Reviews from Minnesota Public Radio

Album Review: Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

With Modern Vampires of the City, Vampire Weekend have created a cohesive record that someone feels more polished and mature and serious than anything they've done, while at the same time loose, raw, and more fun than Contra or their debut.

Album Review: Fitz and the Tantrums - More Than Just a Dream

Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Being the best in a resurgent genre is a difficult position for any artist. Should they continue to make music in the same vein because that's what people want? Or do they try to change everything up and risk alienating the audience they've spent the past few years developing?

Album Review: Iron and Wine - Ghost on Ghost

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

When last we checked in on Iron and Wine, Sam Beam was demonstrating just how far he'd come from his early lo-fi days with 'Kiss Each Other Clean,' a record that I described at the time as Beam's grown-up answer to Brian Wilson's desire to sculpt "teenage symphonies to God." Beam's follow-up brings that process full circle and turn the tricks back around in the service of "the song" -- and I'm pretty much ready to proclaim 'Ghost On Ghost' one of the best records of the year

Album Review: Phoenix - Bankrupt!

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Over four albums prior and nearly fifteen years together, Phoenix have locked into what seems to be their signature sound: a fusing of synthpop and arena rock into one highly caffeinated hit after another, geared for maximum catchiness.

Album Review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

I said this when I reviewed the last Yeah Yeah Yeahs record, It's Blitz: Karen O is one of the best frontwomen in today's music. Karen O and her equally important bandmates Brian Chase and Nick Zinner are back with a new record, Mosquito.

Album Review: Dawes - Stories Don't End

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

As we've seen from earlier songs like "A Little Bit Of Everything," Dawes are not afraid to lay it on thick to find the emotions that resonate, and with "Stories Don't End" seem to have made a conscious decision to put Goldsmith's words front and center.

Album Review: Cold War Kids - Dear Miss Lonelyhearts

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Cold War Kids are one of the most underrated American indie rock bands of the past five years. They write and record songs that are quintessentially modern rock. It's not a cool thing to do when you've been a band for close to a decade, but it's also why their new album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts is a refreshing return to normal in 2013.

Album Review: The Strokes - Comedown Machine

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

As recently as three years ago, fans were concerned whether we would ever see a new record from The Strokes, but the band rewarded our long wait with Angles. Fast-forward almost two years to the date and The Strokes have released their fifth studio record, Comedown Machine.

Album Review: Low - The Invisible Way

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Low are celebrating a few landmarks with their latest album, The Invisible Way: It's the Duluth trio's 10th studio recording, and it marks their 20th anniversary as a band.

Album Review: David Bowie - The Next Day

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

I hardly feel worthy of reviewing an album by possibly my favorite artist of all time, but it's my job to let the millions of Bowie fans know: you can rejoice! We've all been so hungry; it's time to be fed.

Album Review: Cloud Cult - Love

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

I love this band. I love this album. I love the fact that they had the audacity to call it: "Love." Simple word, deepest concept.

Album Review: Atoms for Peace - AMOK

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0600

Even if you aren't a fan of "AMOK," accolades are in order to a band whose first outing has truly pushed the boundaries of subtlety.

Album Review: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Listen to Nick Cave's music as an ongoing narrative to fully appreciate what you might have dismissed as the "that goth rock."

Album Review: Jim James - Regions of Light and Sound of God

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

It was only a matter of time before Jim James put out a full length of original material. Inspired by a 1929 graphic novel, he has created a musical score to a wordless book.

Album Review: My Bloody Valentine - m b v

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0600

Last Saturday night, the UK-based band My Bloody Valentine suddenly released m b v, the long-awaited follow-up to their 1991 masterpiece Loveless.

Album Review: Eels - Wonderful Glorious

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Every new Eels record is like checking in on Mark Oliver Everett. How's he doing? Is he in love? Has someone close to him died? Has he gotten another cat?

Album Review: Local Natives - Hummingbird

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The band that used to sound free flowing and lo-fi now has an orchestrated feel with broader instrumentation and tighter playing.

Album Review: The Joy Formidable - Wolf's Law

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

This record could be called "Arena Rock Lullabies for grown ups." I know how crazy it sounds. But it fits. The Joy Formidable have artfully woven a symphonic patchwork made up of delicate and dreamy moments joined with screaming guitars and cacophonous percussion.

Album Review: Yo La Tengo - Fade

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Yo La Tengo's 13th album is centered on the relationship of Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley, who've been married for the band's nearly 30-year history.

Album Review: Muse - The 2nd Law

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

Muse's latest album is a testament to high production values in an era when anyone can record an album.

