Glasvegas, 'Glasvegas' (Columbia)
Scot rockers reduce pint-waving masses to puddle.
By David Peisner 01.12.09 7:32 AM
Lads. Yobs. Scallies. Neds. In Britain, a culture has grown up around urban, working-class white guys that's almost religious in its fervor. Its sacraments are boozing, brawling, and "chasing birds"; its churches are the pub and the football terrace; and its patron saints are the Gallagher brothers.
SHARE THIS:
Animal Collective, 'Merriweather Post Pavilion' (Domino)
Former freak-folk crew embrace dance-music euphoria.
By Andy Beta 12.29.08 5:38 PM
A waterlogged sample of a voice croaking, "You can dance" opens Animal Collective's ninth album, and it's a sign of what's to come, even if the trio take their time before dropping a beat.
SHARE THIS:
Tough Questions for... Wayne Coyne
Flaming Lips frontman fields queries on his band's confetti budget, working at Long John Silver's, and his new film, Christmas on Mars.
By John Sellers 12.29.08 9:13 AM
If you're hankering to see a low-budget sci-fi movie featuring a suicidal Santa that very loosely concerns the fate of the first baby conceived in space, then by all means, check out Christmas on Mars. That such an offbeat film is the directorial debut of Wayne Coyne, frontman of psych-rock oddballs the Flaming Lips, should surprise no one.
SHARE THIS:
Jukebox Jury: Travis McCoy, Paul F. Tompkins Rate 2008's Hits
The Gym Class Heroes frontman and Best Week Ever host listen to the year's biggest songs -- and reach their verdicts with utter conviction.
By David Marchese 12.29.08 9:02 AM
As the host of VH1's Best Week Ever, dapper comedian Paul F. Tompkins makes a living siccing his snark on cultural ephemera. Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy does much the same via his witty rhymes on songs like "Drnk Txt Rmeo" and "Cookie Jar," both from 2008's The Quilt.
SHARE THIS:
Website Finds Touring Bands Crash Space
Musicians use nonprofit site couchsurfing.com to cut costs. Find out how!
By Ragan Sutterfield 12.29.08 8:30 AM
The Shackeltons spent 109 nights on the road in 2008 -- and only paid to stay in a hotel once. The rest of the time, the Pennsylvanian post-punkers crashed at private homes, sometimes with friends, but more often with strangers they found through couchsurfing.com.
SHARE THIS:
Andrew Bird, 'Noble Beast' (Fat Possum)
Chicago raconteur crafts natty songs.
By Jessica Suarez 12.27.08 1:40 PM
Over the course of his five solo albums, Andrew Bird's music has become a custom- tailored suit: fussy and impossible for anyone else to wear. Just try to imagine anyone else singing about "proto-Sanskrit Minoans to porto-centric Lisboans / Greek Cypriots and Hobishots / Who hang around the ports a lot," as he does on "Tenuousness." Imagine anyone else wanting to.
SHARE THIS:
