Leonard Cohen faces mortality in ‘Old Ideas’

Posted on February 03, 2012 by in Album Reviews

Leonard Cohen used to think he “was some kind of gypsy boy,” traveling those spaces between his heart and his soul on his long voyage through romantic and spiritual strife. Now at 77-years-old, the Canadian singer-songwriter …

Cloud Nothings bring in Albini for ‘Attack On Memory’

Posted on January 29, 2012 by in Album Reviews

It would have been so easy for Dylan Baldi’s next Cloud Nothings album to follow the tried-and-true trajectory that he had been steadily carving out since 2010′s self-released Turning On — and it would have been …

A farewell to Marie Stella in ‘from’

Posted on January 22, 2012 by in Album Reviews

Here it is: the nearly three-year career span of of Marie Stella — one of Portland’s most predominant live acts — condensed into an appropriately modest six tracks. It shouldn’t surprise many that the final release …

The RattleSnakes explore new and uncharted territory with ‘Spine’

Posted on December 05, 2011 by in Album Reviews

There is an inherent danger in musician’s revisiting and pillaging their youth for inspiration. For those less-than-successful in the endeavor, the results are mundane melodramas of unrequited love that bring more pity and embarrassment than longing for the salad days. …

Despite setbacks, ‘Radioactive’ is a solid statement from Yelawolf

Posted on December 02, 2011 by in Album Reviews

Hailing from the slums of Gadsden, AL, Yelawolf is no stranger to white trash.  Hell, he even has “Red” tattooed on his neck.  (Get it?). As the newest addition to Eminem’s Shady Records roster, Yelawolf has proven …

Kate Bush’s ’50 Words For Snow’ is her best in years

Posted on November 25, 2011 by in Album Reviews

Kate Bush captures the spirit of winter in a dioramic snow globe with her newest album 50 Words for Snow. Earlier works, like her 1978 debut single “Wuthering Heights” and 1985′s Hounds of Love, earned her a reputation for eccentric …

From suburbanite to superstar, ‘Camp’ is a success for Gambino

Posted on November 25, 2011 by in Album Reviews

For an artist who started as a comedian, creating a serious hip-hop album is still a pretty outlandish concept; for it to actually be good is even more so. Enter the world of Childish Gambino. With his fourth full-length …

With ‘Take Care’ Drake embraces maturity, darkness

Posted on November 10, 2011 by in Album Reviews

Since his switch from actor to musician in 2006, Canadian star Drake has been able to find a solid balance between both his hip-hop and R&B tendencies. On his 2010 debut, Thank Me Later, Drake strived …

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