Album Review: Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Sometimes avant-garde appeal surpasses commercial appeal. Alt-J fit that niche at exactly the right moment.

Album Review: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "The Heist"

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

In 2012, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis bridged the gap between underground indie hip-hop fans and the daytime TV audience of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Album Review: Holidays Rule

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

It's nice to have a few new attempts at well-worn Christmas tunes by current artists.

Album Review: Benjamin Gibbard - Former Lives

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Without the pressures of his "real band," you can hear the burdens melt off Gibbard's songwriting, much like Jeff Tweedy has done with his non-Wilco projects.

Turning Up The Volume On The Electric Blues

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:22:16 -0600

A new compilation traces the history of electric blues from its rocky start through its heyday.

Album Review: Minnesota Beatle Project Volume 4

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Like previous editions, Minnesota Beatle Project Volume 4 is another collection of inspired versions of the Fab Four's material, applied by musicians from all over the sonic spectrum.

Album Review: Stars - The North

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Amy Milan's voice is both haunting and soaring on the latest record from Stars.

Album Review: Django Django - Django Django

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

It would be easy to write off this band as another garden-variety import of 2012, but Django Django is primed for a late breakout in the new year.

Album Review: Gary Clark Jr. - Blak and Blu

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

By the end of this album, you won't forget the name Gary Clark, Jr.

Album Review: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Neil Young dislikes mp3s and took pains to make this record as analog as possible, believing this to be the only way that fans can hear his soul, the time he puts into making his music and the wisdom of a life lived playing and performing.

Album Review: Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

"Channel Orange" revels in the silence between beats; it makes minimalism sound bold and enlightened. It's also masterful in the way it intertwines R&B, jazz, electro-funk and psychedelia.

Album Review: P.O.S. - We Don't Even Live Here

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

"We Don't Even Live Here" is P.O.S.'s boldest release to date, and it's set to make an impact on a national scale with or without a tour to support it.

Album Review: Solid Gold - Eat Your Young

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The announcement of Solid Gold's new album came less than a month before the record hits shelves, proving our hometown boys have heard our pleas and wanted to get the record into our hands as quickly as they could.

Album Review: Aimee Mann - Charmer

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On Charmer, Aimee Mann's soft-rock approachability creates an interesting meta-experience: she's charming the pants off of us, just like the cads and ne'er-do-wells in her songs.

Album Review: Grizzly Bear - Shields

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

"Shields" carries the same lush harmonies and dramatic crescendos as their previous releases, but the band has reached a new stage in their career as lyricists and song writers.

Album Review: Bob Dylan - Tempest

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On his 35th studio album, Dylan sounds like the old bluesman that perhaps he has always wanted to be.

Album Review: Mumford & Sons - Babel

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:09:43 -0500

The worldwide touring behind "Sigh No More" informs songs on the new record that approach the epic scope of the Arcade Fire while still remaining striking in their intimacy.

Album Review: The xx - Coexist

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:38:08 -0500

On "Coexist," the xx has largely opted to continue exploring the musical landscape they sketched out on their 2009 debut. It's a wise choice.

Album Review: Brother Ali - Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Politically charged albums can sound preachy if handled clumsily, but Brother Ali's relaxed and conversational cadence showcases his personal approach to sociopolitics and his skill for presenting intellectual ideas in a universal language.

Album Review: The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500

"The Carpenter" is more introspective, personal and authentic — a sign that the brothers aren't young bachelors anymore.

Album Review: Cat Power - Sun

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On "Sun," Chan Marshall has become the rock star we've always needed: raw, evocative, outspoken and awe-inspiring.

Album Review: Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500

I won't deny Divine Fits the label of supergroup, if that's what it takes to convince you to listen. After all, they fit the profile if you follow their respective bands. Yet, "A Thing Called Divine Fits" isn't about flaunting chops or propping-up egos.

Album Review: Bloc Party - Four

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Perhaps after witnessing the rise of EDM here in the States, and the way Skrillex and others use metal rifts as punctuation, Bloc Party thought they could be the rock band equivalent to ride this new wave to further success.

Album Review: Beach House - Bloom

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:04:59 -0500

Over the last six years, Baltimore-based duo Beach House has quietly honed a lovely, enveloping sound. On their fourth album, "Bloom," the band delivers the best music of their career.

Album Review: The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The guys in The Gaslight Anthem aren't here to save music. They're just a bunch of dudes playing straightforward rock 'n roll without a lot of fancy bells and whistles.

