Review: Metric’s “Plug In Plug Out” EP

Metric’s “Plug In Plug Out” digital EP consists of five acoustic versions of songs featured on the band’s album, "Fantasies." As one of the most striking records of the year, it’s fitting that “Fantasies” would spawn such a companion piece....

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November 2, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

Review: Michael Jackson's "The Remix Suite"

Let the shameless cash-in begin. This disc is simply a collection of remixes built out of Michael’s early Motown work. What has happened since his death has apparently opened the door for a lot of tributes. He’s being shown a...

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October 22, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

Review: Mike Doughty’s “Sad Man Happy Man”

A mere nineteen months after releasing his last album, "Golden Delicious," Mike Doughty is back again with another eclectic collection. Cutting to the chase, “Sad Man Happy Man” sums up every one of Doughty’s best skills and condenses them into...

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October 1, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (5)

Beatle-Mania Returns Today!!!! (“Number 9….Number 9….Number 9...”)

The decision-makers at Capitol obviously picked today to re-release all the re-mastered Beatles albums with their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks. One cannot look at today’s date aligned with the Beatles and not think of that spoken refrain on...

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September 9, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

Review: Jet’s “Shaka Rock”

Jet’s 2003 album, “Get Born,” did have a few minor bits of excitement, but it’s time to face the fact that Jet have very little to offer. They want to be an amalgam of AC/DC and the Beatles but they...

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August 26, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (17)

Review: Jónsi & Alex’s “Riceboy Sleeps”

If you are a fan of Sigur Rós, this album is definitely for you. It’s the side project/collaboration between that Icelandic band’s lead singer, Jon Thor Birgisson and Parachutes member Alex Somers. The two have worked together in a number...

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August 24, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (2)

Remembering John Hughes (1950-2009): 5 Memorable Musical Moments From His Classic Films

The loss of John Hughes yesterday to a sudden, apparent heart attack (at only 59 years of age) comes as a great blow to anyone who ever enjoyed his movies. His classics from the eighties mainly come to mind. At...

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August 7, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

Review And Commentary: Radiohead’s “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)”

Today on the BBC, Radiohead premiered a new track. It’s a stirring string-driven number, nearly classical in nature. It is one of the most beautiful compositions Thom Yorke and company have ever released. It’s a tribute to Harry Patch, who...

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August 5, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

Review: Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs’ “Under The Covers Vol. 2”

If you aren’t familiar with “Vol. 1” of this series, let me fill you in. On the “Under The Covers” records, the smart songsmith (a post-nineties, buzz-bin-status, Sweet) and seemingly ageless Bangles-member (Hoffs) perform versions of their favorite songs. On...

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August 3, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (2)

Essay: Vinyl – A Rekindled Love Affair

If you haven’t noticed, I’m here to tell you that vinyl is back in a big way. Yes, if you threw away that old turntable, you made a grave mistake since many new releases are not only available on CD...

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August 3, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (2)