Conor Oberst Conor Oberst Release: 2008-08-05
Abandoning the Bright Eyes moniker he's been performing under since his teens, Conor Oberst reverted to his birth name for his 2008 follow-up to 2007's Cassadaga. As he not only released the record under his own name but titled it Conor Oberst, it's hard not to think of the album as a new beginning or statement of purpose, as that's generally the case when a singer/songwriter splits from his main ......more »
Beck Modern Guilt Release: 2008-07-08
At first glance, it seems like the teaming of Beck and Danger Mouse is a perfect pairing of postmodern pranksters, as neither musician has shaken the first impression he's made: for most, Beck is still seen as that ironic Loser, trawling through pop culture's junk heap, while Danger Mouse is the maverick of The Grey Album, the mash-up of the Beatles and Jay-Z that reads like a joke but doesn't pla......more »
John Mayer Where The Light Is: Live In Los Angeles Release: 2008-07-01
John Mayer's first live album, TRY, was also the debut of his side project, the heavy blues-rock outfit the John Mayer Trio, with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan. WHERE THE LIGHT IS: JOHN MAYER LIVE IN LOS ANGELES is a more representative example of the singer-songwriter's live shows, taking material from all of his previous albums, including radio hits like "Daughters" a......more »
Coldplay Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends Release: 2008-06-17
On 2008's VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS, Coldplay follows up X&Y's accessible anthems by tweaking its signature Britpop sound with the aid of renowned producer Brian Eno, celebrated not only for his own innovative ambient albums, but also for his behind-the-boards work with U2. Eno's contributions don't result in a ZOOROPA-like foray into dance-pop, however--VIVA LA VIDA sticks wit......more »
Wolf Parade At Mount Zoomer Release: 2008-06-17
Of all the 2000s' indie-rockers, Wolf Parade have perhaps been most adept at standing alone despite an obvious kinship with contemporaries such as Islands and splitting personalities with its own side projects like Sunset Rubdown. An unusual record, AT MOUNT ZOOMER grasps at the straws of classic canonical influences without really bowing at their altar in its attempt to spin a sophisticated pop g......more »
Martha Wainwright I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too Release: 2008-06-10
Martha is the youngest of the Wainwright clan (with brother Rufus two years her senior), and she's also still the one with the most to prove, even after her eponymous 2005 debut captured hearts aplenty via a delightful bundle of timeless folk ruminations with intriguingly fraught seams--and one infamously foul-mouthed diatribe against her father (folk singer Loudon Wainwright III). It's hard to kn......more »
Fratellis Here We Stand Release: 2008-06-10
On Costello Music, the Fratellis sounded like a ragtag gang, churning out pint-hoisting anthems with anything goes charm and creativity. On their follow-up Here We Stand, it feels like they worked on this music, stepping out of the pub to smooth the edges off their songs and clean up their sound. This doesn't always play to the band's strengths — where their debut was effortless fun, Here We Stand......more »
Aimee Mann @#%&! Smilers Release: 2008-06-03
With SMILERS, the woman who came in on the crest of the New Wave with 'Til Tuesday in the 1980s and helped make power pop cool as a solo artist in the '90s, moves one step away from her overt pop tendencies towards a more '70s singer/songwriter sound. While there are plenty of elegantly unfurled melodies and carefully constructed tunes here, these songs are less centered on hooks and snappy guitar......more »
Weezer Weezer (the Red Album) Release: 2008-06-03
The third self-titled album by Weezer mixes the hooky sound of their 1994 and 2001 releases (known as the "blue" and "green" albums, respectively) with the experimental tendencies of efforts like PINKERTON. Like its eponymously titled cousins, Weezer's sixth release overall (destined to become known as "the red album") sports a full frontal picture of the band, dresse......more »
Gavin Rossdale Wanderlust Release: 2008-06-03
On his 2008 solo debut, WANDERLUST, former Bush/Institute frontman Gavin Rossdale presents a Bob Rock-produced set of songs that are generally more introspective and subdued than his work with those bands. Backing his signature raspy vocals with relatively gentle adult-alternative arrangements rather than distorted guitars, the British singer/guitarist is clearly no longer the tormented neo-grunge......more »
