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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 […]
Soul Man
The Torch (Watchdog), the third album by guitarist, singer-songwriter Ronnie Baker Brooks, is a musical gumbo of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, soul, funk, rock, and hip-hop with a touch of folk and rockabilly added to the mix. The son of blues legend Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie was raised on the blues but brings a contemporary sensibility […]
Full Volume
Forgive us for not fully fleshing out last month’s inaugural Metal Issue. While we’re mighty proud of it, if we really had it together we would have featured Sanford Parker of Volume Studios in that “Studiophile” instead of this month.
The Unheard Music?
Last spring we reported public radio station WBEZ-FM (91.5) and its satellites (Chesterton, Indiana’s WBEW-FM (89.5) and Morris’ WBEQ-FM (90.7)) would scrap music programming altogether when they switch to all news and talk in January. Now Chicago Public Radio says it plans to retain a smidgen of music on WBEZ.
Who’s The BOSS?
BOSS Micro BR Digital Recorder BOSS‘ new Micro BR Digital Recorder attracted big crowds at the Summer NAMM trade show, and it has finally arrived in stores just in time for Christmas.
Local CD Reviews
The four songs on The Accord‘s demo swing between reggae beats and prog/ethereal yearnings – oft’ times within the same cut – with a “recorded live” sound that further reinforces the band’s integrity. Playing (keyboards especially) far outshines songwriting, however, primarily because the melodies too strongly bring other artists’ tunes to mind and some lyrical […]
Around Hear Page 2
Few And The Proud are nothing if not loud. So much so their angry, curse-laden lyrics belted out with fervor on such songs as “Let It Die” and “Mutant” are little more than senseless rants raging against a hardcore wall of sound. With a total running time of just more than 22 minutes, the 11 […]
Around Hear Page 3
Alisa Simms‘ Remember consists of the title track plus two remixes. The original is a mix of simple keys, drums, minimal guitar, and some nice string touches near the end, keeping the spotlight on Simms’ warm, silky vocals. The second, “Remixber,” has a little more percussion in its groove. The final, “Reminder Drum ‘N’ Bass […]
Hello, My Name Is The Great Kat
Hello, My Name Is The Great Kat IE: How is the Great Kat these days? The Great Kat: Brilliant! The Great Kat is The Metal Messiah/New Beethoven of the 21st Century and is a classically trained genius who is systematically resurrecting both classical music and heavy metal!
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