Depicted by the band’s house emcee, Black Thought, Redford Stephens is the narrating character, a composition of many of BT’s family members and people he and fellow Roots founder ?uestlove knew from their hometown of Philadelphia. Listening to “undun” you hear Redford’s hopes, dreams, mistakes and struggles, all told in uncompromising, uncontrived lyricism from Black […]
CD reviews
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Florence + The Machine — Ceremonials
The English singer was met with enthusiasm and insta-fame for her ethereal, enormous voice and playfully edgy lyrics in that 2009 release. Quickly, she nabbed nominations and awards, and since then, the world has waited with baited breath for her return, for this machine with which everyone fell in love with. Would she fall flat? […]
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Crown Imperial — Crown Imperial
The opener, “I’m Static,” darts out with a quick throttle before giving way to full and charming chorus echoing The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Only Colourmusic and Other Lives rival the group in terms of a quality single, but no one even touches its catchiness. The tribal trill of the dangerous “Elevator” follows, […]
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Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Police / Def Leppard / Van Halen
In the meantime, however, I’m already learning that I’ll likely come to embrace the kiddified pop culture that surrounds modern child rearing, thanks to these three CDs from the “Rockabye Baby!” crew, whose previous instrumental-only work has covered everybody from Smashing Pumpkins and Led Zeppelin to Björk and The Flaming Lips. Most songs are as […]
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Philip Zoellner Band — Lean On
Zoellner’s fifth album gets a little schmaltzy here and there (see “I Love You I’m Sorry” and “Running Is the Hardest Part,” specifically), but who doesn’t crank “Don’t Stop Believin’” every once in a while? Embrace it, and “Lean On” will hug you right back with the title track’s rich guitar tone that’s locked in […]
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M83 — Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
And not just in indie. Released this week, Coldplay’s “Mylo Xyloto” (also see Florence + The Machine, Lady Gaga) is the group’s biggest, brightest, largest-swelling album yet, just as optimistic in tone as its lyrics are complimentary and superficial. Meanwhile, once the biggest, loudest, hardest chest-beaters of the indie-rock scene (just watch them playing “Wake […]
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The Damn Quails — Down The Hatch
Showcased front and center amid a backing band circus that includes John Fullbright and Joe Hardy, White and Marshall confidently steer their way through 14 songs set in smoky bars, busted-up relationships, bluegrass towns and even the pokey. Despite their relative youth, the pair boasts many years’ experience, and it really shows in the strong […]
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Body Language — Social Studies
At the same time, the band shines in its own unique ways, taking an artier approach to crafting equally catchy tracks and spinning out more funky moments. Indeed, Body Language’s debut record, “Social Studies,” digs further than “Manners” ever did, pulling from a deeper well of electronic and house authorities in creating a proper debut […]
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Balkans — Balkans
Naturally, the discovery of Atlanta act Balkans was a highlight of my week, being that they merge the two worlds in a way few others have. The band’s self-titled debut came out in early summer, but buzz around Balkans’ CMJ appearances has led the figurative noise of the group to match that which it literally […]
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Terra Lightfoot — Terra Lightfoot
It’s a far, more pleasant cry from the rough-worn, truth-saying voices of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie and the usually sparse, simple arrangements that accompanied them. Terra Lightfoot is one such contemporary. The artist from Waterdown Canada has also played with country band The Dinner Belles. Here we have her solo debut, which calls upon […]