Reviews

The TrewsDen of Thieves(SonyBMG/Bumstead)To follow up their recent opening slot for the “secret” Rolling Stones gig in Toronto, the Trews hit with the follow-up to their hugely successful debut House of Ill Fame. Den of Thieves bears a distinctively different feel, as production duties were shared between Gordie “Big Sugar” Johnson and Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, […]

ClutchRobot Hive/Exodus(Universal)In an era where bands are condemned by their genre through comparisons to other similar-sounding artists, Clutch is exempt from classification. It’s simply impossible to lump this band in with anyone else. Sure, some of its songs may prompt resemblances to The Black Crowes, Black Sabbath, Monster Magnet, Queens Of The Stone Age, Soundgarden […]

Mariah CareyThe Emancipation of Mimi(Island)After enduring backlash and breakdown, Carey is back to selling boatloads of records. She still inserts the odd disconcertingly high note, designed to amaze the listener (or send a secret message to his dog). Despite hip-hop collaborators like Snoop, Twista and Nelly, this is mostly candy in an R&B package. Carey’s […]

OasisDon’t Believe the Truth(sony)Don’t Believe the Truth is the sixth studio release from the recently retooled Oasis — only the brothers Gallagher remain from the original lineup. As with the majority of Oasis’s previous releases, Don’t Believe the Truth is inconsistent; it lacks the ferocity with which Live Forever stormed North American shores and the […]

Early ManClosing In (Matador)The heavy-metal primitivism of Columbus, OH’s Early Man may seem like an odd choice for a Matador release. But it just goes to prove that America’s premiere indie-rock label is not too shy to put its stamp on something even if it doesn’t fit neatly within its expected paradigm. Replete with screaming […]

Jenny Lewis with The Watson TwinsRabbit Fur Coat(Team Love)By illuminating contemporary lyrics through a bluegrass prism, Sarah Harmer’s masterful I’m a Mountain merges old and new in a genre-busting, demographic-defying way. But where you have to dig through layers of jaunty banjo and foot-tapping fiddle to get to the central theme of Harmer’s record — […]

Ryan Adams & the CardinalsCold Roses(Lost Highway Records)Cold Roses is the classic case of a double album that, stripped of a few weak, similar sounding tracks, would have made an outstanding single record. With backup band the Cardinals lending a jaunty vibe to the proceedings, it’s nevertheless a welcome partner to the sincere, good ol’ […]

The BraveryThe Bravery(Island)It sucks to have to agree with anything that The Killers say or do, but when singer Brandon Flowers recently attacked The Bravery, saying “They’re signed because we’re a band…I think people will see through them,” he couldn’t have been more right. The Bravery makes haircut rock. Their songs are extensions of fashion […]

Thievery CorporationThe Cosmic Game (Esi)Thievery Corporation has taken their spacey dub sound even further on The Cosmic Game. With the help of several guest vocalists, the duo has merged aggressive and subtle elements into a downbeat groove that holds the album’s core. The most apparent of these ventures is the inclusion of Wayne Coyne on […]

Bright EyesDigital Ash in a Digital Urn (Saddle Creek)Digital Ash feels like the kind of record Oberst might have put out under a psudonym if he hadn’t decided to release two records at once. If I’m Wide Awake is the singer-songwriter opus that cements his status, Digital Urn showcases lyrically similar songs covered in excess: […]

The Radio Dept. Lesser Matters(XL/Labrador)With bits of electro, noise rock and shoegazer, The Radio Dept. meets all the requirements to be the next great band no one pays attention to. The group has an ability to float My Bloody Valentine-esque melo-dies atop pits of white noise. As laidback vocals drift over buzzing soundscapes, the result […]

Ray Charles Celebrates A Gospel Christmas(UrbanWorks) This DVD concert features a performance by Ray Charles, but it is anything but a Ray Charles DVD. Instead, it should be titled The Voices Of Jubilation Cash in on Ray Charles Before it’s Too Late. Far from a Christmas disc, it features poor audio mixing, unflattering angles and […]