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Album Reviews

Although Winnipeg’s they are led by John K. Samson of the punk band Propagandhi, The Weakerthans are known for their hyper-literate, story-like lyrics rather than hard-edged rock. (In fact, musically, they are often compared to Death Cab For Cutie.) Their fourth album and first release in four years, “Reunion Tour” follows pretty much the exact […]

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Yes, that’s Siouxsie, as in Siouxsie Sioux, leader of Siouxsie And The Banshees and The Creatures. After a nearly thirty-year career–much of it spent in those two bands with drummer and now-ex husband Budgie–the singer has recorded her very first solo album. While “Mantaray” (out Tuesday in the US)  is far from an innovative album, […]

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Although it was released digitally in July (the same week it was mastered!), the fourth album of dramatic indie-pop stylings from Canada’s Stars didn’t arrive in compact disc form (with bonus content) until this week. Stars fans should find something to like here, but be warned: many reviewers felt that it was a bit of […]

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The Icelandic indie-electronica outfit Múm (and we use “Icelandic” as code for “strange and childlike”) have lost two of their members over the past few years, and thus “Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy,” their fourth album, represents a chance for a fresh start. The core remaining duo are joined here by two new vocalists […]

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Pegged as one of the leaders of the “freak-folk” scene, Devendra Banhart shows that, while the “freak” may still apply on his fifth album “Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon,” the “folk” part of the equation is no longer entirely accurate. Utilizing a full band and a variety of guests, the new album explores a variety […]

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The first song-based solo album for the Sonic Youth frontman since the mid-90s, “Trees Outside the Academy” differs from his band’s output in one major respect: it is almost entirely acoustic. Moore recorded much of the album as a trio with violinist Samara Lubelski and Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelly, and J Mascis also shows […]

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It has been a long time since New York art-punk band Les Savy Fav has released a studio album, but here they are, six years after their last one, with the brand-new “Let’s Stay Friends” (in stores today). Filled with guest stars from the indie-rock community (including members of Fiery Furnaces, Enon, Islands, and Metric), […]

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A Broken Social Scene album in all but name, “Spirit If…” is the first (nominally) solo album for that Canadian collective’s co-founder, Kevin Drew, as well as the first of a planned series of “Broken Social Scene Presents” solo albums. Joining Drew on the disc are many of his Broken Social Scene bandmates, as well […]

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“Watch the Fireworks” is the first solo album for Glasgow’s Emma Pollock, who, along with Alun Woodward, fronted the late indie-rock band The Delgados and co-founded respected record label Chemikal Underground. Delgados fans won’t find anything too atypical here, although “Fireworks” may be a bit more straightforward than Pollock’s efforts with the band.
Is Pollock’s solo […]

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“Autumn of the Seraphs” is the fourth album for the San Diego, Calif. indie-rock band led by Rob Crow (who also records under his own name and with a number of other bands, including Goblin Cock) and Zach Smith (also of Three Mile Pilot). The critics were generally fond of its predecessor, 2004’s “Summer in […]

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