Looking to cash in your iTunes gift card from the holidays? Soundbytes’ David Hyland has recommendations where to spend it. Continue reading
Category Archives: 2007
Soundbytes: 5 Music Predictions For 2008
Before we cross over into 2008, Soundbytes’ David Hyland has gazed into his crystal ball and is ready to divulge some musical predictions of what we can expect in the year to come. Continue reading
Review: Hives Enlist Top-Tier Producers To Guide Comeback Disc
Once hailed as the Swedish saviors of rock ‘n’ roll, the Hives have hired rock and pop’s most lustrous names to propel their new disc, “The Black And White Album,” back to the top of the charts. If the new album isn’t quite a hail mary, it’s certainly a collection that underscores the group’s commitment to recapture their past glories. Continue reading
Review: Plant-Krauss Duet Helps Singer Escape Zeppelin’s Shadow
When Robert Plant breaks out his tight bellbottoms to share the stage again with the reformed Led Zeppelin next month, it won’t just be 30 years of rock ‘n’ roll legends that he’ll be potentially trampling underfoot. He’s also risking the fortunes of his new album, a disc poised to finally fulfill his long-cherished dream of a creative life away from Zeppelin. Continue reading
Concert Review: Arlo Guthrie Reaffirms Faith For Folkie Faithful
Ever the road warrior, Arlo Guthrie proves every night through his live shows that he’s folk music’s most dedicated ambassador and still a favorite son of the Woodstock nation. His recent concert in Madison, Wis., however, aimed to inspire young converts as much as it reaffirmed faith for his older fans. Continue reading
Review: Clapton’s Life Story Is Detailed But Lifeless
If you read classic-rock god Eric Clapton’s new autobiography, “Clapton: The Autobiography,” it won’t take you 238 pages to realize why he’s a guitar player and not a writer. Continue reading
Review: Indie-Rock Group Stars Almost Lives Up To Name
Canadian indie-rock combo Stars bowled over many in the hipster nation with their last album. The band’s latest disc builds on this success, demonstrating an expanded musical vision, and comes tantalizingly close to making good on their name. Continue reading
Review: Bruce Springsteen’s Latest Tries To Rekindle Old E Street ‘Magic’
After two albums apart, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are back together again for the Boss’ newest record, “Magic.” The disc emphasizes the factors that likely feed Springsteen’s own conflicted feelings about his much-loved backup group and have sparked their periods of estrangement. Continue reading
Review: PJ Harvey Draws Simplified Song Sketches With ‘White Chalk’
At the same time that PJ Harvey earned a spot as one of the poster children of the ’90s alternative nation, she also established that she’s an artist determined to go her own way. But despite this, it’s still somehow surprising how dramatically she gives herself a musical makeover for her latest disc, “White Chalk.” Continue reading
Concert Review: Flaming Lips Employ New Toys, Tunes To Celebrate Summer’s End
Oklahoma-based psychedelic rock troupe the Flaming Lips utilized an arsenal of new stage gimmicks as well as their newest songs to pull off a confetti-drenched celebration of summer’s conclusion on Saturday night in Madison. Continue reading