50 Cent’s latest album is the soundtrack to the partially fictionalized big-screen biopic of the star rapper’s pre-music business life as a big-time drug dealer. The film is doing so-so business at the box office, but David explains why the disc proves that 50 should still keep his day job. Continue reading
Only days before the second anniversary of his untimely death, more than 20 unreleased tracks recorded by deceased alt-rock poster boy Elliott Smith have leaked online. David gives a review of whether these illegal goodies are worth tracking down. Continue reading
“No Direction Home: Bob Dylan,” the new Martin Scorsese-directed documentary broadcast this week on PBS and available on a two-disc DVD set, is exhilarating to watch because it’s one of the great heroic stories in pop music history. Continue reading
Long seen as rising stars in the jam band scene My Morning Jacket have finally lived up to their promise with the group’s new record, “Z.” Soundbytes gives a review of how their latest should keep the band in Cameron Crowe’s good graces. Continue reading
A new book traces the ever-stalled career of ’70s power-pop icons Big Star. Although the Memphis combo is a key musical touchstone for many rock bands, the group’s artistic achievements went largely unnoticed during their brief existence. David gives a book report about this story filled with classic albums marred by disappointment and tragedy. Continue reading
With last week’s Bob Dylan documentary still fresh in listeners’ minds, a brand new box set devoted to seminal ’60s combo (and former Dylan sidemen) the Band seeks to reemphasize this largely forgotten group’s place in rock history. Boasting five CDs, one DVD, David judges the weight. Continue reading
Sheryl Crow’s new album is a quieter and a more intimate effort than her old albums, but like the others, it goes to great lengths to please listeners’ ears. David explains why and how Crow does it. Continue reading
Thanks to their masterful 2004 releases, singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart and one-man-band Iron And Wine have set themselves as among the leaders of an acoustic music revival in the chic rock underground. David assesses if the pair’s latest albums have them turning up anything new. Continue reading
Kanye West has had an exciting past couple of weeks. He was on the cover of Time magazine, topped the Billboard album charts, and succeeded in stealing the show with his performance at MTV’s Video Music Awards. Oh, and he slammed President George W. Bush on live TV during a Hurricane Katrina charity-athon. Controversy aside, David weighs in on whether his new album merits the headlines. Continue reading
Once easily pigeonholed as diehard New Wave rawkers, Black Rebel Motorcycle have changed their tune on their record, “Howl,” wholeheartedly embracing folk-blues influences. In the process, the group dumped their drummer and had a high-profile falling out with their label. Soundbytes weighs in whether the drama makes for great listening. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 