Spins
Morningbell reviewed
Morningbell Through The Belly Of The Sea (self) Whether it’s the first of its kind can be left to the Talmuds. The fact is Morningbell’s third album connects back to those morbid books of yore: Choose Your Own Adventure.
Southerly reviewed
Southerly Storyteller & The Gossip Columnist (Greyday) Krist Kruger commandeers every aspect of his vision for his pseudonym’s second album, a peculiarily brief exercise in bombast. Appearing: June 25th at The Note in Chicago.
Manchester Orchestra reviewed
Manchester Orchestra I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child (Favorite Gentlemen) Atlanta-born savant drops out to record, gets exalted indie rock plaudits, wears heart on sleeve — and isn’t Conor Oberst. Appearing: June 23rd at Metro in Chicago.
Tenderhooks reviewed
Tenderhooks Vidalia (Rock Snobs) Knoxville power pop experts Tenderhooks bop through the 10 songs on their debut with an eye fixed on Big Star.
A Band Of Bees reviewed
A Band Of Bees Octopus (Astralwerks) Generally when a record sounds “timeless” it really isn’t. “Classic” is a better word. Certain albums, take Octopus for instance, push the issue even further.
The Aggrolites reviewed
The Aggrolites Reggae Hit L.A. (Hellcat) Reggae has suffered in America because of the spector of Bob Marley and later the stereotyping of Caribbean music for tourism purposes. Its vastness has been dialed down to stoner music and lame island jams, and The Aggrolites aren’t gonna take it anymore.
The Pipettes’ EP reviewed
The Pipettes Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me (Cherrytree/Interscope) The toast of South By Southwest finally come to Chicago in support of this EP, the latest in the Brit-girl retro-soul revival. Appearing: June 7th at Empty Bottle in Chicago.
Transformers reissued!
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Transformers: The Movie (Volcano/Legacy) This “20th Anniversary Special Edition” is not only meant to draw attention to last year’s DVD release of the movie, but to drum up support for the July 4th release of Steven Spielberg’s live-action film.
Keren Ann reviewed
Keren Ann Keren Ann (Blue Note) By her fifth album, Parisian by-way-of Israel (and Javanese/Dutch/Russian descent) Keren Ann Zeidel should arrive fully formed. Instead we get an all-English self-titled album (the preferred avenue for self-declaration) that jumps her conventions. Appearing: June 8th at Lakeshore Theater in Chicago.
David Bowie reissued (yet again)
David Bowie Young Americans/Sight & Sound (Virgin) Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra might lead the field in amount of product on the market, but when it comes to reissuing the back catalog no one tops David Bowie. The near-chronic repackaging of older albums reaches comical proportions with another round of 1975’s Young Americans to go […]
Adrienne Young reviewed
Adrienne Young Room To Grow (Addie Belle) Socialist acoustic punk bands, ever lacking in foresight, completely missed out on a definitive genre tag. Instead comes eco-friendly Adrienne Young who, by packaging seeds with albums and donating proceeds to soil-nourishing causes, deserves the title of the first agri rocker.
Astrid Swan reviewed
Astrid Swan Poverina (Minty Fresh) By puppeteering her voice in such a way, Astrid Swan is sure to draw deadringer comparisons to Kate Bush and Tori Amos. But when she’s on her game the Finn portrays perhaps a more stable, but equally delectable artist.
Bang Gang reviewed
Bang Gang Something Wrong (Ryko/From Nowhere) Finally released in America, this Icelandic “band” sits on the coastline and tries to pick up distant European and New World pop stations.
Joe reviewed
Joe Ain’t Nothin’ Like Me (Jive) Chart-topping loverman’s sixth album is a slow jam from start to finish.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony reviewed
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Strength And Loyalty (Interscope) Five years and some member subtractions later, the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony comeback goes easy on its title theme.
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