Kevin McAlester

Among Dave Matthews' charms, quality has never been chief. He traffics in standard-issue folk-pop that occasionally gets confused with something greater -- mainly because Matthews, like Sting, has learned that by adding the vaguest suggestion of world music or jazz, he can receive full credit for their influence. His singing...

Listening to Shipping News is a bit like getting into a drunken car accident: You're not entirely sure what just happened, but you're almost certain you don't want it to happen again. The band's songs favor length: Their average duration is about six minutes, during which guitar parts clock in...