All posts from August, 2007

If you like your rap brainy and esoteric, then good news: there’s a new Aesop Rock album in stores on Tuesday. “None Shall Pass” finds the now San Francisco-based artist working with Blockhead, El-P, Rob Sonic, and even The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle, on what we’re calling his first real studio album in four years. […]

Tags: aesop rock

This week’s new US releases are highlighted by the latest discs from indie rapper Aesop Rock, experimental indie-rockers Liars, Michael Gira’s Angels Of Light project, and Ben Harper. Here’s what you can expect to see on record store shelves on Tuesday:
Aesop Rock: None Shall Pass listen on AOL’s Spinner
Angels Of Light: We Are Him
Tasmin Archer: […]

Tags: none

Emerging from the same early-21st century New York post-punk scene that gave the world bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Walkmen, Liars quickly went their own way, relocating to Berlin and recording two ambitious (or bizarre, depending on whom you ask) and experimental concept albums to follow their well-received debut, alienating a lot of […]

Tags: liars

Babyshambles
“Shotter’s Nation,” the second album from Pete Doherty & co., already scheduled for release Ocotber 1st in the UK, now has a US release date as well, courtesy of Astralwerks: October 23rd.
Everlast
The artist’s first album since 2004, to be entitled “Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford,” should arrive in stores in early 2008.
His […]

Tags: babyshambles, everlast, his name is alive, rem, vampire weekend

Morrissey has once again rejected overtures to re-form The Smiths (or at least reunite with Johnny Marr) and go on tour. This time, he turned down an offer of $75 million. Everyone has a price, don’t they?
If rapper 50 Cent loses his September album sales battle with Kanye West, at least he has a new […]

Tags: 50 cent, morrissey, the smiths, yourcodenameis:milo

Although reviewers and fans alike were down on (rather than down with) the Brooklyn rapper’s previous two solo albums, “The Beautiful Struggle” and “Right About Now,” he has finally–after a lengthy delay–returned with a follow-up to silence the critics. The 20-track “Eardrum” is stuffed with producers and collaborators, including Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, UGK, Norah […]

Tags: talib kweli

The 50’s-and 60’s-influenced traditional rock songwriter (he’s often compared to Roy Orbison, for example) from Sheffield, England returns with a successor to 2005’s “Coles Corner,” a breakthrough album for him that not only sold well but also picked up a Mercury Prize nomination. Although “Lady’s Bridge” (now out in the UK and arriving October 2nd […]

Tags: richard hawley

Our weekly roundup of new music videos for your perusal includes works by Animal Collective, the Besnard Lakes, James Blunt, Foo Fighters, Jose Gonzalez, Minus The Bear, Parts & Labor, Josh Ritter, and Stars.

Tags: animal collective, besnard lakes, foo fighters, james blunt, jose gonzalez, minus the bear, parts and labor, stars

British singer Amy Winehouse has canceled her planned North American tour, which was scheduled to begin next month, “due to the rigors involved in touring.” Why would a young singer be unable to cope with the “rigors” of touring? Peruse any of our previous “Music briefing” posts over the past month or so to find […]

Tags: amy winehouse, babyshambles, bob dylan, reading festival

Not exactly the most prolific band in the world, the San Francisco boy-girl four-piece led by former Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum returns today with their first album in five years (and just their fourth release overall). Musically, it does not deviate from its predecessors’ uncomplicated, exuberant, alt-rock sound, although lyrically, it deals with […]

Tags: imperial teen