Gang of Four started out in the same art school/university pool from Leeds, UK, in the late 70’s that gave us the Mekons. Bringing together a unique appreciation for funk rhythms and electronic dub sounds into a punk sensibility with politically-charged lyrics, Gang of Four broke real creative ground. In their first album, Entertainment!, Gang…
Thirty years on and boy-band (now very much man-band) Human Nature has still got it! On stage for more than two hours, performing a set of 30 plus numbers, these guys – brothers Andrew and Michael Tierney, together with high school friends Toby Allen and Phil Burton – are energetic and reverential. They love their…
The first thought that comes to mind when I think of Glen Hansard is that opening sequence in the movie Once, where we hear the singer/songwriter alone on acoustic guitar as the camera moves in one seamless longshot along the streets of Dublin, until we finally see him playing his acoustic guitar and singing out,…
Andrew Bird, the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, most often associated with his violin playing, has been plugging away producing smart, classically-influenced indie-rock (with the rare excursion into country) since first appearing on three albums with the Squirrel Nut Zippers in the mid-90’s. His first three albums as a bandleader arrived under the moniker, Andrew Bird’s Bowl…
Given the current state of popular country music, it should surprise us that what gets labeled Outlaw Country, or Americana, or alt/country these days often has a strong bias toward the traditional and an authentic old school ethic of keeping it real, even as it expands the genre with rock and other influences. Steve Earle,…
French gonzo-synth punks and intergalactic scuzzball house band, The Scaners have quickly returned with album number II after their debut came out just last year. The band does not do much to shake up their planetary assault on these new 12 tracks and that is perfectly fine because they offer a solid slice of punk…
Right from the beginning of opening track “Tough Enough,” you know that Ex Hex are going to knock you out. The track has all the elements of a great rock song. Catchy up front guitar riffs, isolated vocals from the powerful lead of Mary Timony and then the sing along call outs chime in. If…
I will tell you that I was very concerned going into Groove Denied. This is Stephen Malkmus’ first solo album without his Jicks since 2001 and it was billed as his synth record that Matador sort of put on hold until now. Those are not music friendly points that make you think masterpiece. With all…
It’s always exciting to hear a distinct, surprising new voice. That was my experience when firing up Tales of America, J.S. Ondara’s full-length debut. The Kenya native, who now resides in the USA, has a dulcet tone that complements his acoustic guitar well. And it’s so evocative; Ondara has the talent to let you know…
At 79 years old, Mavis Staples is an R&B institution who has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame, but she’s not sitting back on her laurels in a rocking chair at the living legends nursing home. She’s produced four fine studio album just in this…