Album Review: Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500

He is a 24 year old with the voice and music of someone three times his age. When you hear his debut album, Michael Kiwanuka could fool you into thinking that you were listening to a long-lost Bill Withers record.

Album Review: Passion Pit - Gossamer

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Despite the similarities to "Manners," Passion Pit's new album has transcended any hint that this band has run their course.

Album Review: Soul Asylum - Delayed Reaction

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 23:59:00 -0500

While their sound is familiar, it's not sloppy or dated in any way. It has a grounded feel to it, with just as much passion as before, but with more of the kind of focus that only growing up and having a family can give you.

Album Review: Hot Chip - In Our Heads

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 23:59:00 -0500

"In Our Heads" is a thrillingly consistent album, veering from high-BPM stompers to some of Hot Chip's most touching ballads to date.

Album Review: Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel...

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500

It's been seven years since Fiona Apple's last album, but a long pause between releases is business as usual for Apple, whose methodical approach to writing music has resulted in a stunning catalog of songs.

Album Review: JD McPherson - Signs and Signifiers

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:59:00 -0500

In 2012, the artist that is reminding us of what made early rock and roll great is JD McPherson. A former school teacher and punk rocker from Oklahoma, McPherson found his voice when he abandoned punk for the sound of 1958, recording "Signs and Signifiers" in glorious analog.

Album Review: Brandi Carlile - Bear Creek

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 23:59:00 -0500

Brandi Carlile's greatest gift is that she is an exquisite singer. She can be tough and she can be tender with ease. Her vocals are never forced. She is always in her comfort zone, without all the vocal gymnastics of many of today's pop stars.

Album Review: Metric - Synthetica

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Coming from 14 years of hard work and dedication to their music and their fans, Metric has a career that stands out against their indie rock peers. Their new album "Synthetica" exposes a darker side of Metric's sound and lyrics.

Album Review: The Walkmen - Heaven

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Walkmen continue to hone and mellow their sound into a more complex, nuanced listen. 'Heaven' is the album that puts The Walkmen in Steve Seel's personal rotation.

Album Review: Alabama Shakes - Boys and Girls

Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

For me, their talent jumps out of the radio no matter which song off this album that we play. But the true pleasure of this band is found in sitting with the whole album and giving it a deep listen. It rewards your presence -- it is real and authentic.

Album Review: Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros - Here

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The collective is back with their sophomore release "Here," and many people will probably listen to it hoping to hear another "Home." There's no way of knowing yet, but what the album does give us is a more introspective Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros digging into their spiritual side.

Album Review: Best Coast - The Only Place

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Only Place isn't just an improvement on Best Coast's debut; it's a harsh reminder that it's a steep fall from grace when you start out as a darling of the indie music blogs. Like Weezer's "Pinkerton," this album can't and won't be fully appreciated until fans and critics have their chance to deliver some initial hipster backlash.

Album Review: Silversun Pickups - Neck of the Woods

Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500

I love this quote from the band regarding the sound and texture of the record: "We wanted the louder stuff to sound cranky." Oh, it does. Even the tiniest moments of silence have a buzz and a darkness about them.

Album Review: Rufus Wainwright - Out of the Game

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

He's been called his generation's Cole Porter, and that seems about right. After all, I've never felt there to be a sense of time in his compositions. To be able to make timeless music that's still as strong on melody as his is a wonderful (and uniquely Rufus) accomplishment.

Album Review: Jack White - Blunderbuss

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Jack White is no stranger to making records. From The White Stripes to The Raconteurs, to The Dead Weather and producing records for Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson, he's become a music icon and an admired guitar player. Until now, we've experienced Jack White's trademark sound and vocal style through his various projects and bands. After all this time, he's finally made a record under his own name. It's his debut, solo full-length album "Blunderbuss."

Album Review: Dr. John - Locked Down

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

I think this album is his finest since 1998's "Anutha Zone," which boasted guests including Paul Weller, members of Portishead, Spiritualized, Primal Scream and Supergrass. On the current album, Dr. John adds to the list of young hipsters with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys who produced the album, sang a few harmonies and added his bluesy guitar to several tracks.

Album Review: Trampled by Turtles - Stars and Satellites

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Duluth's Trampled by Turtles made a new goal while writing and recording their latest album "Stars and Satellites." They wanted to make an album that "breathes." What does that mean? From the band's standpoint, they were able to step out of their musical comfort zones and create an album as a whole rather than several segmented pieces that feel like a live show.

