Lenny Kravitz

DJ Steve Aoki Runs EDM's Premier Label and Tours the World

10 Black Pop Stars Who Should Go Country

See also: Q&A: Darius Rucker: "Even If I Wasn't Playing It, I'd Be Listening to Country." See also: Seven of Music's Most Beautiful Mustaches to Inspire Your Mustache Movember Growth [Editor's note: Country Time is a new biweekly column for our sister music blog in Seattle, celebrating that city's ... More >>

The Hunger Games Rages Against Our Stupid Culture But Becomes Part of the Problem

Tumblr of the Week: Video Killed the Radio Stars

It's hard to find music videos on TV these days. Sure, one could argue that the internet has ushered in a new era of DIY or underground video creativity, but it's hard not to miss the days when you could waste hours watching clips on MTV or VH1. If musical nostalgia has been getting the best of you ... More >>

Lenny Kravitz at Comerica Theatre, 2/12/12

​Lenny Kravitz Comerica Theatre Sunday, February 12, 2012 Lenni and Lenny, together at last. Until last night, I had been waiting years to say that. The baby-making music was full-speed ahead at Lenny Kravitz's show Sunday night. Clearly, the crowd was disgustingly excited, everyone on their fee ... More >>

Soundcheck, Casey Donahew Band, and Lenny Kravitz Over the Weekend

New Times Soundcheck 2012 Night 1 New Times Soundcheck kicked off with 14 diverse and talented bands. Regardless of personal tastes, every performer was entertaining to watch. Like most music festivals, the artists played at overlapping times and made for some difficult decisions. Fortunately, the ... More >>

Weekend: Decker, Andy Rourke (The Smiths), Jerry Riopelle, Mergence, Cadillac Angels

This weekend is going to be busy in the Valley of the Sun. Not only is New Times invading Club Red/Red Owl for Soundcheck Festival 2012, featuring Glass Heroes, Sugar Thieves, The Love Me Nots, Father Figures, Jason Devore, Crusher Sound System, The Insects, and many many more, but there are scads o ... More >>

Incoming: Lenny Kravitz, Creed, The Ting Tings

​Uber-American rock and sex icon ​Lenny Kravitz is going to rock Comerica Theatre patrons to their knees. Watching Lenny jam would sure beat seeing Scott Stapp any day of the week.Lenny Kravitz, Creed, The Ting Tings and other artists will be bringing their A-game to the Valley over the nex ... More >>

Them's the Rules, or Why I Like The New Lenny Kravitz

Kravitz, looking tough as a kiddo.​If you honestly love music, you've got rules about it. Here are a few my mine. 1. Non-jazz artists and bands may feature no more than two saxophone solos during the duration of their career. 2. Bass guitars should be strung with two to four strings, bu ... More >>

Rolling Stone Chooses New Queen of Pop

A new queen of pop has been crowned by Rolling Stone, according to Idolator.Rolling Stone put 16 female pop stars head to head in the ultimate statistical showdown to see who would reign as queen. Competitors included Adele, Beyonce Knowles, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Katy ... More >>

Lil Wayne Considering Retirement After Releasing 'Tha Carter IV'

​Lil Wayne is considering retiring after he releases his upcoming album Tha Carter IV, according to One Thirty BPM.Just when I was nearly convinced that Lil Wayne would release more Roman numeral-labeled Tha Carter albums until I die, Weezy decided he will possibly call it quits.Part of the reason ... More >>

A Recap of the 2011 Grammy Awards: A Quick, Easy Guide to What Happened

Dan MacMedan, USA TodayNicki Minaj, doing what she does best: always trying to get attention.​The 2011 Grammy Awards kept things classy this year: There wasn't even a single mention of Ke$ha during the entire show!Good job, Grammy people! Thanks for taking out the trash this year. Aside from the l ... More >>

Michael Jackson Penned a Tune For Hanson

​At some point in time, Michael Jackson wrote a song for Hanson, according to ShowBiz 411.The song was written for them to play, not in their honor. Jackson never actually gave the song he wrote for Hanson to them. He intended to send it to the 90s boy band but never did. It must have been stashed ... More >>

New Michael Jackson Album: Completely MJ?

