del Ray resident Neal Learner doesnt believe kids should be sold short. So he released Would You Like to Be A Mermaid? earlier this year, the first album from Neal Learner [...]

Soundbites: Lupe Fiasco’s ‘Lasers” is dim-lit

Soundbites: Lupe Fiasco’s ‘Lasers” is dim-lit

Nothing about this uninspired cacophony of annoyed rhetoric spliced with clawless hooks speaks to the hip-hop prodigy Lupe Fiasco once was. [...]

Soundbites: Middle Brother’s lyrics speak for themselves

The dream team concept often works in the sports world, but its success rate is fickle in the music industry. Think Chris Cornell and Tom Morellos Audioslave project: some decent hits on two albums, but an [...]

Soundbites: Radiohead’s got transcendent sound on its mind

Soundbites: Radiohead’s got transcendent sound on its mind

The newspaper industry could learn something from Radiohead. When value-killing Internet freeware began sinking the music industry around the turn of the century, Thom Yorke and his experimental English posse took note and adjusted.  [...]

Cut Copy pastes together a dance narrative

Cut Copy pastes together a dance narrative

As 99-cent songs pervade online music stores like the dollar menu at a Wendys drive-thru, its nice to come across complete albums worthy of an extra-value meal label. [...]

Soundbites: U.S. Royalty’s bid for D.C.’s throne

Soundbites: U.S. Royalty’s bid for D.C.’s throne

It is written: Anything published about a D.C.-based band garnering national attention even the slightest bit must mention Ian MacKaye and/or his road-paving punk projects Fugazi and Minor Threat. Now that thats out of [...]

Soundbites: Allman hits all the right notes

Soundbites: Allman hits all the right notes

Theres something quintessentially blues about Gregg Allmans growl of a voice. Not blues-y or blues-ish, but blues. He does it justice on Low Country Blues, released Tuesday.  [...]

‘Oliver!’ leaves audience begging for more

‘Oliver!’ leaves audience begging for more

That Lionel Barts Oliver! has huge universal appeal and relevancy today is not in question. Bart crafted his iconic musical from the Dickens classic, drawing on themes of love, kindness, desperation and redemption to circumscribe the [...]

Soundbites: Tapes n’ Tapes n’ the art of stability

Soundbites: Tapes n’ Tapes n’ the art of stability

Outsider is mostly about playing it straight, hooks and all, with a heavy nod to the bands indie beginnings. [...]

Soundbites: Change of the season for The Decemberists

Soundbites: Change of the season for The Decemberists

My ears perked up straight when I heard the first energetic hum of the harmonica on the Decemberists sixth album, The King is Dead. Then, as the album progressed, they slouched a little. This must be [...]