Published December 08, 2005. Sleater-Kinney The Woods (Sub Pop) In a word: LOUD. The women of S-K always hinted at the fury in their music, but it wasn’t until Flaming Lips producer David Fridmann was brought on board that the trio’s sound turned up to 11. Embracing longer songs, guitar solos and the classic-rock attitude […]
Johnston Farrow
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Editors
Published August 25, 2005. Editors The Back Room (Kitchenware UK) More melodic than Interpol, darker than Bloc Party and with more emotional impact than anything by the Kaiser Chiefs, Editors are the next big thing in the dance-inflected rock sweepstakes. But like its name, the UK-based band takes a more structured approach with its songwriting […]
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The Dandy Warhols
Published August 21, 2003. The Dandy Warhols Welcome to the Monkey House (Capitol) Gone are the acoustic, alt-country leanings of Thirteen Tales of Urban Bohemia, replaced by synthesized soundscapes. Producer Nick Rhodes (of Duran Duran) helps to direct the transformation. As always, The Dandys come up with a lot of style and some killer tunes, […]
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Travis
Published November 25, 2004. Travis Singles (Epic) Although Coldplay largely stole the wind from Travis’s sails, this compilation serves as a reminder that this Glaswegian band floats on its own merit. From the smouldering first single “All I Wanna Do is Rock,” to the irresistible “Why Does it Always Rain on Me,” Travis exhibits an […]
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Lily Allen
Lily AllenAlright, Still (EMI)An artist for the peer-to-peer generation, Lily Allen exploded on the UK scene earlier this year, her first single “Smile” rocketing to the top of the singles chart and becoming the hit of the summer across the pond. Set to a reggae-tinged backdrop, “Smile”—one woman’s vengeful thoughts towards her ex in the […]
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Air
AirTalkie Walkie(Astralwerks)After the harsh electro-lounge of 10,000 Hz Legend, Air re-turns to the spacy dream-pop of their first full-length. With the exception of “Sexy Boy” sequel “Surfing on a Rocket” and the light swinger “Alpha Beta Gaga,” Air slows things down to a blissful crawl. Think Moon Safari on a cocktail of Ecstasy and Valium […]
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Bon Savants
Bon SavantsPost-Rock Defends the Nation (Independent) It happens all the time. One band flies under the radar that deserves attention on the end-of-year charts. Unless you’re an avid music blog reader or have a subscription to Spin, you probably don’t know the Bon Savants. But that could change, as the Boston-based quartet has followed the […]
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Buck 65
Buck 65Secret House Against the World(Warner)Try to look past the fact he cancelled his hometown record release and take Secret House for what it is: a solid step in the evolution of Richard Terfry’s musical journey. To understand Buck 65, one must know that he’s prone to sudden changes in direction from record to record. […]
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In-Flight Safety
In-Flight SafetyThe Coast is Clear(Dead Daisy)Take U2 and Coldplay’s melodic sensibility, Doves’ uplifting drive, the atmosphere of Stars and you have The Coast is Clear, the long-awaited follow-up to their critically acclaimed Vacation Land EP and a record that should catapult In-Flight Safety past its east coast stomping grounds and into national consciousness. One thing […]
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Interpol
InterpolAntics(Matador)With their second record, New York’s moodiest band moves away from the Joy Division-aping dirges of Turn On the Bright Lights and begins to find a distinctive Interpol sound. There are even sure-fire singles such as “Evil‚” with its quiet-loud dynamics, and the layered wall of sound “Slow Hands.” Most impressive is lead singer Paul […]
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Arctic Monkeys
Arctic MonkeysWhatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not(Domino)The UK buzz band of the year did what few bands could: they lived up to the hype. The best debut since the Libertines Up the Bracket, the young band from Sheffield shows songwriting talent beyond its collective years. The Monkeys recall the best of British […]
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Stereolab
StereolabMargerine Eclipse(Elektra)Though the death of member Mary Hansen left the band’s future in doubt, Stereolab has emerged from a dark period. Margerine Eclipse is one of group’s happiest and most melodic albums in years, filled with interesting quirks and bouncy basslines. Stereolab once had a reputation as innovators, but this doesn’t stray from their usual […]