Not quite a case of the song remaining the same, but Dashboard Confessional’s new album demonstrates an increasingly savvy approach to their patented heartsick power ballads. Continue reading
Author Archives: David Hyland
Review: Keane’s Latest Shows Unoriginality But Great Taste
While a Radiohead or Pearl Jam have chosen the musical equivalent of hara-kiri rather than answer expectations, a band like Keane has no such qualms about reaching for stardom. The British group’s new record effectively flaunts its cribbing from rock’s ruling elite. Continue reading
Review: AFI Continues To Smooth Out Punk Edges
California metal-punk combo AFI’s new record is taking once-outsider music to territory it has seldom been before: to the top of the pop album charts. Continue reading
Review: Walkmen Album Is Half-Step In New Direction
The new LP by New York noise-rock outfit, the Walkmen, is certainly a musical journey but will it take listeners to where it suggests it’s headed? Continue reading
Review: Raconteurs’ Debut Adds Yet Another Feather To White’s Cap
Coming off a surprisingly weak album, White Stripes main man Jack White attempts to silence any doubts about his future by unveiling a brand-new side project, the Raconteurs. David reviews whether this new album will save his reputation as a garage-rock prodigy. Continue reading
Review: Snow Patrol’s Latest Outshines Breakthrough
Snow Patrol has done the impossible with its new album, “Eyes Open.” The Northern Ireland-reared, neo-New Wave export has refined its sound and bested its million-selling, breakthrough release. Continue reading
Review: Chili Peppers’ Double LP Is More Natural, But Lacks Spiciness
Living legends of rock ‘n’ roll buffoonery, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have completed a new double album, “Stadium Arcadium.” Soundbytes lets you know whether you need to spend two hours with Flea and Co. Continue reading
Review: Gomez Standout With Faceless, Roots-y Futuristic Rock
In the world of roots rock, British outfit Gomez continue to be anonymous pioneers in combining odd musical bedfellows like psychedelia and modern studio effects with old- timey music. Soundbytes reviews whether their latest will raise their profile. Continue reading
Review: Mobb Deep Return To Hardcore Roots
Tanking album sales, record label splits and a dustup with Jay-Z have left the career of hip-hop duo Mobb Deep in something of a tailspin of late. But by joining forces with 50 Cent’s G-Unit crew on their new comeback record, has the New York pair forsaken what makes them distinct to be just one of the gangstas? Continue reading
2006 / Movie Reviews / Music
Review: Gram Parsons Documentary Tells Seminal Artist’s Rise, Fall
A BBC documentary about ’60s country-rock icon Gram Parsons has finally made it to DVD, wallowing on the high points of a seminal cult artist while taking on some of the legends surrounding his story. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 