Already stars of their own HBO show, New Zealand acoustic pair Flight of the Conchords are poised to breakthrough from comedic novelty to bonafide pop stars. But, if you think the Concords are just a joke band, their debut album will prove that joke is on you. Continue reading
Continuously outshone by Jack White and the White Stripes, the Ohio-based neo-blues duo the Black Keys is finally poised to claim the spotlight with their new, Danger Mouse-produced album. Oddly, they do so by largely shunning the blues. Continue reading
Years of bad albums and sagging sales have eroded R.E.M.’s standing in the rock world from alternative-rock giants to rock star has-beens. The group’s new album, “Accelerate,” kicks into high gear the effort to reverse this trend, but then it grinds to a screeching halt. Continue reading
With 40-year-old soccer moms and bohemian punk-rock lifers moshing together at the front of the stage, Los Angeles punk legends X returned to Madison on Friday night for what might have produced a snide snicker in their late ’70s scene: a reunion tour. Continue reading
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we examine how an unexpected Oscar win last month by two Ireland-based artists should spur interest in them and their erstwhile bandmates’ musical output. Continue reading
More than two decades after the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted its first artists, the organization now appears like it’s scraping the bottom of the barrel for its latest class. Read our preview of Monday night’s ceremony. Continue reading
More than 15 years after their closest sideswipes with fame, ex-frontmen from a pair of alternative rock’s biggest couldabeens have joined forces and cut a new duet album. This time, the duo is hoping their combined efforts will allow them to finally grab that brass ring. Continue reading
No longer content to play second fiddle in buzz group Band of Horses, guitarist Mat Brooke formed his own group, Grand Archives. The ensemble’s debut album, “The Grand Archives,” is an intriguing start that begs expansion. Continue reading
Challenged with overcoming his own mental health issues and musical limitations, Daniel Johnston has persevered by creating pure and simple pop songs. The cult singer-songwriter demonstrated the magnetic qualities of his music during his set in Milwaukee on Thursday night. Continue reading
Playing before the biggest audience (live and at home) that they’ll probably ever have, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ performance during the Super Bowl XLII halftime show on Sunday night was as well-rehearsed and executed as the lights and pyrotechnics. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 