​Lots of people are eagerly awaiting Michael Jackson's posthumous record Michael, which will be released December 14.So am I.But after listening to a pre-released single, "Breaking News," I have my doubts that the recording was untouched after Michael passed away. It sure doesn't sound like the so ... More >>

Who Will Punch Jordin Sparks' V-Card?

Blitzen Trapper: Ever Wonder What the Hell That Means, Exactly?

Blitzen Trapper.​Have you ever really liked a band, but wondered, "How the hell did they come up with their name? What exactly does that mean?"Truth is, most professional music journalists would be waaaay too embarrassed to ask such a question of anyone other than the winner of a local Battle of t ... More >>

Queen, Aerosmith, and Barenaked Ladies — Our Picks for Bands in Need of a New Singer

Russell Brand and Katy Perry Gettin' Hitched

Russell Brand and Katy Perry in front of the Taj Mahal, evidently constructed by Brand.​Does anyone else find this to be a "What the fuck?!?" moment? I was surprised that they were dating, and now just four months later, they're engaged. The most sickening part: The picture you are viewing was p ... More >>

Precious Pushes the Limits of Taste, but Locates the Heart – and Hell – of Its Heroine’s Struggle

Lenny Kravitz

It Is Time for a Love Revolution
(Virgin)

Outshined: Alice In Chains and Velvet Revolver, September 18 at Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Ben Harper

Are you gonna go his way?

Critical Fatwa

Waiting to inhale

Recent releases from local acts

Now that's what we call music!

The Drifter

Original Soundtrack

Bad Boys II: The Soundtrack (Bad Boy/Universal)

Scorched Earth

Fed to Your HeadTriptych (Rubric)

Mick Jagger

Goddess in the Doorway (Virgin)

Revved-Up Rock

The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club rides roughshod over today's guitar gods

I, Claudia

Claudia DiFolco isn't really a ditz. She just plays one on TV.

Vinyl Jeopardy

High Fidelity -- you read the book, now CD movie

Paperback Writer

Trashman pours his beer-fueled soul into a saga of Guns n' Mooks

Various artists

Fire & Skill: The Songs of the Jam
(Ignition/Epic Records)

Live From New York

Saturday Night Live and DreamWorks Records team up for two not-ready-for-prime-time compilations

Everybody Get Up!

Glory Revival pillages rock 'n' roll history to create its own unique myth

The Rise of Pompeii

Clubs like Pompeii and the Acme Roadhouse prove that there's life beyond Mill Avenue

Recordings

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me / The Clash Tribute: Burning London / Jon Dee Graham

Devil's Triangle

A guided tour through the world of barflies, club crawlers, and other creatures of the night

Recordings

Letters

Tune Town

Your guide to H.O.R.D.E. White-boy dreads and a hemp-cloth hacky sack are recommended, but no longer required.

Survey Says...

New Times critics look back on the "oohs" and the "ughs" of pop music '95 (results tabulated from individual critics' lists and comments)

Recordings

RECORDINGS

RECORDINGS

REISSUED MATERIAL?MATERIAL ISSUE'S JIM ELLISON CARVES OUT GREAT POP FROM A SEVENTIES MOLD, WHETHER HE'LL ADMIT IT OR NOT

PLAYINT THE SKIN GAME

HIGH ON THE HUMAN TOUCH

BY TURNING OFF THE MACHINES AND TURNING ON A BAND, KURT RALSKE REMAKES HIS ULTRA VIVID SCENE. AGAIN.

SHEER SUPPORT

CAN'T BEAT THE REAL PEOPLEIN A SEA OF DANCE BANDS, THEY'RE THE RIGHT ONES, BABY, UH-HUH