Archive for the ‘Record Reviews’ Category
The Republic of Punk: A Review of Ceremony’s Zoo
Posted by: Peter Lillis on: March 6, 2012
- In: Band Profiles | Music | Record Reviews
- 1 Comment
Ceremony is known for their abrasive approach, humanity and a grab-you-by-the-balls attitude. Releasing four full-lengths since forming in 2005, the band has built a reputation as some of the finest ass-kickers the new generation hardcore punk could offer. These Bay Area punks have undergone transformations with every release, from their mile a minute debut Violence [...]
Not Just Jazz: Robert Glasper and Esperanza Spalding
Posted by: Keith Meatto on: February 27, 2012
- In: Music | Record Reviews
- 2 Comments
Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters is arguably the best-selling jazz album of all time and its impact on the world of music is unmistakable. Get four people who really know how to play their instruments together and I’ll bet money that they can spit out at least a functional version of “Chameleon” from memory. Headhunters has achieved [...]
Fountain of Youth: A Review of Punch Brothers, Who’s Feeling Young Now?
Posted by: Peter Lillis on: February 20, 2012
- In: Band Profiles | Music | Record Reviews
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Chris Thile is a monster of modern music. A rare talent, Thile is known for his constant progress, taking his skills and voice into new territories with every endeavor. The mandolin virtuoso has released 19 full-lengths in the last 19 years, while working with renowned artists like Yo Yo Ma, Béla Fleck, Dolly Parton, Jack [...]
Time to Stay Useless: A Review of Cloud Nothings, Attack on Memory
Posted by: Peter Lillis on: February 9, 2012
- In: Band Profiles | Music | Record Reviews
- 2 Comments
Despite suffering debasement from low-quality acts and living as a cultural punchline for the better part of the last decade, emo has persevered as a legitimate sub-genre. Songwriters like Jesse Lacey, Patrick Stickles, Max Bemis and David Bazan have managed to preserve the essence of intelligence, self-awareness and honesty that has defined the genre as [...]
Going National: A Review of Sharon Van Etten, Tramp
Posted by: Keith Meatto on: February 7, 2012
- In: Music | Record Reviews
- 6 Comments
After Lana Del Rey’s tortured pop princess act last week and Madonna’s gladiator-cheerleader jukebox musical on Superbowl Sunday, the new Sharon Van Etten record came as a welcome burst of understated authenticity. There’s nothing flashy or pretentious about Van Etten. Her new music is harder and a bit more country than her prior folky material, [...]
Dialogue: Lana Del Rey (4)
Posted by: Keith Meatto on: February 3, 2012
- In: Band Profiles | Music | Record Reviews
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Lana Del Ray, Video Games L.V., It seems that we’ve come to some basic agreement about Lana Del Rey: She has talent, her songs are catchy, and the negative reaction to Born to Die says more about the biases of her critics than it does about her music. But perhaps I was too quick to [...]
Dialogue: Lana Del Rey (3)
Posted by: L.V. Lopez on: February 3, 2012
- In: Band Profiles | Music | Record Reviews
- 1 Comment
Lana Del Rey – “Off To The Races” Keith, I must admit that your critiques are valid: I certainly short-changed LDR’s vocal capabilities (unfairly so), and I am most certainly a cynic! Allow me, then, an opportunity to re-evaluate and rephrase. I suppose I was trying to say that, although Lizzie Grant is certainly a [...]
Dialogue: Lana Del Rey (2)
Posted by: Keith Meatto on: February 2, 2012
- In: Band Profiles | Music | Record Reviews
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Lana Del Rey, Diet Mountain Dew Who cares if Lana Del Rey’s daddy is rich or her mama’s good looking? Who cares that music tastemakers made her an Internet sensation, then tore her to shreds by the time her album Born to Die was released this week? Who cares about her fake name or fake [...]
Dialogue: Lana Del Rey
Posted by: L.V. Lopez on: February 1, 2012
- In: Band Profiles | Music | Record Reviews
- 5 Comments
(Today we introduce our new column, Dialogue. Every month, editors Keith Meatto and L.V. Lopez will discuss an ongoing controversy in pop music. This month, the editors take on Lana del Rey’s Born To Die. Click to read Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this discussion) Lana del Rey – “Born To Die” [...]
