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: 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: 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 […]

CD Review: Jenny Owen Youngs — Transmitter Failure; Plays the Earl March 4th

Jenny Owen Youngs Transmitter Failure Nettwerk by Al Kaufman What sets Jenny Owen Youngs apart from the other girls with guitars is her versatility. She can get all potty-mouthed like Liz Phair one second, then snuggle up on your lap and ask you to stroke her hair the next. She’s tough and vulnerable, glib and confessional. […]