Album Review: Of Monsters and Men - My Head Is An Animal

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Current fans have responded strongly to that song "Little Talks" as well, making it #1 on the Chart Show for the past few weeks, inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Thank you. You and the rest of the public radio audience across America have enabled these six young musicians to come to Austin, Texas and experience something truly magical. A massive crowd at a legendary venue like Stubbs singing along to songs that are 'not yet available' in the traditional sense of that word in the USA.

Album Review: The Shins - Port of Morrow

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Mac Wilson's review of the much-anticipated new release by The Shins.

Album Review: The Honeydogs - What Comes After

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Nope, The Honeydogs didn't get that "rock 'n roll formula" memo. Or if they did, they ignored it. And we should thank them for it. While it's true that "What Comes After" is The Honeydog's first studio recording they've released in six years, it is also true that with this10th studio effort, they've released the best CD of their career.

Album Review: Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

When Andrew Bird's mind is allowed to roam - and his violin and looping-pedals allowed to follow wherever he might lead them - beautiful music is simply the end product, be it in the form of a finely-burnished pop song or a more wistful sonic rumination.

Album Review: Dr. Dog - Be The Void

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

One thing I have always enjoyed about Dr. Dog is their focus on songs. Songwriting today can sometimes seem like a lost art form. But there are plenty of classic Dr. Dog tunes on this album, full of their signature harmonies, sharp songwriting, great melody and sing-along choruses.

Album Review: Nada Surf - The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

When I think of Nada Surf, I can't help but think of the word "earnest." not only in terms of their heartfelt lyrics, but their striving. This is a band that will always try. If this band were a student, they'd be that moderately-bright kid who consistently delivers B-grade essays, but just isn't cut out for AP.

Album Review: Polica - Give You The Ghost

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

So what is the sound? I still have no adjectives that work, but where it comes from might be a unique quality of our community at this time, coming from a skill-laden collaboration of artists willing to be brave and knowing that there is an audience out there, on the radio and in the clubs, that is willing to support them when they are.

Album Review: Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Van Etten has crafted a record bursting with meticulous sonic details, while also leaving plenty of space -- sonically and lyrically -- for contemplation.

Album Review: Local Current Vol. 2

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

From those who surge to unrivaled exposure in short amounts of time like Polica and Night Moves to experimental artistry that many bands will never match like you find in Brute Heart; from seasoned veterans who claim membership in too many acts to count like Haley Bonar and Halloween, Alaska, to the wild genre-crossing found in Mystery Palace and Doomtree - this thirst to constantly explore and collaborate is what makes the state so unique and active.

Album Review: Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

What's different in this situation than in that of The Hold Steady is that the musical arrangements are more subtle and sort of mellowed out, allowing the listener to concentrate on the words. His delivery and writing style are true to the "Craig Finn style," littered with themes of religion, character development and solitude.

CD Review: Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

And through the relationship and career metamorphoses, you can sense that Edwards has been on a voyage. You hear reflection in her lyrics, and you hear transformation in her emotive voice. From an alt-country aesthetic on her early records to shimmery indie-pop on her latest, this "Voyageur" has traveled a long way.

Album Review: The Big Pink - Future This

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

British indie duo the Big Pink emerged in the late 2000s with a noisy electro-pop sound that fit perfectly with the electro-influenced strains of indie rock that have been increasing in popularity in recent years.

CD Review: Howler - America Give Up

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

All before their first full length was released, Howler has already received international acclaim, most notably from NME which named Howler their #3 Best New Band of 2011 and included Jordan Gatesmith in their list of the 50 Coolest People of 2011.

Album Review: Guided By Voices - Let's Go Eat The Factory

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

If their past history is any indication, this should be the first of several new releases for Guided by Voices, which will inevitably find the band shaking off any rust and perhaps even turning up the 'rock' knob a little more.

CD Review: The Roots - Undun

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Already widely acknowledged as the most respected hip-hop artists employing live instrumentation in the contemporary music scene, the Roots have cemented that reputation with their gig as the house band of Jimmy Fallon, proving every night that they can play anything with anybody with out losing their credibility or fire.

Album Review: Amy Winehouse - Lioness: Hidden Treasures

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

When you think of Amy Winehouse, you may think of the tragedies of her short life that played out right in front of us. It's hard not to think about the multiple times we read about her substance-fueled performances or the performances cancelled because she was unfit to take the stage.

Album Review: The Black Keys - El Camino

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

El Camino is a tight and efficient album with 11 songs clocking in at 38 minutes. The songs are well written and chock-full of the band's trademark gritty grooves.

