Reviews
The Zen of Foo
The main elements of every Foo Fighters performance are more or less unimpeachable. They’ve got their sound down pat, Dave Grohl’s a consistently good songwriter, singer and guitarist with enough flashes of great per album to keep things interesting. The rhythm section is tight and powerful to match. And they plow through recording with straight [...]
Review: The Ridges – The Ridges
It’s entrancing. Sometimes.
Limp Bizkit’s GOLD COBRA and the Longevity of the Stupid
Limp Bizkit is Motley Crue. Limp Bizkit is Black Eyed Peas. Limp Bizkit is eternal.
Review: TV On The Radio – Nine Types Of Light
TV on the Radio has long been one of the most openly intellectual bands of their age, but they have never delivered their ideas as fluently as they do here.
Review: Wye Oak – Civilian
With their third full-length release, Civilian, the duo of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack have created the most epic-sounding music of any two-person band this side of Japandroids.
Review: Radiohead – The King of Limbs
Is the new Radiohead album good or is it great? Find out with the official review from Assault.
Review: Lost in the Trees – All Alone in an Empty Room
Lost in the Trees orchestrate sadness… but is there more to it?
Review: Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Cut Copy… Doin’ the thing! The thing that is amazing but also secretly less-than-amazing.
Review: Talib Kweli – Gutter Rainbows
Sagely, Jay-Z once rapped “If skills sold, truth be told/I’d probably be lyrically Talib Kweli.” In his book Decoded (see the Assault review), he elucidates: “[Kweli and Common are] great technical MCs, but there is a difference between being a great technician and a great songwriter.” This probably sums up the key flaw in Talib Kweli’s discography, and Gutter Rainbows is no exception. He’s always stunning verbally, but musically he lacks the direction to keep things interesting.
Concert Review: Neko Case at the Calvin Theatre, Northampton MA (2/4/11)
Casual. That’s one of the most astounding things about Neko Case’s talent: there is something casual about the way she uses her voice. There’s no strain to her belting; it’s just a natural, relaxed singing that happens to a powerful, soulful tool for expressing the emotions within the song it’s singing. It’s notable in an [...]
Review: Bright Eyes – The People’s Key
Conor Oberst returns to the moniker (and the passion) that made him famous.
Review: Drive-By Truckers – Go-Go Boots
America’s favorite Southern rockers deliver another set of consistently rocking, less-than-brilliant material.
Review: James Blake – S/T
James Blake follows up three well-received EPs with a thoughtful, considered, and very minimal debut full-length.
Review: The End Of America – Steep Bay
New York folk trio run from modern life, crash into uninspired songwriting.
Review: Jay-Z – Decoded
America’s MC crafts a surprisingly insightful book.
Review: Talons – Hollow Realm
UK band delights with soaring instrumental racket.
Review: Secret Knives – Affection
There’s not a lot of info to be found on Secret Knives on the Internet. There’s a MySpace page, a Band Camp page, and the band’s website, but they all focus on one thing: the music. On one hand, that’s kind of refreshing in a post-Twitter environment where everyone feels the need to overshare everything. [...]
Review: Florence & The Machine – Lungs
English band makes a semi-striking debut with wonderful singing but not much else.
Review: Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
Chicago’s own Smith Westerns return with more glammed-up fun.
Review: Tapes ‘n Tapes – Outside
Pitchfork golden age hold-outs escape the buzz storm with their dignity and song craft intact.
