Kickoff tune “Red Neck Blue Collar” by Bob Frank perfectly represents Jim Dickinson’s rootsy individualism. The song depicts a working man too easily satisfied, never questioning his knee-jerk patriotism or the reasons his paycheck has “few dollars.” Abetted by his sons Luther (guitar) and Cody (drums) from North Mississippi Allstars, the gruff-voiced veteran session […]
Les Claypool’s music is like an exercise in frenzied multitasking — myriad notes zing by as if he’s organizing arrangements on the fly. “Of Whales and Woe” travels at that hurried pace, save for the polka-ish interlude “Robot Chicken.” Even though Claypool sings a lament for “Vernon the Company Man” and ends the record […]
With its previous two releases, this Canadian rock outfit collected Dove and Juno Awards and earned itself a devoted legion of fans throughout North America. That faithful following will rejoice over Downhere’s newest effort, which also marks its Centricity Records debut. The collection is an aural feast. Listeners will detect a hint of Beatles, […]
Surfer pro by day, sunburned rock star by night, Donovan Frankenreiter is living the dream. Ready to ride his own sonic waves, the California-bred singer/songwriter steps out of longtime buddy Jack Johnson’s shadow. Recorded on analog tape with a superb band, Frankenreiter’s sophomore set is a breezy mix of Motown soul, bar-band blues and […]
At last, Art Brut’s joyously sardonic “Bang Bang Rock & Roll” sees stateside release via the new Downtown imprint. Turning the sacred triumvirate of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll on its head, lead singer Eddie Argos uses a deadpan speak-sing to poke fun at everything from being too drunk to get the job […]
Part of the joy of picking up any act’s EP is plugging into what it does outside the box, in between albums and with material it would otherwise sit on. Boards of Canada’s “Trans Canada Highway” EP includes two versions of “Dayvan Cowboy,” which was included on the group’s calmly experimental 2005 album “The […]
T.I. pours the charm on thick with “Why You Wanna,” the second single from his fourth album, “King.” This laid-back cut, with its keyboard-based beat, is a nice shift from his more frenetic singles like “Bring Em Out” and “What You Know.” Here, the Atlanta rapper is just as witty but more refined and methodical […]
Penned by Hank DeVito and Larry Willoughby, the gorgeous “Building Bridges” has long been one of Music Row’s underrated treasures. Kudos to Brooks & Dunn for bringing this little gem back to the spotlight. It’s a classic lyric about mending a broken relationship, and Ronnie Dunn’s lead vocal is as compelling as always. This man […]
The next installment of Ozzfest is near. And along comes the new single from Arch Enemy’s “Doomsday Machine,” as if to remind America just which Swedish act was the breakout band at last year’s festival. “My Apocalypse” strikes up a marching band beat, then layers on razor-sharp guitars that morph into buzz saws. Vocalist Angela […]
Times of crisis can breed some beautiful noise. A Canadian citizen deeply concerned with the state of “our country,” Neil Young returns to his classic Crazy Horse sound, welding warmly distorted, amp-blowing guitars with frail vocals and taut drums. It’s the perfect medium for a raw, unfiltered message. “America has a leader/But he’s not in […]
Cheyenne Kimball has been practicing for this moment all her life. Playing guitar since 7, writing since 8 and performing in public since 9, the teen prodigy won NBC’s “America’s Most Talented Kid” reality series in 2003 and subsequently signed a multirecord deal with Epic. Launch single “Hanging On” fits the Michelle Branch niche (conveniently […]
When C Note’s first album, “Different Kind of Love,” peaked at a less-than-lofty No. 163 six years ago, boy band godfather and pop mogul Lou Pearlman retooled its members and reinvented its mission. Pearlman — best-known for putting ‘N Sync and Backstreet Boys into orbit — hopes to hit two markets with one C Note […]
Gangsta godfather Ice Cube faces a nearly impossible mission with his first new record since 2000’s “War and Peace, Vol. 2.” He has to convince the quick-to-forget hip-hop community that the star of “Are We There Yet?” has any appreciable street cred left. (”I’m a gangsta, I know when I got it good,” he […]
Reggaeton star Don Omar delivers his second studio album a full three years after his debut. And while there is still some shake-your-booty fare here, most of this 18-track set is worth the wait. The introductory “Predica,” featuring violinist Miri Ben Ari improvising over Middle Eastern lines and Omar’s rap preachings, is a good […]
