Besides indie-rock hipsters, there was something else that filled Chicago’s Metro on Monday night for TV on the Radio’s sold-out concert: Doubt. Continue reading
Tag Archives: review
Review: Decemberists Use Imagination To Win Converts
Napoleon Bonaparte once said that imagination rules the world, and the copious amounts of it employed on the new album by the Decemberists might give them at least global domination of indie rock. Continue reading
Review: Beck’s ‘Information’ Is Bad News
In an era when so many pop stars’ careers seem ephemeral, alt-rock wunderkind Beck has had a run of great albums that compare with rock’s ’60s and ’70s pantheon. His latest, “The Information,” puts an end to his streak. Continue reading
Review: Elton John Basks In Nostalgia On New Disc
Rock legend Elton John’s new album — his first in two years — revisits his ’70s creative pinnacle. Soundbytes’ David Hyland reviews whether his new effort is worth the return trip. Continue reading
Review: LaMontagne Expands On Second Disc
After a spooky, acoustic-guitar-dominated debut that left many stroking their whiskers with interest, bearded folkie Ray LaMontagne has returned with a new album of augmented songs that refines his songs to broaden their appeal and increase their impact. Continue reading
Review: Thermals Deliver Another, Better Punk-Rock Salvo
A year ago, The Thermals were just another dime-a-dozen pop-punk group sullying the music’s already besmirched name — except that many critics fawned over their albums. However, it’s their new record that finally warrants the glowing press. Continue reading
Review: Jurassic 5 Cultivate Cuddly Vision Of Hip-Hop
Los Angeles rap collective, Jurassic 5, has released yet another album touting positive messages and the joys of old-school hip-hop. Soundbytes answers the question of whether their sound is getting old or just acts that way. Continue reading
Review: TV On The Radio Broadcast Unique Musical Transmissions
Saddled by more than a century of pop music history, it’s difficult to craft a truly original sound. New York art-rock combo TV On The Radio takes this challenge and their new album, “Return To Cookie Mountain,” is the full-flowering of their unique musical vision. Continue reading
Review: Dashboard Confessional Crafts Shiner Torch Songs
Not quite a case of the song remaining the same, but Dashboard Confessional’s new album demonstrates an increasingly savvy approach to their patented heartsick power ballads. Continue reading
Review: Keane’s Latest Shows Unoriginality But Great Taste
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