Music In Review

Would someone unfamiliar with the guys in the band find Magnum entertaining? Laugh at Terrence’s antics, express amazement over his falsetto? Would he or she notice how seriously Bohner takes his drumming, note the fun Steve S. has on bass? Would someone who doesn’t know Deric Mendes recognize the irony in his guitar playing? Or […]

Kentucky-based singer/songwriter (and part-time actor) Will Oldham has had a number of noms de plume or personas that can be a bit confusing, especially when going through, and sorting out, his musical history. He has recorded as "The Palace Brothers," under his own "real" name, Will Oldham, and, since the 1999 release of I See […]

Kanye West has come a long way since The College Dropout, way back in the distant, innocent year of 2004, when he was idealistic and almost naïve (if a record full of raps about how awesome he is and how he deserves to be a best-selling rapper can be deemed naïve). 808s and Heartbreak would […]

The sound of American blues has progressively changed, leading to different breeds of music since the use of the electric guitar. In turn, this opened the door for rhythm & blues and subsequently rock ’n’ roll. Blues "hybrids" are numerous, from hard rock of the late ’60’s (bands like Cream, Led Zeppelin) to late ’70s […]

With Sunday at Devil Dirt, Scottish singer/songwriter Isobel Campbell, a former member of Belle & Sebastian, has released her second excellent collaboration with former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan. The comparisons to late 1960s/early ’70s pop singing duets, namely Lee Hazelwood/Nancy Sinatra and Serge Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin are obvious: sexy vocal duets that fell into the […]

Now I’m not entirely certain, but I’m pretty sure that theb igno oneun derst and sme is latin for "the big no one understands me," the title of the debut album by local lovelies thelittlestillnotbigenough (read: the little still not big enough, or, individuals that have yet to reach a height necessary to do certain […]

Massive Conspiracy Against All Life. Leviathan (Moribund Records). While the past year brought about several notable black metal releases (e.g. Krallice, Winterfyllah, Nachtmystium), Leviathan’s ability to both work within and expand genre conventions makes this a landmark effort. The album not only serves as a benchmark; it also further legitimizes a quickly expanding United States […]

Dawn. Mount Eerie (P.W. Elverum & Sun). The saint of all albums for 2008, Dawn is humble, beautiful, insightful, simple, honest, pure and good; sort of makes me want to cry. A slow-motion journey through the emotionally exhausted heart of Phil Elverum, it holds both renditions of older tracks as well as some fresh ones […]

Taking The Soul For A Walk. Dafnis Prieto Sextet (Dafnison Music). Prieto’s October RJA appearance was like Miguel Zenón’s in April: a brilliant showcase of the fresh jazz springing from Afro-Latin and Caribbean roots. The album sparkles even more with the addition of Yosvany Terry’s sax and Avishai Cohen’s trumpet. Awake. Miguel Zenón (Marsalis Music). […]

A Virtual Landslide. Peter Molinari (Damaged Goods). This UK singer/songwriter’s sophomore effort is lush, though not overblown, creating a full sound that perfectly compliments his folk, country and pop sensibilities. Analog-recorded by Liam Watson, and accompanied by Toe-Rag Studio musicians, Molinari’s uncanny and sincere delivery is brilliantly captured. This is one of this year’s recordings […]

Treny. Michal Jacaszek (Miasmah). First real masterwork from Polish post-classical composer Michal Jacaszek. Jacaszek’s work is clearly nestled in the digital-conscious world of 21st century modern composition (think Max Richter, Ryan Teague, Jóhann Jóhannsson, etc.) but is strange enough to avoid the overtly cinematic/soundtrack feel of much of his peers’ work (Teague, for instance, is […]

More nations compete in the breakdancing Battle of the Year than were participants in George Bush’s "coalition of the willing." The global nature of hip hop dancing is well documented by the 2008 film Planet B-Boy. Stunning images of fluid dancing are articulated by some of the most talented artists on the planet. The Battle […]