Everyone's a Critic
First thought on this latest from Why? How the hell did they clone They Might Be Giants? No, wait, I don't believe in human cloning. Okay, how did they get They Might Be Giants to …
Kurt Vile wants you to believe that's his real name, and it certainly provides a hook to hang the heavy hype this disc, his first for Matador, gets. Confidentially, though, a guy writing lines like …
Time to Die, the Dodo's third full-length record and follow-up to 2008's acclaimed Visiter, arrives with high expectations and delivers with a fuller sound due to the addition of multi-instrumentalist Keaton Snyder. Opening track "Small …
Jay Reatard's got one of the stupidest handles in what we call pop. Of course, he also has one of the sharper minds in what we call pop. Singing, arranging, playing many instruments, the self-dubbed …
I had lawn seats for the Dave Matthews show at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre on Saturday, September 12, and got there just after opening act Switchfoot ended, about 15 minutes before DMB took the stage. …
Yo La Tengo's 12th album runs 72:49. The closing tracks ratchet up from 9:37 to 11:22 to 15:51, making up over half the record's run time. But Popular Songs isn't "Set The Controls for the …
Before the Frost, the Black Crowes latest release, was recorded live in drummer Levon Helm's home studio in Woodstock, NY. A few fans sat in on the session, providing applause between tracks. The vibe throughout …
Album number four finds Bert McCraken and the Used back with their patented hard, guitar-driven riffs and passionate, introspective lyrics. Though, with Artwork, the volatility of past albums has been replaced with a more structured …
The Blueprint 3 is Jay-Z's strongest album since 2003's Black Album. Many thought Jay had lost his edge, but one listen to this new batch of tracks dismisses that notion. It’s got to be difficult …
The Sword doesn't tinker with the formula they borrow from Black Sabbath, the formula first used to create their debut Age of Winters. Instead of trying to reinvent the metal wheel, the Austin-based quartet focus …
I saw AC/DC for the first time at the San Diego Sports Arena in the early '70s and many times since. As a seasoned fan, I wasn't sure what to expect at the arena Sunday …
Labor Day weekend saw the San Diego Symphony's Summer Pops concert series' finale under the energetic baton of Matthew Garbutt. The line up contained well-known favorites (Tchaikovsky's Slavic March and 1812 Overture) along with rarely …
Hundreds of kids had their parents in tow for an acoustic concert by Ziggy Marley, who was supporting his new children's album Family Time. Without pausing to address the sold out crowd, Marley took the …
When Jack White played Street Scene in 2006, it was in the un-rock 'n' roll setting of Qualcomm Stadium's parking lot. His Detroit duo White Stripes started 45 minutes late. Jack looked pissed and Meg …
American Saturday Night is filled with the wit and honesty that has made Brad Paisley one of the brightest stars in country music today. He is one of the few authentic artists in Nashville who …
Charlie Robison delivers his signature whiskey-soaked country on Beautiful Day. The theme of the collection, most noticeable on tracks such as "Reconsider" and "Down Again," is emotional turmoil, a response to his divorce from Emily …