Monthly
Bollywood Queen
In the disposable pop world of overnight stars and questionable divas, it’s commonplace to declare an artist with one or two CDs “queen” of this or “king” of that. But Bollywood singers truly have to earn such a title. With more than 20,000 documented songs in no fewer than a dozen languages, Asha Bhosle is […]
Local CD Reviews
A slick, full-color press kit accompanying a three-song sampler by a band with a nondescript name can mean only one thing: Chicago’s Ash Avenue wants to be the next Matchbox Twenty, The Wallflowers, Gin Blossoms, etc. With a paint-by-numbers adult-alternative sound, this five-piece is certainly on its way to completing a tired, but always-selling package. […]
Around Hear page 2
Click here to return to “Around Hear” page 1. Mira Mira ringleader Charlie Williams is a “post classical” pianist who mixes dreamy, chilling, and sometimes downright icy reflections on *Midnight For You*. “Breathe” is the most beautiful, and the title track could be likened to something by Sigur Ré¯s (only sung in English) while “Everything […]
Cover Story: Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers Bound to the road even though their success would suggest they don’t have to be, Drive-By Truckers make a return to their roots of sorts on A Blessing And A Curse (New West). But those roots aren’t the Southern rock doppelganger DBT have come to signify, they’re the wild days when The Replacements […]
Duke Spirit Interview
The Duke Spirit Cut Above “This band grew out of friendships,” says Liela Moss. “I don’t see that happening.” Moss fronts The Duke Spirit, one of these shit-hot, media-darling bands from the U.K. But already in her young career, she finds herself addressing breakup rumors, that in a matter of time she will fly solo […]
Alejandro Escovedo Interview
Alejandro Escovedo Fighting Chance Even if you’ve heard “Sacramento And Polk” a hundred times, it’s worth the price of The Boxing Mirror just to learn the song’s real power. With production in the hands of The Velvet Underground’s John Cale, and Alejandro Escovedo’s performance in the hands of his own deliverance, the new recording makes […]
Gomez Interview
Gomez Bringing It All Back Home The moniker Gomez has always been a cause for mystery. As the band is from Southport, England and not one of its members — Ian Ball (guitar/vocals), Paul Blackburn (bass/keys/vocals), Ben Ottewell (guitar/vocals), Tom Gray (guitar/vocals), or Olly Peacock (drums) — is, noticeably, named Gomez, it’s a quandary that […]
Indie Labels: Can Chicago Hip-Hop Save Itself?
Rising Tide Chicago’s hip-hop has blown up, but will indie stalwarts benefit? It’s been quite some time since Chicago hip-hop has received this much attention from the record industry and the rest of the country. After years of being lost in the middle of the three coasts, the heart of the Midwest is finally seeing […]
Fall Out Boy Q&A
Hello, My Name Is Patrick Q&A with Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump IE: We last talked to you guys before From Under The Cork Tree came out, and we heard Fall Out Boy have done pretty well. When do the solo albums come out? Patrick Stump: I know you’re joking, but I’ve gotten that question […]
May File!
Festival Of Sights “I was eight-years-old and a camper at summer camp. The counselor was listening to Shout At The Devil, and that’s where it started,” Mike Mourning says, describing his introduction to Mötley Crüe. The 29-year-old Kenosha, WI resident, whose back is one big Crüe tattoo, was just one of the diehards who made […]
DVD Zone: May
Capote Sony Pictures Classic How’s this for a trade-off: You write a book that makes you the most talked about writer of your time, but the process of writing it affects your life so much that you never complete another one. Such is Truman Capote’s lot.
Feeling The Blues
“He’s so good, man.” – Muddy Waters talking about Otis Rush in Robert Palmer’s Deep Blues.
Studio Happenings
At UP ON THE ROOF RECORDING in Lombard, owner/engineer Mark Blas recorded and mixed tracks for reggaeton artist/producer Wil Diaz . . . Blas also tracked the second album for blues locals Mitch & The Polecats.
Jazz Heaven
Jazz singing is like pornography, in that you know it when you hear it,” quips local singer Kurt Elling during a conversation with Al Jarreau and Ramsey Lewis on an episode of the new weekly TV series, “Legends Of Jazz.”
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