In a scene awash with hardcore kiddies and cooler-than-you indie acts, the local reggae-punk hybrid renegades in Fayuca stand out like potheads at a policemen’s ball. The band’s highly improvisational new CD, Black Market, ebbs and flows with a fusion of south-of-the-border soul and barrio punk, complete with chunky guitars,…
Most bands falsely advertise — they describe their sound ad nauseam as different and unclassifiable, but a good listen usually outs them as either deceived or uninitiated. In contrast, Tempe’s Batter the Drag (a hip ’50s term for playing music on the street) oozes originality. BTD succeeds because it knows…
Tempe rockers The Heartless not only have hearts, but smarts as well. The heart beats throughout the band’s seminal release, This Could Take Some Getting Used To, as all six songs on the pop-punk opus seem to have their lyrical origin somewhere between Lonely Street and Nostalgia Drive (but thankfully,…
The only music genre less driven by social politics than modern country music is pop music, which isn’t so odd when you think about it — today’s country is just saccharine-sweet pop nothingness anyway, and that’s how Wal-Mart shoppers like it. That’s why Natalie Maines’ criticism of George W. received…
In December’s Vibe, Mary J. Blige said that even though she’s comfortable revealing her abs in photographs, “I ain’t giving you titty, nipple, pubic hair or damn near clitoris.” While that’s certainly the most colorful quote uttered by a public figure this year, Blige’s comment actually runs counter to the…
Ah, the Dealing With Fame record. The Strokes — biblically stylish NYC bar-rockers 4 life — mingle indifference (My feelings are more important than yours) with critical indignation (They love you or they hate you but they will never let you be) and apathy (I’ve got nothing to say) on…
Two guys are sitting in a pub knocking back shots. First guy turns to the second and says, “You see this bar? I built this bar with my own two hands, but do they call me Jimmy the Bar-Maker? No. And you know what else? That motel next door? I…
Soilent Green is angry, frustrated and a bit bitter, judging by its latest album, Confrontation. But this isn’t generic “aggressive” music; there are no frivolous lyrics from this band. Soilent Green has had real hardship. The band flipped its van on tour — twice. The second accident, back in 2002,…
It’s a bit of a throwback this Thursday, January 12, at the notorious Blunt Club’s second throwdown of the new year. Nineties NYC rappers Dres and Mista Lawnge, a.k.a. Black Sheep, are back together and bringing their silver tongues to Hollywood Alley in Mesa, on a bill with resident DJs…
Rocking for 25 years and still going strong, The Blasters began trailblazing in the surf-inspired, rootsy rockabilly genre long before the mid-’90s craze that made rockabilly radio-friendly. Singing of post-war suburbanism and California culture, The Blasters recently released their first studio CD in 19 years, 4-11-44, which flows with songs…
Transcript from Hannity and Colmes, on the Fox News Channel, 1/4/2006 Sean Hannity: More on the NSA surveillance issue later, but right now . . . for years, debate has raged over the Atlanta quintet Collective Soul — legendary rock band or complete crap? What’s your take, Alan? Alan Colmes:…
1. The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth (RCA) 2. Rogue Wave, Descended Like Vultures (Sub Pop) 3. Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary (Sub Pop) 4. Wilco, Kicking Television (Nonesuch) 5. Silver Jews, Tanglewood Numbers (Drag City) 6. Animal Collective, Feels (Fat Cat) 7. Akron/Family & Angels of Light,…
Local indie-artsters Asleep in the Sea’s new untitled six-song EP would make a succulent cake — mouth-wateringly catchy choruses (“Butterflies”), a creamy filling of graduate-level wit (“U R What U Eat”), all spread over with post-mod art rock frosting (“Heartback”) and sprinkled with hooky harmonies (“Punk Girl”) for good measure…
When did DJs stop being tastemakers? I’m not talking about scenesters who play songs for nightclub crowds, or vinyl junkies who juggle beats on a couple of turntables. Those are the newer notions of what a DJ is. Instead, I’m thinking of the faceless folks who deliver music over the…
Years ago, I was scheduled to do a phone interview with this living legend, but Mr. 200-Plus-Shows-a-Year slept through my call. It left this fan with a lot of unasked questions: Since most blues consists of I-IV-V progressions, how many chords would it take, and in what fucked-up order would…
Shooter Jennings had a country Outlaw for a father (Waylon), grew up on tour with country rebels the Highwaymen, and is now breaking a few country rules himself by embracing the Southern rock side of the biz that Nashville’s been ignoring for too long. To make this point, consider a…
You’ve got to wait until the new year to buy the new Strokes record, First Impressions of Earth, in stores, but this Thursday, December 29, if you’re truly a Casablancas and Co. fanatic, you’ll want to be down at the latest installment of Panic! at Anderson’s Fifth Estate in Scottsdale,…
Start a band, post music on MySpace, and get a record deal. Isn’t that how it works? Not quite, but that’s what happened when Earache Records grindcore mogul Lee Barrett discovered Abigail Williams’ fan-bloated MySpace page. The result: Barrett quickly ushered the local death metal hellions (named after the McCarthy-like…
I have some married friends who send out genius homemade holiday cards, so funny and meticulously planned I’m sure I’m not the only person who looks forward to getting one in the mail, wondering how they’ll outdo their previous creations. These two are obsessive collectors of various hard-to-find goodies –…
What’s more selfless than a bodhisattva who discovers nirvana but postpones his own enlightenment until he can get everyone else up to speed? How about Bodhisattva with a capital B, a two-man sonic tag team that uses every limb and brain synapse to give us ADD listeners the ultimate in…
Some soul singers have sung their joy — Sam Cooke and Stevie Wonder not least — and made their best art. But Anthony Hamilton comes from a bluesier tradition, with a lilting, earthbound voice that knows struggle, and a masterwork in 2003’s heavy Comin’ From Where I’m From. Ain’t Nobody…
The Adolescents have been around for so long now that founding guitarist Frank Agnew’s 18-year-old son, Frank Agnew Jr., is also playing guitar in the legendary Orange County, California, punk band’s current formation! This year, the group is actually celebrating its 25th anniversary (granted, it’s spent more than half of…
