Intern Emily’s Favorites of 2011

By Emily Hogan/@emilyhogan I’m terrible at putting music related things in any type of order. First to last, best to worst, I just can’t do it. So, here’s a list of 11 of my favorite releases from 2011, in no particular order. Most of these releases stayed on the record player, mp3 player or the […]

Live Review/Picture Book: Lykke Li, First Aid Kit at Buckhead Theatre, November 20

By Justin Lyons; photos by Matthew Smith Lykke Li’s transformation from curious and blooming songsbird to take-charge chanteuse over the past few years was on great display at Buckhead Theatre on Sunday night.  Li’s latest album, Wounded Rhymes, brushes aside all of the come-ons and questions from her debut Youth Novels and transitions to actions […]

CD Review: Bob Seger — Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets

Bob Seger Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets Capitol Records By Ellen Eldridge An amusing thought always occurs at the mention of the words “Greatest Hits” or, in the case of the collected works of Bob Seger, “Ultimate Hits.” I wonder what makes a song a “hit,” especially in light of the fact that […]

CD Review: R.E.M. — Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011

R.E.M. Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011 Warner Brothers By Al Kaufman For many people outside of Georgia, R.E.M. broke up about 15 years too late. They should have called it quits after Bill Berry retired and before Michael Stipe started bitching in his songs. R.E.M. had a few lean years in […]

CD Review: The Twilight Saga — Breaking Dawn Part I Soundtrack

Various Artists The Twilight Saga — Breaking Dawn Part I Soundtrack Chop Shop/Atlantic By Al Kaufman While the Twilight movie series caters to teenage girls who find nothing more romantic than sleeping with 500-year-old vampires who wear glitter, the soundtracks aim for a wider audience. Past releases have helped aid the careers of the likes […]

CD Review: She & Him — A Very She & Him Christmas

She & Him A Very She & Him Christmas Merge Records By Al Kaufman Kind of like in Rilo Kiley, when Blake Sennett barely got a word in edgewise against the more engaging Jenny Lewis, so it is that M. Ward scarcely shows up on this Zooey Deschanel showcase. The pair have made a couple […]

Live Review & Picture Book: The Warren Haynes Band at The Tabernacle, November 10

By Lisa Keel The Warren Haynes Band roared into Atlanta’s Historic music venue The Tabernacle touring in support of his first solo record release in 18 years, Man in Motion. They departed leaving a wake through the state of Georgia of smiling and very satisfied fans. Actually, to call them fans is an understatement. The […]

CD Review: Nickelback — Here and Now

Nickelback Here and Now Roadrunner By Ellen Eldridge Nickelback surprises me with how controversial they’ve become lately. The protest against their scheduled Thanksgiving Day performance in Detroit seems far too overdramatic for what I always considered a pretty decent pop rock band. Front man Chad Kroeger and the rest of the band have not responded […]

CD Review: Sarah Siskind — Novel; Playing Eddie’s Attic, November 16

Sarah Siskind Novel Red Request Records By Al Kaufman It would be easy to write Sarah Siskind off as just another hippie chick. Just read some of the liner notes on Novel: “All drums and percussion were handmade or household objects.” Or how about, “Sarah makes unique jewelry made from beads, charms and the like […]