Various Artists - Everything that Happens Will Happen Today
Artist: Various Artists Review: David Byrne and Brian Eno retreated to pop's periphery years ago, but their influence is suddenly front and center. There are echoes of Byrne's old band, Talking Heads, in the avant-funk of LCD Soundsystem and other dance-rock bands, and you can hear the singer's workaday hysteria in the cadences of Arcade Fire's Win Butler and Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock. Coldplay sought producer Eno to help them make Viva la Vida, a record that recalls another album with Eno's mark, U2's The Joshua Tree.... Rating: 4 Stars
The Raconteurs, Consolers Of The Lonely
Hardcore Stripes fans may bemoan the 'uncool' sheen of professionalism that coats this album, but this beats Icky Thump by a country mile.
Genesis - Genesis: 1970-1975
Artist: Genesis Review: At first, Genesis were five English ex-boarding-school mates playing complex songs about hogweed and Greek myth. They slimmed that audacity into platinum pop as members left: guitarist Anthony Phillips (1970), singer Peter Gabriel (1975) and guitarist Steve Hackett (1977). But bassist Mike Rutherford, keyboardist Tony Banks and drummer Phil Collins were never as compelling later as they were in the band that made the five LPs in this box. The country-cathedral air of 1970's Trespass and the... Rating: 4.5 Stars
Michael McDonald, Soul Speak
On this evidence his voice still has more than enough authority to carry it off.
Lloyd - Lessons In Love
Artist: Lloyd Review: Lloyd Harlin Polite Jr. isn't your average R&B smoothie — he's much hornier. On his third album, the 22-year-old New Orleans native trains his high croon on titles like "Have My Baby" and "Sex Education," coming off like a pop-wise lothario or a slightly less-weird version of R. Kelly. With help from producers like Eric Hudson and Polow Da Don, Lloyd keeps it brightly tuneful over an Eric B. and Rakim sample and other pricey beats outfitted with electro squiggles. Between its love for inte... Rating: 3 Stars
George Strait - Troubadour
Artist: George Strait Review: Like a bottle of Heinz ketchup on a diner counter, a George Strait album is a reassuring product. At fifty-five, dude's spent his life making fairly low-bullshit, high-yield mainstream country: Since 1981's Strait Country, his LPs have gone platinum or better thirty-two times, and the four-CD anthology Strait Out of the Box has shifted 8 million units. That's a lot of Resistol cowboy hats, pardner (although thanks to his endorsement deal, Strait no doubt gets 'em free). Troubadour is... Rating: 3 Stars
The Sugars, The Curse Of The Sugars
The Leeds trio prove themselves well worthy of the buzz that's been surrounding them.
Christine Perfect, The Complete Blue Horizons Sessions
Although hardly essential, a very welcome listen.
Lazenby, The Loft Years
Track for track, Lazenby's sound defies categorisation.
Old Crow Medicine Show - Tennessee Pusher
Artist: Old Crow Medicine Show Review: Old Crow Medicine Show aren't revivalists. They're anachronists. On their fourth full-length, produced by Don Was, the Nashville quartet mash up a well-nigh 19th-century sound — hopped-up folk, bluegrass, country and gospel — with lyrics that are firmly planted in the 21st century. "Huff paint, cocaine, playing chicken with a train/Smack dab, meth lab, mellow out, rehab," hoots Ketch Secor in "Alabama High-Test." Several songs cast a journalistic eye on hard partying, from the countr... Rating: 3.5 Stars
Al Green, Lay it Down
On this showing Al Green will still be knocking 'em dead both in the chapel and the concert halls for a long time to come yet.
The Pigeon Detectives, Emergency
One hit wonders this band ain?t.
Triston Palma, Joker Smoker
A perfect example of what was, in reality, a high point in reggae's golden age.
Maanam
Pierwsza polska hippiska, pierwsza polska punkówa, poetka patronująca szkole budowlanej, w końcu wybitna wokalistka od ponad 30 lat trwale zrośnięta z legendarną grupą Maanam, Kora do dziś pozostaje niekwestionowaną królową polskiego rocka....
Herbaliser, The
Twórczość Herbalisera pokazuje, jak elastyczna może być hiphopowa formuła. Dokonania londyńskiego duetu niewiele mają wspólnego z kojarzonymi z tym gatunkiem stereotypami....
Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
Artist: Conor Oberst Review: On last year's "Cassadaga," Conor Oberst left his home in New York to wander the country's byways. On his latest album, recorded in Mexico, the Omaha, Nebraska, native is still drifting, having ditched both his Bright Eyes moniker and longtime producer Mike Mogis. A rough-hewn, death-haunted travelogue, this set proves that while you can run from home, you can't run from yourself. And sometimes that's OK. Largely, this is the introspective folk rock of Bright Eyes, though there's some welcome... Rating: 3.5 Stars
Jamie Lidell, Jim
If you've had enough of the girls crowding the field, and you need a feel-good piece of plastic to either shake your booty to or romance your significant other, Jim's got it all.
Gonzales Jose
Wzrastająca w ostatnich latach popularność folku pokazuje, że mimo wszechobecnej wysoko rozwiniętej technologii w XXI wieku ludzie dalej poszukują w muzyce prostoty, szczerości i emocjonalności. ...
Shwayze - Shwayze
Artist: Shwayze Review: Cisco Adler, leader of Los Angeles sleaze rockers Whitestarr, is famous for his well-connected dad (producer Lou Adler), ex-girlfriends (like Mischa Barton) and his ballsy nude photo, which leaked online last year. His newest hobby is producing tracks (and an MTV reality show) for 22-year-old Malibu chill-hop rapper Shwayze, whose breezy flow is a hybrid of Young MC and Digable Planets' Butterfly. Adler's no beat master, and the tracks on Shwayze all sound like variations on thumb-strummed Jack... Rating: 2.5 Stars
Music Review | Shelby Lynne: Well-Behaved Covers, Then a Jolt of Originality
Ms. Lynne gave the impression of diligent restraint along with a sort of professional civility.
Elbow, Seldom Seen Kid
For the most part it's brilliant business as usual.