You’ve come to the right place if you want hot links to some of the latest music reviews online. Step right this way to the egress, er…I mean, the newly minted reviews!
Over at delovely Bullz-Eye, Jeff Giles has reviewed the latest disc by R.E.M. entitled Accelerate. “The new record’s surprisingly good – and, even better for those kvetchy fans, it’s good in a way that hearkens strongly back to the band’s classic sides,” says Jeff about the disc.
David Medsker cuts to the chase on Muse’s new release called H.A.A.R.P. “H.A.A.R.P., much like Green Day’s American Idiot 2005 tour document Bullet in a Bible, is one of those lightning-in-a-bottle moments that captures the band at the height of its powers.”
The Black Keys have returned with Attack & Release, and Jim Washington is there to put in his two cents. Says Jim, “Attack & Release is an apt title. The Keys’ music used to grab you by the throat and rock you. On this, they let go a bit.”
Switching over to Billboard, critic Sven Philipp has covered the new Rolling Stones soundtrack album, Shine a Light. “Much more dazzling than the guest list: More than 40 years into their career, the Stones sound raw and dangerously alive.”
Classic critic-meister Robert Christgau writes up the new Drive-By Truckers CD entitled Brighter Than Creation’s Dark over at NPR. Says Robert, “Like the old cowpunks they are, [Patterson] Hood and his band have a soft spot for losers and total scuzzballs. They’ve also written more good songs about musicians than any competing road dogs you can name.”
Carl F. Gauze of Ink 19 weighs in on Murder Mystery’s Are You Ready for the Heartache Cause Here It Comes, saying “Overall, this is a bouncy, tight band with a clean, happy sound, and the opportunity to make something of itself with its power pop love songs.”
Who knew the Breeders had a new one arriving? Well, I do, and perhaps you do, too now. Head over to Rolling Stone to check out Will Hermes’ review of the new disc entitled Mountain Battles. “Steve Albini (Nirvana, PJ Harvey), among other producers, keeps things raw; indeed, the record’s primitive art punk sometimes echoes Nirvana.”
Finally, over at Spin, Josh Modell discusses Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltisin’s Pershing. “This Missouri band’s music is so plainly likable that they should consider running for public office — even the off-putting name wouldn’t deter any voters who appreciate the shy prettiness of the Shins and the sweeter, least brash moments of the New Pornographers,” muses Modell.
