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
Over four albums and years on the road, the Mars Volta has stubbornly stuck with their game plan that emphasizes a frantic and relentless sonic attack. The prog-rockers’ stubbornness pays off on their new album, “The Bedlam In Goliath,” which is their most consistent assault on listeners’ senses. Continue reading
Canadian heavy-rockers Black Mountain obviously know well the lessons doled out by ’70s rock legends like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. But while the group’s latest album clearly pays tribute to their musical forefathers, their new songs make plain the band has learned from them more than just how to recreate the past. Continue reading
Looking to cash in your iTunes gift card from the holidays? Soundbytes’ David Hyland has recommendations where to spend it. Continue reading
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
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
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
Soundbytes Music Column 