The Riff Report: Goo Goo Dolls, Heart and Richard Thompson
August 31, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under More from TGIF, wire
By Sarah Zupko
PopMatters.com
Ryan Bingham — “Junky Star”
The ex-rodeo cowboy and current Americana superstar and newly minted actor releases his third album, a slightly more introspective affair than previous work with production by T Bone Burnett.
Richard Thompson — “Dream Attic”
The legendary singer-songwriter and one of the planet’s best guitarists continues to produce one good record after another, many decades after the start of his career. “Dream Attic” features 13 new songs recorded before a live audience.
Heart — “Red Velvet Car”
1970s rockers Ann and Nancy Wilson, who gave us the massive hits “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” and “Magic Man,” bring back Heart for the band’s first album in six years.
Goo Goo Dolls — “Something for the Rest of Us”
These 1980s alt-rockers are still at it after more than 20 years. This new album takes its cue from the recession we remain mired in. As John Rzeznik says, “I wanted some of the material on this album to address the disillusionment of the difficult period we live in.”
The Riff Report: Katy Perry, Ra Ra Riot and !!!
August 25, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under wire
By Sarah Zupko
PopMatters.com
Katy Perry — “Teenage Dream”: The platinum selling pop singer who built a career by “kissing a girl” returns with her second LP of chart-friendly pop froth.
Ra Ra Riot — “The Orchard”: The latest in a long line of massively hyped indie bands brings their eagerly awaited third full-length and somehow manages to knock it out of the park and exceed expectations.
!!! — “Strange Weather, Isn’t It?”: The California dance punkers travel to Berlin to record their “dark” album following the footsteps of forbearers like David Bowie and Depeche Mode.
Isobell Campbell, Mark Lanegan — “Hawk”: Belle and Sebastian’s Isobell Campbell solidifies her intriguing partnership that began in 2006 with seeming musical opposite, Screaming Trees’ Mark Lanegan.
Eels — “Tomorrow Morning”: Eels continue their prolific streak with this third release in a series of concept albums that began last year with “Hombre Lobo” and continued in 2010 with “End Times.”
The Riff Report: Mellencamp, Wilson offer new music
August 17, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under More from TGIF, Riff Report, wire
By Sarah Zupko
PopMatters.com
John Mellencamp, “No Better Than This”
Heartland roots rocker John Mellencamp goes all the way back to the basics on this new gritty and spare album recorded on a 55-year-old Ampex tape recorder with a single old-timey microphone.
In doing so, he turns out one of his best career albums by stripping away the production layers and revealing the classic American songwriting craft at the base of his work.
Riff Report: Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga and Black Crowes
August 4, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under More from TGIF, Riff Report, wire
The Riff Report
By Sarah Zupko
PopMatters.com
Arcade Fire
“The Suburbs”
Indie superstars Arcade Fire give us their heavily anticipated third album, a record inspired thematically by frontman Win Butler’s years growing up in the suburbs of Houston. The BBC likened it to the Montreal band’s “OK Computer,” while NME slapped a 9 out of 10 on it, calling it Arcade Fire’s “Automatic for the People.” With hype comparing them to alt-rock gods like Radiohead and R.E.M., look for this release to move major units.
Squeeze
“Spot the Difference”
Since 1974, English pop maestros Squeeze have been serving up three-minute slices of heaven drawn from the pens of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, who have often been tagged with the heady label of the heirs of Lennon and McCartney. The band has gone through a few break-ups along the way, but since 2007 they’ve been back in the saddle touring. With a long tour this summer and fall, “Spot the Difference” offers recorded versions of many Squeeze classics and is meant to accompany the tour.
Other notable releases this week:
» Black Crowes — “Croweology”
» Buckcherry — “All Night Long”
» Bun B — “Trill O.G.”
» Dr. John — “Tribal”
» El-P — “Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3”
» Gaelic Storm — “Cabbage”
» Gov’t Mule — “Mulennium”
» jj — “jj n: 2”
» Lady Gaga — “The Remix”
» Los Lobos — “Tin Can Trust”
» Katie Melua — “The House”
» The Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band — “Where the Messengers Meet”
» Secondhand Serenade — “Hear Me Now”
» Shapes and Sizes — “Candle to Your Eyes”
» Wavves — “King of the Beach” Read more
