Bloc Party, 'Intimacy' (Atlantic)
Restless musical magpie chirps another ravaged chapter.
By Josh Modell 10.24.08 9:42 AM
After the success of 2005's spiky, straightforward debut, Silent Alarm, Bloc Party took an undeserved thumping for last year's more textured, politically minded, and ultimately better A Weekend in the City.
SHARE THIS:
Media Horde: Kelly Slater
The Guide to how entertainers entertain themselves. This month: The Legendary surfer and author of the autobiography Kelly Slater: For the Love
By Spin Staff 10.23.08 5:55 PM
 |
SHARE THIS:
Black Rock: An Oral History
In the 1980s, a brotherhood of bands led by Fishbone and Living Colour refused to let their race dictate the style of music they played. Here's how they splashed onto the scene, how they struggled to stay afloat, and what they're doing now.
By David Browne 10.23.08 5:12 PM
In 2008, indie-rock bands with black members virtually amount to a genre unto themselves; think TV on the Radio, Black Kids, Bloc Party, the Dirtbombs, Apollo Heights, Earl Greyhound, and Dragons of Zynth, among many others.
SHARE THIS:
The Inquisition: T-Pain
By John Sellers 10.23.08 4:13 PM
In 2005, Faheem Najm (a.k.a. T-Pain) descended on the scene armed with a quavering robo-tenor, audacious top hats, and an endless supply of lyrics about strippers.
SHARE THIS:
Kaiser Chiefs, 'Off With Their Heads' (Universal/Motown)
Smart, frisky lads become lazy prats on Mark Ronson's watch.
By Barry Walters 10.23.08 9:54 AM
Take a band known for crossing Britpop brains with new-wave brightness. Hire a transatlantic DJ-producer feted for making hot '60s soul cool again. Then entrust the results -- surprisingly feeble tunes, tossed-off sentiments, and uninspired performances -- to the guy who mixed Linkin Park? Blimey! Kaiser Chiefs have got themselves a stadium-size mess.
SHARE THIS:
Snow Patrol, 'A Hundred Million Suns' (Geffen)
Experience the arena-rock equivalent of a Tempur-Pedic pillow.
By Josh Modell 10.22.08 10:04 AM
In a climate noisy with hip-hop, shiny R&B, bashful indie, and rockers who exploit grunge's worst traits, Snow Patrol stand out as staggeringly straight-arrow, playing spacious rafter-rock that practically begs to be loved. In fact, these Irishmen have only one real contemporary: Coldplay.
SHARE THIS:
