DatarockRedNettwerk By Micah McLain The Norwegian duo in the flashy red tracksuits have returned. Red, the followup to 2005's Datarock Datarock, finds the band paying homage to the '80s and questioning our current society's obsession with technology. While none of the tracks on Red approach the sheer funk and danceability of the massively ad-friendly "FaFaFa" […]

AssjackAssjackSidewalk Records By Al Kaufman Say what you will about any of the three Hank Williams', but the one thing they all have in common is a rebellious streak. But the most rebellious of them all has got to be the grandson, Hank III. Instead of going the country route like his grandpa and his […]

LadyhawkeLadyhawkeDecca By Al Kaufman Since the inception of CDs, artists have been getting the re-issue treatment. Most of the big-wigs have had their back catalogs that fans previously had only on vinyl freshened up, or digitally re-mastered. The record label throws in a few outtakes or live versions of the songs from the album and, […]

Various ArtistsInglourious Basterds SoundtrackA Band Apart/Warner Brothers By Al Kaufman First, two confessions: 1) I believe Quentin Tarantino to be the greatest living American director behind Martin Scorsese. 2) I embarrassingly admit that I have yet to see Inglorious Basterds. Without first seeing the movie, the songs on the soundtrack will need to stand on […]

The Ginger EnvelopeInvitation Air One Percent By Eileen Tilson Athens-based Ginger Envelope returns with its second full-length, Invitation Air (One Percent). Recorded to a 16-track analog tape, this album turns up the twang factor, showcasing Matt Stoessel’s pedal steel and Patrick Carey’s delicate, lazy, Bob Dylan-esque voice. 

fun.Aim & IgniteNettwerk by Micah McLain Fans of The Format were no doubt devastated when the band announced a hiatus in early 2008. The Phoenix, Ariz. band is known for some of the most melodious, harmonious and downright happy indie pop ever made. Well, it's time to turn that frown upside down, because Nate Ruess […]

Rhett MillerRhett MillerShout Factory By Al Kaufman One need look no further than the first line of his new self-titled CD to know that Rhett Miller likes playing with words. "Keyboards and keystrokes and keystones and keys," he sings on "Nobody Says I Love You Anymore." The song also includes the clever turn of phrase, […]

The White RabbitsIt's FrighteningTBD Records By Eileen Tilson The White Rabbits must be exhausted. After extensive touring with the likes of Spoon, The Walkmen and Tokyo Police Club, and festival stops at Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Sasquatch, and signing with TBD Records (U.S. home to Radiohead, Other Lives and Hatcham Social) the Brooklyn based six-piece returned to […]

Colin HayAmerican SunshineCompass Records By Al Kaufman Anyone over the age of 30 knows Colin Hay. He was the guy with the lazy eye fronting the reggae influenced pop band Men at Work, who invaded America from Australia with songs such as “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Down Under,” and had us wondering what […]

The Fiery FurnacesI'm Going AwayThrill Jockey By Ben Grad What do The Fiery Furnaces play on I'm Going Away? They play a lot that you've heard on their previous albums, but dulled, continuing the progression towards a more accessible, less challenging, sound that they began with Bitter Tea in 2006. Within minutes, you're reintroduced to […]

Sister Hazel ReleaseRock Ridge Music By Eileen Tilson It has been a decade since Sister Hazel was “happy, happy;” from divorce, to birth and death, every member of the band seems to have dealt with some sort of personal tragedy in the past few years. This turmoil provided plenty to write about for their seventh […]

The Antlers Hospice Frenchkiss Records By Julia Reidy Pete Silberman’s warbling voice exposes a beautiful but deep-rooted anger throughout Hospice, the breakthrough full-length from Brooklyn’s The Antlers. After a wildly successful self-release earlier in the year, the record is getting a proper reissue August 18 via Frenchkiss records, home of other heavyweights like Les Savy […]

Jeremy AggersWhat It Comes Down ToBrash Music By Al Kaufman Jeremy Aggers has the same carefree, effortless voice that has helped fellow North Carolinian James Taylor pay the rent all these years. When he playfully finger picks through the title cut, or subtly displays his sentimentality about his town (and a certain girl in said […]

Yim Yames Tribute To ATO Records By Scott Roberts A successful tribute record should accomplish at least two things: one, the chosen source material should reveal some historical insight into the musical influences of the particular artist performing the songs, and two, the new performances should pique the curiosity of the listener enough to explore […]