Album Review: The Minnesota Beatle Project Vol.3

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Now back with Volume 3 of the series, it's amazing to hear the stylistic diversity and quality of the artists of our community who covered songs of The Beatles this time, as well as the selections from the Beatles' seemingly never-ending well of great songs.

Album Review: The New Standards and Friends Holiday Show

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

This release is a way to live vicariously through the music. If you haven't been able to experience the New Standards in concert, or seen their annual shows, or if you feel the need to reconnect with the songs from your own holiday tradition, The New Standards and Friends Holiday Show captures the essence of this festive and wistful time of year.

Album Review: Doomtree - No Kings

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

While listening to this album, I can't help but think how effectively it is going to translate into the live show. The huge sound is going to fill any room, the sense of urgency in the music will captivate the audience, and the constantly rotating cast of MCs will never leave time, need or want for a breather.

Album Review: Noel Gallagher - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Oasis has always been taken to task for their generous lifting of hooks and sounds from some of rock's biggest groups. Interestingly enough, this has never bothered me. Maybe it's because I too love the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and The Stone Roses.

Album Review: Florence + the Machine - Ceremonials

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

For me, the success of Florence + the Machine was one of the biggest musical surprises of last year. It wasn't because she's not talented of course, but because her version of epic pop, with quirky twists and turns has never really sold as well before.

Album Review: Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Coldplay's music has always sounded universal and huge, but they take on an enormity on Mylo Xyloto that alternately thrills and leaves the listener distant.

Album Review: Tom Waits - Bad As Me

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

For someone who has said he doesn't spend a great deal of time in front of a computer, Tom Waits knows how to use the internet to get his message across. Remember the 2008 "press conference" for his Glitter and Doom tour?

Album Review: Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Now 21 years old, Laura's already on her third album, has garnered two Mercury Music Prize nominations, released an EP produced by Jack White and continues to reap a ton of critical acclaim.

Album Review: Twin Sister - In Heaven

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

With their debut album In Heaven, which was released on September 27 by Domino Records, the group make good on the hype. Twin Sister have hit upon a compelling, spacious sound that blends indie rock songwriting with a lush instrumental palette that drawns upon influences as wide-ranging as '70s AM-radio-style soft-rock and '90s-esque trip-hop.

Album Review: Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

You never quite know what direction he'll take with each new record, so upon first listen, I was pleased to hear that he went for the mellowed-out, melodic sound similar to his Cold Roses album that he did with The Cardinals in 2005.

Album Review: Feist - Metals

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Metals experiments with other sounds while still maintaining what makes Feist, Feist: a voice that is its own distinct instrument and conveys her emotion and meaning.

Album Review: Ben Folds and Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenue

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

This is one of the most visual recordings I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Full disclosure -- when I heard about this project for the first time I was very excited... but I was excited more about Nick Hornby than Ben Folds!

Album Review: Wilco - The Whole Love

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

I can give no higher compliment to "The Whole Love" than to favorably compare it to "Summerteeth," and while it may not reach the peaks of the Wilco catalog, it is clearly their best record in nearly a decade.

Album Review: Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The best songs on "Father, Son, Holy Ghost" hit all the right notes, perfectly balancing and taming the chaotic and emotionally fraught brattiness that made "Album" stand out.

Album Review: The Jayhawks - Mockingbird Time

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The album shows a kinder, gentler Jayhawks, with fewer blazing Louris guitar solos, but still with plenty of the band's signature "close harmonies," as heard in one the album's highlights, "She Walks In So Many Ways."

Album Review: Mason Jennings - Minnesota

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"Minnesota" finds Mason Jennings at home: at home with his sound and career, at home with his role as a husband and father, and at home in Minnesota.

Album Review: John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The ultimate internal contradiction in Maus' work, the irresolvable, mysterious conflict that catalyzes and animates his entire aesthetic, is its the ineffable way it draws so heavily on the pastwhile also opening up unfamiliar and potent new musical landscapes.

Album Review: Peter Wolf Crier - Garden of Arms

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

In spending more time recording, it is evident that Peter Wolf Crier has grown immensely in the last year. There's a sense that Peter Wolf Crier have honed their sound and found their musical identity within the numerous Eau Claire bands.

Album Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Sounding sober, tight and focused on their tenth studio release, the band offers up a little something for everyone.

Album Review: Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

If the idea of a soda made from dandelion and burdock makes you wince or if Arctic Monkeys have never worked for ya, try this, you might like it. Suck it and see indeed!

Album Review: tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"w h o k i l l" is a joyful, exuberant lark, bursting with giddy enthusiasm and some of the purest, most undiluted creativity you will likely hear in the near future.