Dropped by their major label, the Indigo Girls are determined to prove that this pair of folk-rock veterans isn’t an oldies act just yet. Their new disc uses pop elan to fight for their continuing relevancy. Continue reading
Tag Archives: review
Review: Chris Cornell’s ‘Scream’ Howls For Electro-Pop Stardom
Once upon a time, ex-Soungarden and Audioslave singer Chris Cornell was the ’90s equivalent of a heavy metal golden god. Now desperate to get his solo career off the ground, Cornell has tracked a new album that ditches heavy rock for Timbaland-produced electro-pop. Find out if the gamble does the trick. Continue reading
Review: U2’s ‘Horizon’ Hints At Group’s Creative Sunset
For its last two records, U2 set as the group’s primary musical objective to prove that these middle-aged rock legends are still the best band in the world. The group’s new album, “No Line On The Horizon,” finds the Irish combo in a new era and with a far fuzzier purpose. Continue reading
Review: Van Morrison Revisits, Reworks ’60s Masterpiece On Live Disc
His lyrics harken back to the poetry of the Romantics and often drift back to the Belfast of his youth, but Van Morrison is a notoriously unsentimental musician when it comes to playing his greatest hits. This makes his decision to release a live album celebrating his most mystical, beguiling record more than 40 years after he first recorded it all the more intriguing. Continue reading
Review: Antony And The Johnsons’ ‘Light’ Brightens His Melancholic Star
After spending the last few years lending his considerable vocal talents to others’ projects, neo-torch singer Antony Hegarty and his band have returned with new album that reintroduces the emotive, melancholic musical splendor that made him a go-to vocalist. Continue reading
Review: Animal Collective Discovers Pop Formulas As Latest Experiment
After years of dizzying eclecticism and experimentation while eking out an existence on the indie-rock periphery, New York avant-garde rockers Animal Collective have hit upon a form they’ve yet to explore: pop music. The group’s latest disc is a revelation and should propel them to the forefront of the rock underground. Continue reading
Soundbytes: Top 10 Albums Of 2008
Looking to cash in your iTunes gift card from the holidays? Soundbytes’ David Hyland has recommendations where to spend it. Continue reading
Review: Kanye West’s ‘Heartbreak’ Skews Midas Touch To Suit Dark Mood
Fame, fortune and the glory of forcing rival 50 Cent to cower in the bosom of tacky reality TV doesn’t appear to be enough for Kanye West anymore. His latest CD, “808s And Heartbreak,” is consumed by the emptiness of his former dreams and uses his formidable production acumen to simultaneously sell and shatter his erstwhile persona. Continue reading
Review: Guns N’ Roses’ Much-Delayed ‘Democracy’ Displays Authoritarian Streak
This Sunday, long-suffering Guns N’ Roses fans will finally have in their hands something that many probably thought they’d never see again: a brand-new album. Literally 15 years in the making, the often-ridiculed “Chinese Democracy” documents band leader Axl Rose’s transformation from the savage ringmaster of sleaze rock to the finicky maestro of overproduced epics. Continue reading
Concert Review: Eagles Of Death Metal Bring Boogie Back To Rock ‘N’ Roll
Long stuck in the shadow of the metal titans Queens of the Stone Age, the Eagles of Death Metal have so primed their swaggering, rock ‘n’ roll engine that no one will mistake them for a hot-rod side project again. Their recent concert in Madison, Wis., demonstrates their groove-oriented tunes can shake hips as well as preconceptions. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 