Steve LampirisThe Halloween release date is appropriate: Here, the ‘Frisco boys are pretending to be a metal-ized Velvet Underground. Having tried everything across this record to filter “Heroin” through their ’80s thrash, their ’90s blues-based hard rock and their 2000’s attempt at a return-to-form, they clearly want to be the ’60s legends so, so badly. But guess what? Getting Reed to sing on your record doesn’t make your band VU mk. II. But that doesn’t stop…
Ska is Dead (Syke! It’s Awesome!)
Drew MorganI had the good fortune to see the ska-punk band Mustard Plug play in Toledo, OH recently, at Frankie’s Inner City. They’re a Grand Rapids, MI-based band, so it was odd for me – a Michigan resident – to see them out of state. One of the people I went with has seen them six times in the past, once only 30 minutes away from our podunk little town, so it felt a little foolish…
So the Lou Reed+Metallica (or “Loutallica”) album can be streamed in full
The Lou Reed / Metallica album, Lulu, can be heard in full over at the album’s official site. It’s, uh, as plodding as the cover art is confusing – which is to say, quite a lot. Think Velvet Underground + Load/ReLoad and you’re pretty close. Any by Load/ReLoad, I mean the overlong, do-nothing riffs of “Outlaw Torn” and “Fixxxer.” Kirk has said that this is “one of the best things we’ve ever done.” Gonna have…
PJ Harvey: This Is a Fall Tour
Hailie Hay
A glance into the explosive garage-rock scene of the early nineties, PJ Harvey is set to once more come forth and grace the stage for an end-of-October mini-tour extravaganza. Playing in support of her latest album, two-and-a-half-year feat Let England Shake, Harvey has announced but five dates, all of which range in location from Sweden to the Czech Republic. A wild and far cry from White Chalk (Harvey’s prior most recent release of 2007), Let England Shake exhibits…
Album Review: Kasabian – Velociraptor!
Tom
Album name: Velociraptor! Artist name: Kasabian Genre: Indie Rock/Space Rock Released: September 16, 2011 Label: RCA/Columbia ZME Rating: 7/10 Website: kasabian.co.uk Comparisons have always been rife between Kasabian and Oasis but the Leicestershire band has moved one step closer to the legendary Mancunians with their latest record. Much like the majority of the sane population, Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno admitted to all but worshipping Noel Gallagher in the ‘90s as Oasis established themselves as the finest…
Tedeschi Trucks Part 2 – Live From Boston
Chris Whitten
The Tedeschi Trucks Band Live in Boston August 17th, 2011
Honda Civic Tour 2011: Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance
The Honda Civic Tour has struck again – for the 10th year in a row, as a matter of fact! This year, the annual pop/punk/hip-hop/rock show is featuring the headlining acts Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance, with an ever-changing selection of supporting bands. When the show went rolling through Detroit, my concert-going city of choice, they brought along dance-punk-indie-pop duo Matt & Kim to warm up the crowd. Sadly, I wasn’t able to dance to…
Green Day Remembers Amy Winehouse
Alice Smith
Green Day (bottom) paid homage to the late Amy Winehouse (top), who died in late July.
Warm Up With Mineo!
Mineo may be clowning around, but their music is for real.
Stream the new Mastodon album, “The Hunter,” one week early
Yes, the prog-sludge-whatever-metal icons are back with their follow up to 2009’s Crack The Skye (which I loved). The Hunter comes out Sept. 27 but you can hear it right this second by going to the band’s official site. As for initial thoughts, I have to say that I do enjoy the band’s steady move towards melody and coherence. Sure, they’re not as heavy as they were but whatever sheer power they’ve lost (or, rather,…