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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 […]
File: January 2007
THE BEST OF 2006 Here’s our staff’s lists of the best the past year had to offer in albums, singles, concerts, and DVDs!
DVD Zone: January 2007
Little Miss Sunshine Fox Searchlight We’ve all been on road trips with the family. And, as one gets older, nine out of 10 people will probably tell you there’s hardly anything more taxing. That’s why the cross-country trek with the relatives is such fertile ground for filmmakers.
Global Blues – Live!
There was a time when live recordings were considered inferior to studio sessions because of the poor sound quality, the somewhat annoying concentration of applause, and the possibility the artist would turn in a less-than-perfect performance.
Studio Happenings
At ARS STUDIOS in Alsip, Maurice Jackson cut new tracks for his current project. ARS engineer Larry Schara worked with producer Mike Logan to capture Jackson’s performances . . . Mexican/ Duranguense band Herrantes De La Sierra mastered their new album with producer Eric Herrera of ASI Music/EMI Latin and ARS engineer Andy Padayao . […]
Celebrity Helper
“You cannot make friends with the rock stars,” Lester Bangs insists, talking to the budding rock crit in Almost Famous. “They’ll buy you drinks, you’ll meet girls, they’ll try to fly you places for free, offer you drugs. But they are not your friends.”
Rockin’ Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio – Let’s Go!
Few things are more satisfying to the ears than hearing Robyn Hitchcock unveil a new song played live with Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey on free radio, then listening to them explain its context and spin some of their favorite records.
Best Of Gear 2006
In honor of our January ’07 “Best Of” issue, we’ve compiled our favorite pieces of “Gear” from the past year. Gretsch G400JV Archtop Guitar
A Velvety Listen
Let’s call it a comeback. No need to mince words. Colombia’s premiere rock en español group were on a scary path toward losing the essence of their Latin alternative roots.
Local CD Reviews
Prior Ahab Rex CDs have been praised in this column and the latest, Blood On Blonde, earns similar thumbs up (even though they, once again, retread four tracks from an ’04 disc). That leaves six great new tunes that bend the caustic with the sweet, bobbing and weaving from jazzbo to agit/agro and all points […]
Around Hear Page 2
Even when attempting to be melancholy, as on “A Good Fight,” the 11 tracks on Love By Design‘s Let The Outside In are generally optimistic, innocent pop rock numbers. The whimsical, almost childlike, vibe, especially with “Busy Bee,” is likely due to the immaculately produced studio sound and the soothing, harmonizing vocal style. A rich […]
Best Of Around Hear 2006
Each January, we dedicate part of “Around Hear” to those low-profile local artists who are our favorites from the passing year – the results of our staff and freelancers combing clubs and stacks of CDs for more than the booze and adulation we normally receive. This is by no means an attempt to make a […]
Hello, My Name Is Dee
Hello, My Name Is Dee Q&A With A Twisted Sister IE: So A Twisted Christmas, this is it? The final chapter of Twisted Sister? Dee Snider: Not so fast [laughing]. I was saying it was the final chapter and the last nail in the coffins of our career, but as it turned out it might […]
File: December 2006
Black Is Back Way back in September IE received an e-mail hinting at a Dio-era Black Sabbath reunion. Although it hadn’t been confirmed by any of the musicians’ — Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward — managers, the message said a Web zine out of Spain had reported a reunion tour […]
DVD Zone: December 2006
DVD Zone The 2006 DVD Gift Guide It’s that time of year again. ‘Tis the season of decking the halls, being jolly, and Grandma’s ill-fated rendezvous with reindeer. It’s also the time of year eight out of 10 people find themselves asking, “What the hell am I gonna get Uncle Frank or Aunt Gladys?” Fret […]
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