CD Review: The Black Keys — Brothers

CD Review: The Black Keys — Brothers

The Black Keys Brothers Nonesuch By Al Kaufman If looking at names alone, The White Stripes and The Black Keys seem like polar opposites. But while White Stripe Jack White went off and started a new band seemingly every week, The Black Keys quietly moved in and claimed the blue-eyed, fuzzy blues title from under […]

CD Review: Monte Montgomery — Monte Montgomery; Playing The Local May 22

CD Review: Monte Montgomery — Monte Montgomery; Playing The Local May 22

Monte Montgomery Monte Montgomery Eminent Records By Al Kaufman Monte Montgomery is an extraordinary guitarist. Of that there can be no doubt. One need just listen to his tremendous instrumental cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” to understand that. It is powerful enough to make a grown man weep. Montgomery is also adept and writing […]

CD Review: Minus the Bear — Omni; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 10

CD Review: Minus the Bear — Omni; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 10

Minus the Bear Omni Dangerbird By Al Kaufman Minus the Bear have grown up. Gone are the frat boy-like titles such as “Hey, Wanna Throw Up?” And while their fourth release, Omni, contains some of the frenetic melodies that encompassed earlier CDs, it mostly contains listener-friendly grooves and jams. They’re memorable jams, but just a bit […]

CD Review: Justin Currie — The Great War

CD Review: Justin Currie — The Great War

Justin Currie The Great War Ryko By Al Kaufman You know Justin Currie. He was singer and songwriter behind Del Amitri, the ’90s Scottish pop-rock band that had a knack for playing instantly familiar tracks, such as “Always the Last to Know” and “Roll to Me;” songs that everyone knows, but nobody knows who sings […]

CD Review: Cinetrope — Once I Ruled the World; Playing 500 Songs For Kids at Smith’s Olde Bar, April 30

CD Review: Cinetrope — Once I Ruled the World; Playing 500 Songs For Kids at Smith’s Olde Bar, April 30

Cinetrope Once I Ruled the World Zombino By Al Kaufman Cinetrope think big. The Atlanta band, whose name means “film music,” have created a concept album about a man-made plague that ends the world (turning people into zombies, of course), the guilt the creator of the plague goes through, and the creator’s ultimate redemption by inventing […]

CD Review: Evelyn Evelyn – Evelyn Evelyn

CD Review: Evelyn Evelyn – Evelyn Evelyn

Evelyn Evelyn Evelyn Evelyn Eleven Records By Al Kaufman Thankfully, nobody on the planet flies their freak flag higher than Amanda Palmer, and even she needed to find a longer pole for her latest endeavor, Evelyn Evelyn; ukulele-playing conjoined twins who share “three legs, two arms, two hearts, three lungs, and a single liver.” Palmer, a […]

CD Review: Bitch — Blasted!: Playing Bellissima, March 23

Bitch Blasted! Short Story Records By Al Kaufman It would be easy to just throw Bitch into the “another Ani DiFranco” category. After all, she’s a political, lesbian singer with a good sense of humor and a militant following. Both singers use alternative tunings and get the most out of their instruments. But DiFranco’s instrument […]