The first strums of Basia Bulat’s autoharp on “In The Night,” the first single from the Canadian songstress’ Rough Trade debut, immediately conjure Catherine O’Hara’s free-spirited folkie Mickey Crabbe in 2003’s A Mighty Wind. Fortunately, the rambunctious “In The Night” is light years away from the mockumentary’s deer-in-the-headlights fare. (more…)

Why can’t more records kick off with a song about skinhead psychos, dismembered mothers, patriotic threesomes, and Scientology jokes? (more…)

Sarah Assbring, who is El Perro Del Mar, must record while lying on her back and gazing opaquely into the night sky. The hint is the crickets. (more…)

In 1992, Dream Theater probably didn’t foresee their first hit single, “Pull Me Under,” would also be their last hit single. They were only two records into their career at that point; surely hits would follow. Yet, here we are 16 years — and a lot of albums later — and you’re as likely to hear Anal Blast on commercial radio as Dream Theater. (more…)

If Gods Of The Earth can’t accomplish it, then The Sword might as well submit to the fact heavy metal’s community, especially the so-called “real metalheads,” are never going to accept them. (more…)

The project’s a joke ode to fallen entrepreneuer John DeLorean, but Neon Neon proves Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys is someone who, given the opportunity, can communicate clearly. (more…)

On a sultry August 18th, 1995, Chicagoans and pilgrims stuffed the Riviera Theatre for a last chance to catch the Ramones live. Opening act Gren, a grunge-era also-ran, had the word “ignored” redefined for them while all anyone wanted to hear was that iconic “One! Two! Three! Four!” 30 more times. As victory lap/farewell tours went, the Ramones were able to close on a giddy high. Finality never felt so good – so they did it again.

Appearing: May 8th through 11th at House Of Blues in Chicago. (more…)

It doesn’t seem much of a stretch to see life imitating art in the case of Minneapolis hip-hop outfit Atmosphere. After all, the group’s just-released record is titled When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, which might explain the impressive level of output released by co-conspirators Slug and Ant within the last year — a year that has seen four fairly consistant EPs (some moreso than others), one mix tape/album (the free downloadable Strictly Leakage), and an impressive proper new record added on to the Atmosphere discography. All of which provided plenty of different arenas for Atmosphere frontman Slug during his group’s recent stop at the Metro, the second of two. (more…)

“Dude, I’m bored,” announced a friend of a friend in a Venom-themed Boris T-shirt. “Are you guys going to leave soon?” It was a damned good question. After six songs of blandly introverted, lightly amplified twang, many at the quaint Wicker Park bar were starting to come to grips with what has become a rather dull and clinical instrumental jazz band. Chatter — a death knell to any live band — had arrived like a swarm of determined little midges, and there was nothing on tap that could take back the night. Yeah, we were going to leave soon. (more…)