British act Florence + The Machine follow up their well-received debut “Lungs” with a new album called “Ceremonials”. Can Ms. Welch and company successfully avoid the sophomore slump?
Spin Cycle
Spin Cycle: “Where It All Begins” by Lalah Hathaway
Lalah Hathaway is an artist that has built a lengthy career with a dedicated base of fans despite never breaking through to the pop market, which is cool. If you take a look at the artists that might be considered contemporaries-her buddy Rahsaan Patterson, Van Hunt, Meshell Ndegeocello, she’s in some pretty damn good company. Blessed with a rich, buttery vocal tone just a ½ step removed from that of her father, the incomparable Donny Hathaway, she’s one of those […]
Spin Cycle: U2’s “Achtung Baby (Super Deluxe Edition)”
U2’s “Achtung Baby” is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary with a super-deluxe fan package in which you get a lock of Bono’s hair. Kidding. But we do have a review of the actual deluxe package. Seriously.
Spin Cycle: Justin Bieber’s “Under the Mistletoe”
Ho Ho Ho! It’s Justin Bieber!! And we’ve got a review of his new holiday album.
Spin Cycle: U2 Tribute “ACH-toong BAY-bi Covered”
U2’s “Achtung Baby” turns 20, and some legendary artists have paid tribute to the band and their songs on a new album.
Spin Cycle: Boyz II Men’s “Twenty”
With “Twenty”, Boyz II Men prove that they are FAR from the end of their road. Check out our review.
Spin Cycle: Lou Reed and Metallica’s “Lulu”
A meeting of iconic minds: “Lulu” brings Metallica and Lou Reed together. How exactly does this work? Check out our review!
Spin Cycle: Wednesday 13, “Calling All Corpses”
There’s something to be said for knowing exactly what you’re gonna get. You can’t go to a Metallica show and get the same high you got when you were in your later teens or early 20’s. What’s worse – you can’t listen to a Metallica album and truly reminisce about that live experience. Your ears and eyes heard and saw those things and you enjoyed how they translated between record to club (or arena). I have always been a fan […]
Spin Cycle: Everlast’s “Songs of the Ungrateful Living”
In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Everlast was quoted as saying “I would rather if people love or hate my music. The only thing I don’t want is indifference. If you are not stirring shit up, then what the hell are you doing?” At that point, I’d listened to his new album, Songs of the Ungrateful Living, a couple times and to be honest, I was kind of indifferent. The interviewer also asked him if he felt the new album […]
Spin Cycle: Patrick Stump’s “Soul Punk”
Has it already been half a decade since Fall Out Boy was a thing? Despite initial reservations about digging something that was clearly not targeted to my age demo, I found myself liking these guys quite a bit during their glory period, and that had a lot to do with lead singer Patrick Stump. Although bassist Pete Wentz was the public face (and other body parts) of the band, and wrote much of the band’s material, something told me there […]
Spin Cycle: M83’s “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming”
I first encountered M83 via their previous effort, 2009’s Saturdays=Youth. That album’s lush, dreamy soundscapes drenched in echoes of the 1980s was a sublime masterpiece, and one of my top picks for 2009. I was thus understandably excited when the band announced the follow up, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. However, I admit that when the band announced that it would be a double album, I grew skeptical. It’s not that double albums are inherently bad, but they are inherently ambitious. […]