On the Record
At 5:19 into the first cut, Simmons’s alto and Barbara Donald's trumpet hit a huge skidding smear — a show-off driver on a slick road, hopped up maybe, hits the brake and the gas at …
With their debut studio effort, San Diego all-star band Midnight Rivals has produced a beer-soaked, full-tilt rock ’n’ roll record. Guitarists-songwriters Morgan Smith and Mike Santos have crafted tunes that reflect influences that range from …
Okay, I'm not a big fan of hip-hop and rap. I'm just too old-fashioned to appreciate lyrics that call women "bitches" and "hos" to project sexuality in songs. The great R&B and soul singers of …
If you've ever read Wooden on Leadership, a motivational book by UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, you'll remember that one of his keys to success was never playing to win. Rather, he trained with the …
You may not have heard of Daniel Lanois, but that doesn't mean you haven't heard him. From Bob Dylan to U2, the acclaimed musician and rock producer's touch can be found on some of the …
A song cycle, as I hear it, about an aspiring Jersey Girl — aspirant to Jersey City, at least, and Anything With Capital Letters Above All (Even If She Hasn't Thought That Through). She runs …
I'd like to think that everyone has moments of nearsightedness. That eases my chagrin at the knee-jerk wince evinced earlier this year when Crushed Stars were making waves with "99 Red Balloons." The wince was …
Between thick layers of glossy production, Kid Cudi delves into matters of the psyche untouched by mainstream rap. One can draw a comparison to Eminem's recent work in terms of rapping about drug addiction, but …
There are two worthy new versions of rock classics on Carlos Santana's latest compilation album: one is a tag-team take of Carlos on his soaring guitar and Rob Thomas on guest vocal, recapturing and possibly …
On Elizabeth Cook's last album, Balls, she sang "Sometimes it takes balls/to be a woman" — the record's only good joke — and the Velvet Underground's "Sunday Morning," the record's only earworm melody, and it's …
Minnesota hip-hop duo Slug and Ant are back with a double EP of instrument-infused indie rap. On To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy, Slug has become the Bruce Springsteen of the genre, …
of Montreal’s tenth studio album completes the third installment of an unofficial trilogy highlighting frontman Kevin Barnes's penchant for love, lust, loss, and all the sweat-soaked alleyways in-between. Enlisting producer Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Kanye …
I became aware of Sugarland while watching a country-music awards show and heard hit song “Life in a Northern Town.” This spellbinding song, which packs original lyrics, world beats, and a reggae-gospel chorus, is unlike …
"Everything that rises must converge" — so wrote paleontologist and priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), who envisioned an "Omega Point" right before Christ turns on his light and we all fly unto it. I'm …
Maximum Balloon’s lead single “Tiger” is used in a video for an Esquire UK photo shoot with British beauty Daisy Lowe. Its beat is easy and the well-paced horn riffs and synth pulse keep the …