CD Review: Nada Surf — if i had a hi-fi

CD Review: Nada Surf — if i had a hi-fi

Nada Surf if i had a hi-fi Mardev Records By Al Kaufman The title of Nada Surf’s CD of cover tunes, if i had a hi-fi, sums up the theme. The title is about wanting and about music. In addition, it’s a fun palindrome. So goes this unexpectedly delightful collection. The chosen songs on hi-fi […]

CD Review: Sam Quinn — The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships

CD Review: Sam Quinn — The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships

Sam Quinn The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships Ramseur Records By Ellen Eldridge From the pencil-colored whale rising in a field of trees shaded by a multi-colored horizon on the album cover to the stylishly simplistic, silver-penned song titles, this Sam Quinn album, The Fake That Sunk A Thousand Ships, attracts. A sorrowful “Hello” […]

CD Review: This Piano Plays Itself — As the House…

CD Review: This Piano Plays Itself — As the House…

This Piano Plays Itself As the House.. Adair Park Recordings By Eric Chavez Adair Park Recordings artists This Piano Plays Itself are back for another jam session with their album As the House… An album with many sides, at times the sound is pure indie-rock, other times it aims more towards the pop sound. Creative […]

CD Review: David Cross — Bigger and Blackerer

CD Review: David Cross — Bigger and Blackerer

David Cross Bigger and Blackerer Sub Pop By Ellen Eldridge Bigger and Blackerer, the latest release from David Cross (available May 25 on CD and DVD), encompasses the inane sense of indignant humor for which fans fell in love with Cross in the mid ’90s during HBO’s series “Mr. Show.” For fans who may have […]

CD Review: Band of Horses — Infinite Arms

CD Review: Band of Horses — Infinite Arms

Band Of Horses Infinite Arms Columbia By Ellen Eldridge Band Of Horses writes songs which seep into the subconscious; perhaps, this can be attributed to the popular television shows like “Dog The Bounty Hunter,” which played “The Funeral,” from the 2006 release of Everything All The Time, a destined hit with almost five million YouTube […]

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: ALO — Man of the World; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 25

CD Review: ALO — Man of the World; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 25

ALO Man of the World Brushfire Records By Al Kaufman Yes, the new ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra) CD was produced by Jack Johnson, recorded in his solar powered studio in Hawaii, and distributed on his Brushfire record label. And, yes, it has a certain laid-back surfer sound to it, but while too much Jack Johnson […]

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: The Dead Weather — Sea of Cowards

CD Review: The Dead Weather — Sea of Cowards

The Dead Weather Sea of Cowards Third Man Records By Chris Homer The Dead Weather pick-up where they left off on last year’s debut, Horehound, on their latest album, Sea of Cowards. The album doesn’t stray far from the heavy, distortion soaked, blues-rock Jack White’s super-group established on their debut. Of course, this shouldn’t detract […]

CD Review: The Flaming Lips & Stardeath and White Dwarves — Dark Side of the Moon

CD Review: The Flaming Lips & Stardeath and White Dwarves — Dark Side of the Moon

The Flaming Lips & Stardeath and White Dwarves Dark Side of the Moon Warner Brothers By Al Kaufman To call Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon a rock and roll classic is an understatement of gargantuan proportions. One in 14 people under the age of 50 have owned a copy at one time. It […]

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: Rufus Wainwright — All Days are Nights: Songs for Lulu

CD Review: Rufus Wainwright — All Days are Nights: Songs for Lulu

Rufus Wainwright All Days are Nights: Songs for Lulu Decca By Eileen Tilson With the overflow of of emo, touchy-feely singer-songwriter music flowing out of the speakers these days, it is very rare to find a musician so emotionally raw that he makes time stand still. And yet, take a Judy Garland obsessed songwriter and […]

CD Review: David Ford — Let The Hard Times Roll

CD Review: David Ford — Let The Hard Times Roll

David Ford Let The Hard Times Roll Original Signal By Scott Roberts David Ford has a lot to say. The British singer/songwriter opens his third CD Let The Hard Times Roll with the emotionally-escalating “Panic,” a song that manages to cram more words into less than four minutes than are found on many entire albums. […]

CD Review: Josh Rouse — El Turista; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 21

CD Review: Josh Rouse — El Turista; Playing Variety Playhouse, May 21

Josh Rouse El Turista Yep Rock By Scott Roberts Singer/songwriter Josh Rouse has always been a restless soul. From the tunefully mellow pop-rock of his 1998 debut Dressed Up Like Nebraska, to the conceptual retro vibe of 2003’s 1972, Rouse has never stayed in one musical place too long or allowed himself to be pigeonholed. […]

CD Review: Goldfrapp — Head First

CD Review: Goldfrapp — Head First

Goldfrapp Head First Mute By Eileen Tilson If you take a look at the most intriguing female singers to emerge this past year, every one of them seems to have taken Alison Goldfrapp’s Electronica Princess class. From Lady Gaga’s other-worldliness, La Roux’s 80’s synth pop, to Ladyhawke’s electro sound, sparkles of Goldfrapp’s past can be […]