review :: Tags

Home
Review

Those Darlins: Screws Get Loose

By Steve LaBate at 10:20 AM on March 29, 2011

Whether you thought they were a quirky-obnoxious novelty act or a gang of infinitely charming, boots-are-made-for-rockin’ Americana party girls, forget your initial impression of Those Darlins. Because, over the last few years, the band has become the spirit of rock ’n’ roll incarnate.... read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

The Mountain Goats: All Eternals Deck

By Jeff Leven at 4:00 PM on March 28, 2011

On any Mountain Goats record, John Darnielle’s unflinchingly elegant lyrical turns of phrase are all but given. On All Eternals Deck, the first Goats effort for Merge, they are also packaged in effortlessly clean trappings, culminating in the album’s gorgeous centerpiece.... read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

Southeast Engine: Canary

By Stephen M. Deusner at 2:00 PM on March 28, 2011

Ohio band writes a fanfare for the common man... read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

Peter Bjorn and John: Gimme Some

By Ryan Reed at 11:25 AM on March 28, 2011

Long before they were a band, Swedish indie-pop hipsters Peter Morén, Björn Yttling, and John Eriksson were just three songwriters and soundmakers, bashing around classic pop forms, trying to find something that sounded cool. And today, even though they record and tour as Peter Bjorn and John (or PB&J if you really want to go there), they’re still less of a power trio than a triple-threat of modern pop songcraft. These guys know how tunes work, and they know how to craft one from the inside out.... read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

The Office Review: "Garage Sale" (Episode 7.19)

By Bonnie Stiernberg at 9:31 AM on March 25, 2011

So…where do we go from here?... read more

Found in: TV, Reviews

Lupe Fiasco: Lasers

By Jeff Leven at 2:00 PM on March 22, 2011

A confounding mix of confrontation and polish... read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

The Strokes: Angles

By Bud Scoppa at 10:00 AM on March 22, 2011

I never thought I’d be making this statement about a Strokes record, but the New York band’s fourth album is packed with surprises. Sure, the defining formal fundaments remain: the highly stylized, hermetic sound; the obsessively vacuum-packed rhythm tracks of drummer Fab Moretti and bassist Nikolai Fraiture; the meticulous guitar interplay of Nick Valenzi and Albert Hammond Jr.; Julian Casablancas’ detached, vampire-nocturnal vocals. But atop this aural/stylistic architecture, the band proceeds to toss one lively curveball after another.... read more

Found in: Music, Reviews