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
Category Archives: Music
Review: Neo-Folkies Make New Old Music
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
Review: Kanye’s ‘Late Registration’ Gets Mixed Grades
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
Review: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Shifts Gears
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
Memorial: Veteran Critic Wrote About His Times
Soundbytes remembers Al Aronorwitz, the so-called “the godfather of rock journalism,” who played a critical role in the careers of many ’60s music legends. Continue reading
Review: White Stripes Falter, NIN Return With A Vengeance
Soundbytes gives the rundown on new releases by the White Stripes and Nine Inch Nails, and comments on the two group’s differing strategies for repeating musical success. Continue reading
Review: Coldplay Deliver Strong But Chilly New Album
While U2’s latest record had them showing their age, young upstarts Coldplay’s new record, “X&Y,” demonstrates that this is a band in its creative ascendancy and ready to challenge rock’s stadium kings. Soundbytes gives you the lowdown. Continue reading
Review: Wallflowers’ New Disc Shows Little Growth
Almost 10 years after their breakthrough hit and their subsequent fade from the spotlight, roots-rockers the Wallflowers have returned with yet another new album designed to recapture the limelight. Soundbytes lets you know whether they’ve learned any new lessons. Continue reading
2005 / Movie Reviews / Music
Review: Flaming Lips Documentary Chronicles ‘Freaks’ Perseverance
The Flaming Lips’ career is a story of artistic endurance. A new DVD, “The Fearless Freaks,” follows the psychedelic band’s 20-year, zig-zaging ascent from oddballs of the early ’80s hardcore punk scene to MTV-knighted, one-hit wonders to one of underground rock’s premier groups. Continue reading
2005 / Live Reviews / Music
Concert Review: Audioslave Returns With The Past
Although a new album is headed to stores in a couple of weeks, hard rock supergroup Audioslave chose to mine their impressive back catalog for their current North American tour. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 