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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The brother-sister combo of the Fiery Furnaces set indie-rock hipsters’ sensibilities alight in 2004 with their sprawling, unorthodox record, “Blueberry Boat.” The duo’s new album is almost as long, but full of more concise invitations to their weird sonic world. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 