When Beirut, the solo project of New Mexico native Zach Condon, debuted in 2006, it was a welcome blast from some accordion-filled past. With its resounding chorus of brass orchestration and romantic images of Ye Olde Europe, the band’s debut album, Gulag Orkestar, was a refreshingly cheery introduction for the Read More…
Although the reigning kings of hip hop have everything money can buy and some that it can’t — Grammys aren’t for sale, right? ― Kanye West and Jay-Z display their adamant abstinence from complacency in their collaborative effort Watch the Throne. The twelve-track LP was born from two artists who Read More…
Don’t be fooled by the nose ring on the cover of Joss Stone’s fifth studio release, LP1. There’s nothing remotely rebellious about the soulful singer’s new album. All the rebellion of the British neo-soul niche seems to have passed along with Amy Winehouse. That’s not to say there’s no life Read More…
Sky Full of Holes is Fountains of Wayne’s fifth studio album. Yeah, I couldn’t believe it either. It seems that this New York-based alt. rock group was destined to be a one-hit wonder, fading into childhood nostalgia as the only song we can remember is “Stacy’s Mom” — you know, Read More…
There’s nothing extraordinary about Vanessa Carlton. She plays the piano all right. She sings just okay, and she’s pretty enough not to scare off CD buyers with her face on an album cover. However, being just suitable isn’t enough. Since her 2002 hit and Zales commercial go-to song, “A Thousand Read More…
Electro-pop can’t stop and won’t stop, as is proved by the release of Little Dragon’s third album, Ritual Union. The Swedish quartet, led by the sultry, nymph-like vocals of Yukimi Nagano, flaunt their refined self-assurance with this latest installment of work. In the past, Little Dragon stood above the rest Read More…
Duet records are generally a mix of cheap love songs and tired ballads. Thankfully, Release the Sunbird have come to give the genre a fresh overhaul with their debut record, Come Back to Us. Led by the Bay Area’s Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave fame, his latest project brims with Read More…
Party rap acts are a dime a dozen these days. Without a fresh flow, creative beats or some sort of gimmick, it’s hard for an artist to stand out in a sea of Ke$ha and Lil’ Wayne knock-offs. For Inglewood’s Cali Swag District, this gimmick was undoubtedly their resident dancer Read More…
After many delays and — as Chuck Inglish put it — some time in “record label jail,” the Cool Kids have finally released their debut studio album, When Fish Ride Bicycles. The hip-hop duo of Inglish and Mikey Rocks have laid down their beats and raps, and the result is…good. Read More…
Spoken word and keyboards are a combo made in nap heaven. Whether you’re tired from a long day at the office or catching up on some z’s in between exams, everyone could use some relaxing, subtle music to nod off to. English producer-extraordinaire Brian Eno’s latest record, Drums Between the Read More…
