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Classic Spins: John Lennon Collection

Classic Spins: John Lennon Collection

| January 16, 2012 | 1 Comment

The John Lennon canon is now at the tipping point: with the release of the new 38-song Working Class Hero (Capitol) collection, there are now more posthumous album releases by the ex-Beatle than there are actual solo albums he recorded while still alive.

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In case you missed it (we did!)

In case you missed it (we did!)

| January 7, 2012 | 0 Comments

You may have noticed that we skip coverage of some pretty big-time releases each month. Sometimes, that’s because the artists hold on to music until the last second, at which point we’ve already planned the next issue.

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Go local this weekend!

Go local this weekend!

| January 4, 2012 | 0 Comments

Like Slider’s johnson, the list of bands awaiting an “Around Hear” review is long and distinguished. So we’ll do a solid for some pretty fantastic local bills.

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Cover Story: What’s That Sound?

Cover Story: What’s That Sound?

| December 31, 2011 | 1 Comment

As a number of enthusiasts have pointed out, there are currently more pop-music genres than there are artists to occupy them. Whether such a sneering jab is true, the slotting of acts into ready-made categories has always been a vice of critics and fans.

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Tomorrow Never Knows preview!

Tomorrow Never Knows preview!

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Winter is always the hardest season for music lovers in Chicago because so few bands hit the road. And who can blame them? After all, the below-freezing temperatures, blustery snow, and icy roads are enough to make even the proudest native wish they were somewhere south,

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Interview: No I.D.

Interview: No I.D.

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Grab your torches, we found the person responsible for Kanye West. Actually, while most of local hip-hop history goes relatively unsung, people far and wide shout No I.D.’s praises – probably without knowing it.

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File: Year-End Top 10s

File: Year-End Top 10s

| December 31, 2011 | 2 Comments

The IE staff picks its favorite albums, reissues, live shows, and local bands of 2011.

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Best Songs Of 2011

Best Songs Of 2011

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Is that a giant list of songs, or are we just happy to see ya? For all the discussion surrounding the deaths of various recording styles and formats, 2011 was a fantastic year for songs. IE found very little overlap when our writers submitted their votes, which is astounding.

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Around Hear: January 2012

Around Hear: January 2012

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Richard Anthony is much more gifted as a songwriter than he is as a singer throughout Connected Part One, an odd but occasionally endearing synth-pop project where 100-percent of the proceeds go to foster-children’s charities.

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Caught In A Mosh: January 2012

Caught In A Mosh: January 2012

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Like Hulk Hogan, I am a real American. That means, first and foremost, I fight for the rights of every man. It also means I use geographically specific release dates for my year-ending top five. Hence Ghost‘s Opus Eponymous inclusion

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Digital Divide: January 2012

Digital Divide: January 2012

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

So if you believe those wacky Mayans (and really, when have they ever lied to us?), there’s less than a year left on the lease here on the big blue marble. The countdown to oblivion is coming to town, so get dressed.

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Gear: January 2012

Gear: January 2012

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Of the dozens of musical gadgets we preview and review every year, a few stand out as “the best of best.” As we look back at 2011, we present Gear’s best of, uh . . . Gear!

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Media: January 2012

Media: January 2012

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Back in 1979, half of Chicago tuned into Wally Philips’ popular WGN-AM (720) morning show. That year, newcomer Steve Dahl released his song parodying the venerable Philips and his loyal listeners, “Oh Wally.”

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Studiophile: January 2012

Studiophile: January 2012

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

It’s been six years since the release of her debut album . . . this side of yesterday, but January marks the return of indie-folk singer/songwriter Martha Berner. Her long-awaited full-length follow-up, Fool’s Fanatsy, also bears the stamp of her new band, The Significant Others.

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Sweet Home: January 2012

Sweet Home: January 2012

| December 31, 2011 | 0 Comments

Hubert Sumlin was one of the greatest blues guitarists of his generation. Famous for the explosive guitar riffs that he produced as a member of Howlin’ Wolf’s band, Sumlin influenced such rock-guitar gods as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards. His 80-year journey began in the Mississippi Delta and took him across the world […]

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