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Local CD Reviews
After a four-year hiatus, The Baldwin Brothers drop Return Of The Golden Rhodes (TVT), a deliciously sexy album crackling with juicy beats, deep grooves, and their unique fusion of electronic funk. Smooth vocal flow and quirky rhymes make “A Matter Of Time” a slinky ass shaker, while “Air Is Invisible” is bred from Underworld’s mindwarping, […]
Around Hear Page 2
Indie stalwart bassist Griffin Rodriguez (a.k.a. Blue Hawaii) and drummer Chris Powell are the braintrust duo behind Icy Demons. Their second full-length, Tears Of A Clone, cuts a wide-ranging swath of recorded electronica, pinballing between the insouciance of mid-’70s Zappa, the eternal ambience of Brain Eno, the percussive minimalism of Steve Reich, and all rock […]
O.A.R. & Gomez live
O.A.R./Gomez U.I.C. Pavilion, Chicago Friday, January 19, 2007 Calling O.A.R. a Dave Matthews Band rip-off is both unfair and misleading, though it’s a frequent comparison from critics and casual fans alike. Sure, the guys have opened for Dave and company on numerous occasions, built their fan base with a similar grassroots approach, tour incessantly, and […]
The Chamber Strings live
The Chamber Strings Double Door, Chicago Saturday, January 20, 2007 Those wondering if The Chamber Strings have lost a step since their last gig are missing the point. Seeing how founder Kevin Junior was literally scrounging for heroin from a cardboard box in an L.A. slum quite recently, Saturday’s reunion wasn’t about gelling or marketing […]
Cougar preview
Cougar Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, January 25, 2007 Tricky band, this post rock combo Cougar. Law, due for release on February 20th, has already been released before — twice. Easy, Cougar.
Vega4 preview
Vega4 Metro, Chicago Thursday, January 25, 2007 London-based Vega4 are sort of an international conglomerate (Irish, Canadian, and New Zealand-ish? -er? -ese? -ous?) and a right cocky bunch. In their bio, frontman Johnny McDaid says things like “It’s so hard to describe our sound.” Quick — somebody hand this guy a Snow Patrol record.
The Paper Chase preview
The Paper Chase Subterranean, Chicago Friday, January 26, 2007 When there’s no more room in hell, the dead shall walk the earth . . . and The Paper Chase shall provide the soundtrack.
First Blood preview
First Blood Champs, Burbank Monday, January 29, 2007 The disparate worlds of bloodlust and veganism combine for First Blood, who mangle hardcore metal into a fist-pumping paradigm.
Uri Caine preview
Uri Caine University Of Chicago, Chicago Tuesday, January 30, 2007 Mozart’s most cherished pieces reworked with electric guitar and turntables? Blasphemous?
moe. Preview
moe. Park West, Chicago Wednesday, January 31, 2007 Seems like fans of jam band extraordinaire moe. finally just digested the quintet’s two-night stand at the Chicago Theatre over Thanksgiving weekend. Ready or not, the boys are back in town.
Family In Need
Benefit For Callum Robbins A lineup featuring Eleventh Dream Day, Chin Up Chin Up, Bobby Conn, The Life And Times, and Red Eyed Legends will be on hand at Empty Bottle on January 27th to raise money for the afflicted one-year-old son of musician/producer J. Robbins.
Grammy me? Grammy U!
BEHIND THE MUSIC The Chicago Chapter Of The Recording Academy is offering college students a peek at what goes on “behind the scenes†in the music industry, but nobody is promising you’ll like what you see.
Rafter reviewed
Rafter Music For Total Chickens (Asthmatic Kitty) The cover image for this album appears to be a chicken egg exploding in mid-air, an adequate description of how your head will feel upon listening to it.
Jeff Tuohy reviewed
Jeff Tuohy Breaking Down The Silence (self-released) This New York-based singer-songwriter dodges the sort of vacant hipster tags that plague his Big Apple contemporaries, rising out of the frat-rock scene. Appearing: January 27th at Joe’s in Chicago.
Urban Legend reviewed
Urban Legend Of Old Lost Days (Contraphonic) Seizing upon the recent, albeit minor success of The Thermals, Contraphonic releases some demos to illustrate what could have been for Sub Pop’s resident malcontents.
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