Recent Articles
K’naan reviewed
K’naan The Dusty Foot Philosopher (Independent Media) MC and poet K’naan has no shortage of real-life struggles to speak on being a refugee of Mogadishu, Somalia, the place he calls “the most dangerous city in this universe.”
Power Quest reviewed
Power Quest Master Of Illusion (Napalm) When keyboardist Steve Williams and Steve Scott left Dragonheart in 2000, they surely did so thinking their new project, Power Quest, had just as much chance “making it” (this is power metal we’re talking about) as their old band did. Wrong.
Basia Bulat preview
Basia Bulat Vic Theatre, Chicago Friday, May 9, 2008 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 […]
Was (Not Was) preview
Was (Not Was) Abbey Pub, Chicago Saturday, May 10, 2008 Why can’t more records kick off with a song about skinhead psychos, dismembered mothers, patriotic threesomes, and Scientology jokes?
El Perro Del Mar, Lykke Li preview
El Perro Del Mar, Lykke Li Schubas, Chicago Monday, May 12, 2008 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.
Progressive Nation preview
Progressive Nation Tour Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont Tuesday, May 13, 2008 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 […]
The Sword reviewed
The Sword Gods Of The Earth (Kemado) 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.
Neon Neon reviewed
Neon Neon Stainless Style (Lex) 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.
Cover Story: Ministry’s Farewell
Ministry Jour Gonna Miss Me 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 […]
Flosstradamus live!
At this point in the game, predicting the continual advent of the next generation of Chicago hip-hop talent is hardly a new or groundbreaking call. Nearly every music magazine in the country has written about at least some, if not the majority of the talent that has emerged the last few years. In fact, many […]
Atmosphere live!
Atmosphere Metro, Chicago Wednesday, April 23, 2008 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 […]
Earth live!
Earth The Note, Chicago Friday, April 25, 2008 “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 […]
International Pop Overthrow Wrap-Up
International Pop Overthrow Various clubs, Chicago April 15th – 27th, 2008 Back in 1998, when David Bash organized the first International Pop Overthrow in Los Angeles, he probably couldn’t have imagined how much his low-budget, annual celebration of power pop would flourish. By 2001, International Pop Overthrow, named after a Material Issue song and album […]
Neva Dinova preview
Neva Dinova Schubas, Chicago Thursday, May 1, 2008 Saddle Creek Records has always seemed a youthful label, largely because of Conor Oberst but also from recent signings like Tokyo Police Club. Neva Dinova, new to the imprint as well, have been around the block often enough to sketch its topography from memory.
The Myriad preview
The Myriad Park West, Chicago Friday, May 2, 2008 Despite the band’s name, The Myriad fail to encapsulate a wide variety of styles and influences on With Arrows, With Poise (Koch). The Seattle-based quartet must have latched on to English atmospheric rockers Muse a few years ago and just never let go, which isn’t altogether […]
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