Reviews

Written by Alex Schreiber Tuesday, 25 January 2011 14:39

“Tithe” could have been great if it didn’t sound like Pryor was singing through the back of a fan.

Written by Eva Connors Tuesday, 25 January 2011 13:04

The raw, unpolished vocals of Matthew Shultz and slinky, dance-floor rhythms are a huge departure from the band’s debut sound.

Written by Eva Connors Tuesday, 25 January 2011 12:51

Working with kids must have gotten to him, because Hi-Five Soup! seems to cross the line from all-ages party music into full-fledged kids album.

Written by Kavahn Mansouri Tuesday, 25 January 2011 01:18

Down and dirty, this Israeli’s voice will kick your ear buds to the curb from track one straight through track ten.

Written by Jennifer Manjarez Tuesday, 25 January 2011 01:12

The amazing thing about Cake is their ability to put together songs that are predominantly pessimistic, but still leave their fans dancing.

Written by Jason Neubauer Tuesday, 25 January 2011 00:58

“I’ve been to hell and back, I ain’t fallin’ off this track / From the back to the front page, from the gutter to the stage / I’m still alive and I will survive.”

Written by Alex Schreiber Thursday, 20 January 2011 13:18

Along with the drumbeat are crashing cymbals and unintelligible yet angelic chants that make for an uplifting song—so uplifting that it feels like you’re being blasted into space. 

Written by Laura Hamlett Tuesday, 18 January 2011 17:38

Most of the songs here would fit well on alternative rock radio alongside anything the major labels have to offer.

Written by Glen Elkins Thursday, 30 December 2010 15:48

Strange whirls, ominous reverberations and scathing screeches collide in what can only be described as an orchestral orgy.

Written by Laura Hamlett Friday, 17 December 2010 21:25

Singer/songwriter Paddy McAloon is a man with a sincere and deeply rooted love of music.

Written by Laura Hamlett Sunday, 12 December 2010 00:01

The singer brings a bit of himself to “Blue Christmas,” slowing it down to an instrumental ballad which perfectly fits his voice.

Written by Laura Hamlett Saturday, 11 December 2010 23:53

I’m not sure who David Foster is, but it’s virtually impossible to deliver a “Carol of the Bells” that doesn’t dazzle.

Written by Stephen Fairbanks Friday, 10 December 2010 09:51

Though the genre pops up as "rap" when you open the album in iTunes, this is an album that defies categorization, which is high praise in my book.

Written by Stephen Fairbanks Thursday, 09 December 2010 17:53

One gets the feeling that these latter songs were intended to be played in front of a rowdy mosh pit, as is only fitting for a band with their pedigree.

Written by Mike Rengel Wednesday, 08 December 2010 13:42

It’s ‘hit the back button the second it ends to hear it again’ outstanding, which is what the entire record aspires to but only intermittently achieves.

Written by Matthew Treon Wednesday, 08 December 2010 13:36

Its pulsing instrumentation, reverb-drenched vocals and unapologetic length perfectly set the tone for the rest of the album.

Written by Mary Beth Hascall Wednesday, 08 December 2010 13:17

Together, this quintet creates delicious American electro-pop by the spoonfuls.

Written by Brett Berliner Wednesday, 08 December 2010 13:06

Frankly, if West feeds off of his ego to create masterpieces like his latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, we should be heaping even more praise in his direction.

Written by Laura Hamlett Tuesday, 07 December 2010 22:33

The one song responsible for the sales of this album is as good as you remembered.

Written by Laura Hamlett Monday, 06 December 2010 23:18

I’m convinced more than ever that this band isn’t for me.

Written by Matthew Treon Thursday, 02 December 2010 02:04

Dust Lane communicates nearly every aspect of being human in just under an hour.

Written by Laura Hamlett Saturday, 27 November 2010 22:45

husband&wife seems to be the bastard child of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Uncle Tupelo and Minus the Bear.

Written by Kelly Glueck Tuesday, 23 November 2010 22:45

He was able to achieve an innovative sound reinforced by his reflective lyrics—despite using nearly 500 first person pronouns on this 13-track album.

Written by Braden Abbott Tuesday, 23 November 2010 22:38

Somehow, he has used the most banal artistic methods to produce works that are, quite honestly, shallow but immensely thrilling. And yes, at points he finds the sublime.

Written by Mike Rengel Monday, 22 November 2010 13:29

Think of it as an ode to love as a chemical, the loss of it as withdrawal and rock’n’roll as the corresponding dose of methadone.

Written by Laura Hamlett Friday, 19 November 2010 22:39

Let’s face it: Tim Kasher has lost his edge.

Written by Jim Dunn Thursday, 18 November 2010 09:48

Ferry has vocally aged very well, if anything his expressive weariness sounds better now than it ever has.

Written by Jacob Snyder Wednesday, 17 November 2010 09:17

Resignation Day riffs 36 minutes of nonstop chant-along punk rock without succumbing to the cliché of throwing a sappy ballad in.

Written by Courtney Rau Wednesday, 17 November 2010 02:09

I’m not sure they’ve created this year’s must-have holiday release, but they have given us a collection of ear- and crowd-pleasing songs.