CD Review: Monte Montgomery — Monte Montgomery; Playing The Local May 22

CD Review: Monte Montgomery — Monte Montgomery; Playing The Local May 22

Monte Montgomery Monte Montgomery Eminent Records By Al Kaufman Monte Montgomery is an extraordinary guitarist. Of that there can be no doubt. One need just listen to his tremendous instrumental cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” to understand that. It is powerful enough to make a grown man weep. Montgomery is also adept and writing […]

CD Review: The Dead Weather — Sea of Cowards

CD Review: The Dead Weather — Sea of Cowards

The Dead Weather Sea of Cowards Third Man Records By Chris Homer The Dead Weather pick-up where they left off on last year’s debut, Horehound, on their latest album, Sea of Cowards. The album doesn’t stray far from the heavy, distortion soaked, blues-rock Jack White’s super-group established on their debut. Of course, this shouldn’t detract […]

CD Review: Minus the Bear — Omni; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 10

CD Review: Minus the Bear — Omni; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 10

Minus the Bear Omni Dangerbird By Al Kaufman Minus the Bear have grown up. Gone are the frat boy-like titles such as “Hey, Wanna Throw Up?” And while their fourth release, Omni, contains some of the frenetic melodies that encompassed earlier CDs, it mostly contains listener-friendly grooves and jams. They’re memorable jams, but just a bit […]

CD Review: Josh Rouse — El Turista; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 21

CD Review: Josh Rouse — El Turista; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 21

Josh Rouse El Turista Yep Rock By Scott Roberts Singer/songwriter Josh Rouse has always been a restless soul. From the tunefully mellow pop-rock of his 1998 debut Dressed Up Like Nebraska, to the conceptual retro vibe of 2003’s 1972, Rouse has never stayed in one musical place too long or allowed himself to be pigeonholed. […]

CD Review: Goldfrapp — Head First

CD Review: Goldfrapp — Head First

Goldfrapp Head First Mute By Eileen Tilson If you take a look at the most intriguing female singers to emerge this past year, every one of them seems to have taken Alison Goldfrapp’s Electronica Princess class. From Lady Gaga’s other-worldliness, La Roux’s 80’s synth pop, to Ladyhawke’s electro sound, sparkles of Goldfrapp’s past can be […]

CD Review: Broken Bells — Broken Bells; Playing Center Stage, June 10 and the 40 Watt, June 11

CD Review: Broken Bells — Broken Bells; Playing Center Stage, June 10 and the 40 Watt, June 11

Broken Bells Broken Bells Sony By Micah McLain When Brian Burton (AKA Danger Mouse) and The Shins’ lead singer James Mercer announced their collaboration in 2009, fans of both artists were no doubt excited about the wide range of sonic possibilities. While both artists come from very different backgrounds, their trajectories have been moving closer […]

Picture Book & Live Review: Beach House, Washed Out @ The EARL, April 29

Review by Jhoni Jackson; photos by Matt Smith (www.shadowboxerphoto.com) It wasn’t just the rarity of a smoke-free show that displaced Thursday night at the EARL from regularity. Two of indie’s most hyped acts – Washed Out and Beach House – caused a dreamy transformation. Pom-poms were strung in abundant rows along the ceiling and exaggerated […]

CD Review: Justin Currie — The Great War

CD Review: Justin Currie — The Great War

Justin Currie The Great War Ryko By Al Kaufman You know Justin Currie. He was singer and songwriter behind Del Amitri, the ’90s Scottish pop-rock band that had a knack for playing instantly familiar tracks, such as “Always the Last to Know” and “Roll to Me;” songs that everyone knows, but nobody knows who sings […]