Spins
Neil Young made younger!
Neil Young Sugar Mountain: Live At Canterbury House 1968 (Reprise) Contrary to popular belief, Neil Young was not born aged 45. His hair was always unkempt, however, and so was his presence, as this 40-year-old document attests. Appearing: December 9th at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
Warren Zevon reissued
Warren Zevon Warren Zevon Expanded Set (Rhino) Introducing Warren Zevon always required clarification: He got a huge leg up from Jackson Browne, but . . . He hung out with the Mellow Mafia in ’70s L.A., but . . . For all practical purposes, Warren Zevon is his debut album, but . . .
Wild Beasts reviewed
Wild Beasts Limbo, Panto (Domino) It takes special circumstances to make the music public pine for hyper-literate, ultra-confident, flamboyant, British art-school types — but that’s the angular, post punk world we inhabit.
Beyoncé reviewed
Beyoncé I Am . . . Sasha Fierce (Columbia) The success Beyoncé’s fans have handed her is disproportionate to what the former Destiny’s Child has given back. Currently she’s brandishing a singular talent to slice a project directly down the middle — and still render it uneven.
Two Decades Of Century Media reviewed
Various Artists Century Media — Covering 20 Years Of Extremes (Century Media) It’s not fair, but to review Century Media’s 20-year celebration, in which the renowned metal label has former and (mostly) present-day acts cover other former and present-day acts, inevitably turns into more a critique of the label’s current place in heavy metal than […]
Omara Portuondo reviewed
Omara Portuondo Gracías (Montuno/World Village) So, she has gone a little soft. Can you blame her? Omara Portuondo stuck it out for decades as Cuba’s starlet, and even smiled pretty when Ry Cooder dragged her back into the spotlight for Buena Vista Social Club.
Brother Von Doom reviewed
Brother Von Doom Relentless (Deathcote) Everything about Relentless, pre-CD-player insertion, says “totally fucking badass.” Everything about Relentless, post-CD-player ejection, says “total fucking waste of time.”
Godhead reviewed
Godhead At The Edge Of The World Driven Music Group Wow. What the shit happened to Godhead? ‘Cause this sure isn’t the same band from eight years ago.
The Showdown reviewed
The Showdown Back Breaker (Solid State) Nashville’s The Showdown are a metal band. Just ask ’em. In the one-sheet for Backbreaker (Solid State) “metal” is used 10 times. Appearing: Thursday, October 30th at Metro in Chicago.
Frida Hyvönen reviewed
Frida Hyvönen Silence Is Wild (Secretly Canadian) One gets the sense Swedish musician Frida Hyvönen assumes some sort of entitlement with the way she treats her material. She’s gonna try everything, ready or not. Appearing: Monday, November 3rd at Lakeshore Theater in Chicago.
Blessed By A Broken Heart reviewed
Blessed By A Broken Heart Pedal To The Metal (Century Media) Pedal To The Metal might be the year’s oddest record. Camaro-gunnin’ ’80s hard rock (check out album cover) combined with breakdown-adoring metalcore and and synthesizer-lovin’, er, sythnesizers.
High Places reviewed
High Places High Places (Thrill Jockey) If you thought esteemed local label Thrill Jockey has been paying too much attention to outre performers in he last three years, consider High Places the sort of band you could take home to an indie rock mom.
Fucked Up reviewed
Fucked Up The Chemistry Of Common Life (Matador) Fucked Up’s only album for Jade Tree, 2006’s Hidden World, wasn’t all that fucked up compared to the band’s trajectory on a score of singles and EPs. The Chemistry Of Common Life (Matador, 2008) doesn’t match the bar set by their name, either, and gives varying signals […]
The Little Ones review
The Little Ones Morning Tide (Chop Shop/Atlantic) On a 2006 EP, Los Angeles-based quintet The Little Ones reminisced “Way back when, we were the latest around.” Through protracted label twists and turns their sell-by date drew ever near, and finally here’s the happiest of happy debuts. Appearing: Tuesday, October 21st at Schubas in Chicago.
Blue Mountain reviewed
Blue Mountain Midnight In Mississippi/Omnibus (Broadmoor) Reunited and reconstituted with a new drummer, Blue Mountain double dips with a fresh album and a re-recorded mix of old “hits.” Appearing: Thursday, October 9th at Schubas in Chicago.
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