Scottish Scientists Create Automobile Fuel From Whiskey
Leave it to brainy Scottish scientists to find a way to turn by-products of whiskey production into a means of powering your car.... read more
Found in: Culture, NewsA Very Personal, Highly Idiosyncratic Musical Overview of the Aughts
This is not about American Idol, Kenny Chesney, Radiohead, Sufjan Stevens, Beyonce, Wilco, or The Arcade Fire. If, for the past ten years, you’ve followed popular music beyond the narrow confines of Top 40 radio, you already know the big albums and the major musical trends of the decade. This is not about that. The Aughts were ushered in by a cavalcade of short-lived (sometimes all too literally) rap stars, pre-fab boy bands, and pop divas, and they will be ushered out by a cavalcade of rap stars and pre-fab artists who made their names by covering classic rock and... read more
Found in: Blogs, Andy Whitman on MusicStraight Outta Dundee
The audacious tale of two rapping impostors who nearly destroyed the record business—and themselves... read more
Found in: Music, FeaturesFrightened Rabbit: The Midnight Organ Fight
Glasgow band shoots for the back row on sophomore releaseHaving already demonstrated their rough-around-the-edges charm with its frantic 2007 debut, Frightened Rabbit is just about the last band you’d expect would aspire to arena-sized rock anthems. That they can pull this off while retaining their homespun aesthetic is remarkable, as Midnight Organ Fight startles with its heartfelt directness and sing-along immediacy. The album is singularly focused yet emotionally visceral, refining and sharpening the band’s rousing sprawl. Vocalist/guitarist Scott Hutchison writes songs that tread the fine line between overwrought emoting and startling self-revelation, his wounded Scottish yelp perfectly suited for... read more
Found in: Music, Reviews