For all the beauty in the New York duo’s appropriately titled third full-length, Ratatat still sounds like a band that veered a bit off course – possibly as early as its 2004 debut – and now finds itself struggling to get to where it best fits in. That’s not to say LP3 isn’t an interesting […]
There’s something historic about The Music. Not in the way that NME hilariously predicted, labeling them “potentially the most important group since Oasis,” when they formed at the early part of the decade. Rather, it’s because there is an undeniable British lineage that runs throughout the band’s third record. Oftentimes, when performers look to the […]
There are a number of “cellar door” phrases so sincerely constructed that hearing them said to you is exhilarating. “Zero calories.” “Tax deductible.” “You were right; I’m sorry.” The beauty of these expressions is that we convince ourselves they will always be true. There’s an emotional contract we presumably sign during these sorts of dialogues […]
The Kills is a duo. So is The Black Keys, The Raveonettes, The White Stripes and Quasi. The two-piece isn’t a new phenomenon, and with the ever-growing list of rock ‘n’ roll pairs, it certainly is a popular one nowadays. But that doesn’t mean musical tandems don’t still possess a sense of novelty about them. […]
There was a rag-tag danger on The Fratellis’ debut, Costello Music, that sounded as if the English group was as likely to raise a pint and lead a cheerful sing-a-long as it was to smash your head in with their guitars. They were the guys whom everyone wanted at the party but preferred to watch […]
As !!! is quick to point out, pronouncing its name as “any sound repeated three times” gives the moniker endless possibilities and unlimited room in which to evolve. But what the Brooklyn ensemble failed to notice when giving itself such a repetitive title is that — despite all those potential variations — the name is […]
It’s rewarding to see Spoon residing near the top of the Billboard charts. Not that it’s any kind of validation for the years of watching them progress from a quaint guitar-pop band into one of Merge Records’ most consistent names on a roster made up almost entirely of fascinating acts. It’s rewarding because the Austin […]
Since the band’s conception a decade ago, Mexico’s Kinky has been a testament to dance music’s international capabilities. In the United States, the genre is the musical equivalent to soccer. We know about it; we’re told it’s the largest in the world, but we just don’t care. And it’s certainly going to take more than […]
What an odd Dr. Seuss line for this whimsical quintet to steal for its name. It’s not that the outfit couldn’t use its brand of catchy pop to move the proverbial mountain. What’s odd is that the band’s road-tested chops and lemons-into-lemonade demeanor appears better served for taking the long way there — perhaps around […]
Labeling The Hold Steady as “the greatest bar band on Earth” is insulting. Sure, the common title is masked as a compliment (probably even intended as one), but comparing the quintet to cover bands and weekend pub stage warriors just isn’t fair. It’s akin to saying that they are the best minor league pitcher or […]