New album releases don’t really get going until next week, but there are still plenty of January/February releases generating a lot of buzz. Here now are ten songs from those releases — one being from an already-released album — complete with embedded Soundcloud versions for your listening pleasure…
If ever you wondered what Kanye West would look like as some sort of pseudo-Van Helsing, then look no further:…
Steve Aoki Pussycat Lounge, Scottsdale December 29, 2010 It’s safe to say that this is a first for Last Night — a show at Scottsdale’s Pussycat Lounge. For those who haven’t been to the upscale Scottsdale venue or others of its ilk, let me explain: it’s madness. It’s madness in…
2010 sure was a fickle beast at times. A Kanye West album was top dog, a Canadian teenager ruled the world and a bunch of bands decided to boycott Arizona. But enough looking into the past, it’s time to look towards a fresh, new 2011. What better way to get…
In lieu of this glaring lack of new music for today, I present to you one of my personal sleeper/dark horse albums of 2010, Illumination by Melbourne-based electronic outfit Miami Horror. Think Daft Punk’s Discovery or Justice’s † — Illumination is along the lines an electronic music album that has…
Title: Hope In a State of DecayBasics: Chandler-based Tractor Pull Divas play — wait for it — country-tinged rock. Bet you didn’t see that coming! Nonetheless, theirs is a rock lighter on the country aspects and they have a lead singer who can hold his own. Also, whoever plays the…
Steve Aoki’s biggest accomplishment isn’t starting his own record label, Dim Mak, in his early 20s or working with artists like Drake, Bloc Party, Snoop Dogg, and Peaches. Nope, all that is simply an everyday existence for Aoki. It’s Aoki’s 2008 album, Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles, that really helped…
Steve Aoki’s biggest accomplishment isn’t starting his own record label, Dim Mak, in his early 20s or working with artists like Drake, Bloc Party, Snoop Dogg, and Peaches. Nope, all that is simply an everyday existence for Aoki. It’s Aoki’s 2008 album, Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles, that really helped…
The joy and delight of the holiday season is something you either absolutely love, tolerate to a certain degree or loathe with all your being.Those who take the latter stance probably blame the season’s music for their hatred, and who can blame them? A lot, if not all, of Christmas/holiday music is…
What could Ghostface do for an encore with his 9th album? One would think the man has tapped out all his resources by now, but Ghostface is no ordinary member of the Wu. Every new album feels like Ghostface has reinvented himself and his enthusiasm is unmatched by most everyone…
The wonderful people over at Pitchfork just released their 10 best albums of 2010 today. In what should have came as no surprise, Kanye West took the top spot. His latest album had been given a notorious perfect 10 a month ago and, if Rolling Stone and Spin have anything…
Title: The Rapper’s RapperBasics: You Asked For It gets hip hop this time around, compliments of champion of all things Arizona, Noxious of AZ. I will admit that this album — Noxious’ first of two albums released in 2010 — was pretty damn difficult to listen to. The asinine, 8-second…
More lists? More lists, indeed. This time around I’m dealing with my ten best (read: favorite) songs from 2010. Pitchfork whittled their own list down to “Round And Round” by Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti and NME went with “Spanish Sahara” by Foals. Both are fine choices, yet (spoiler alert!) only…
While December is a time usually reserved for the hordes of formulaic top ten lists, it is also a time for looking ahead to next year’s most anticipated releases. South Carolina wiz-kid Chaz Bundick — better known as Toro Y Moi — has one of those anticipated releases, his sophomore…
Gone are the misguided, commercialized efforts from Temporary Pleasure, instead replaced with nine minute, techno-centric odysseys. There are no vocals on this album, which should be a huge beacon of hope for long-time SMD fans — especially after the flurry of random guest vocals on their last album. Delicacies finds the…
If this all makes sense to you, then you’re all set for Akron/Family’s show this April. For those not salivating at the news of psych rock weirdness, Yann Tiersen, Loretta Lynn and Plain White T’s have just announced shows of their own.The rest of this week’s non-abandoned train station-recorded just announced shows:…
Album: Wake Up Dead EPBasics: Phoenix’s The Whisperlights are amongst the stable of indie rock bands currently making the rounds in Phoenix/Tempe — Black Carl, What Laura Says, Dry River Yacht Club, and Gospel Claws. Many an opening slot has been reserved at those bands’ shows for The ‘Lights. Their Wake…
Things are about to get real religious up in here, thanks to a just announced Amy Grant show this coming February.Other artists may have released their own successful Christmas albums in the past, but Grant’s 1992 yuletide juggernaut Home For Christmas resides in the upper echelon of holiday albums –…
It seems Gillis’ recent performances this past weekend in Pittsburgh have a broader influence than many realized. The resolution cites that Gillis “now resides in the Polish Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh,” as well as having “recently opening the new Stage AE club and amphitheater with two sold out performances.” Gillis’…
No, this album is not a thumping, ode-to-late-1990s-techno banger, as the kids say. Tron Legacy is, first and foremost, a film score. It is Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Cristo trying to weave a narrative with an 85-piece orchestra. There is a clear electronic influence over the soundtrack, but Bangalter…
Ever wondered where Melodic Power Metal came from or which bands actually play that kind of metal? How about the origins of Crossover Thrash, Grindcore or Speed Metal?Graphic designer Patrick Galbraith and metal historian Nick Grant’s Map of Metal has all of that covered. The interactive map plots out just…
Title: Life’s CaféBasics: Basics, you say? Where to start — Russell is on his fifth CD. He has also appeared in theatrical productions as Howard Bevins in William Inge’s Picnic and as Simon Stimson in Thorton Wilder’s Our Town and he is the owner of Desert Winds Development, Inc., a…
