Log In Register

Music

Pantha du Prince and the Bell Laboratory

by Josh Potter January 17, 2013

One element of electronic dance music that rarely gets discussed is the form’s debt to American minimalism (Steve Reich, Philip Glass, et al.). Last year’s multi-artist Rework: Philip Glass Remixed was evidence of the affection ...

Rough Mix

by Josh Potter January 10, 2013

Love Over Hate Organized by guitarist Matt McWatters and promoter Greg Bell with help from drummer Jim Felter, last weekend’s (Jan.4-5) Rock for Recovery benefit show for the victims of the Newtown school shooting was a ...

Year in Live Concerts

by Kirsten Ferguson January 3, 2013

Best of 2012 Critic: Kirsten Ferguson 1. Bruce Springsteen Times Union Center, April 16 Despite the recession-themed material of his latest Wrecking Ball album—and the Clarence Clemons eulogy this tour demanded—the Boss turned a wake for both economic justice ...

1 comment

Year in Recordings

by Josh Potter January 3, 2013

Best of 2012 Critic: Josh Potter 1. Grimes Visions If “experimental” and “pop” ever belong in the same sentence, they best describe Claire Boucher’s bedroom electronic project, Grimes. Imagine Madonna scoring a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie, and you’ve got Visions. 2. ...

Rough Mix

by Josh Potter December 27, 2012

Welcoming the Year of the Snake On Monday (Dec. 31), the Gregorian calendar is prophesied to expire, marking the end of a 365-day cycle and the beginning of an age to be known as 2013. No ...

Conehead Buddha

by Josh Potter December 20, 2012

Earlier this spring, local concert promoter Greg Bell celebrated his 20th year in the business of booking live music. Headlining the night was a band whose history goes back nearly as far, who rose to ...

Rodeo Barons

by Josh Potter December 20, 2012

A couple years ago, Chris Carey released his solo debut Sunset Moon. The ’70s-vintage folk-rock and alt-country felt a bit like the antidote to his primary gig as drummer for Railbird—or at least the fulfiment ...

Break Science

by The Staff December 14, 2012

Headlining electronic musicians finally seem to be getting their artistic due, but something ought to be said for the art of the opening DJ. With main attractions like Break Science making audiences wait until the ...

Valentine's

Carrie Underwood

by Shawn Stone December 13, 2012

Carrie Underwood TIMES UNION CENTER, DEC. 4 Carrie Underwood’s production at the Times Union Center last week is what a “really big show” is supposed to be. Underwood may have gotten her start by winning American ...

The Major Lift

by David King December 13, 2012

Why are Muse still a band? They seem bored, copping the same Radiohead poses that have gotten them through what seems like a dozen or so releases. But it’s not the band’s laziness and boredom ...

1 comment

Gift Guide: Pop, etc.

by Josh Potter December 6, 2012

So, here’s how this is going to work. I’m going to rattle off a bunch of good records that came out this year under vague genre headings. Pop music has become so Balkanized and personal ...

3 comments

Gift Guide: CDs Off the Beaten Path

by David Greenberger December 6, 2012

While there’s access to more music than ever, the reality is that most new music has little chance of being heard outside of the following that already exists for it. With that in mind, here ...

1 comment

Gift Guide: Jazz

by Josh Potter December 6, 2012

Let’s face it: As practical as it can be to buy a gift certificate or download card for a music junkie, unwrapping one is kind of an anticlimax. If you’re going to gift music, get ...

Gift Guide: Classical

by B.A. Nilsson December 6, 2012

Show your friends how much you love them by giving them relief from Christmas music. Start with Jeanne D’Arc: Batailles & Prisons (Alia Vox), a recently released two-disc set assembled by Jordi Savall and his ...

Gift Guide: Folk, Blues, Bluegrass and Celtic

by Glenn Weiser December 6, 2012

Given that vintage guitars, mandolins, and banjos are pretty pricey as Christmas gifts, the next best thing you can give a roots music fan are CDs of people playing them well as they sing blues, ...

Gift Guide: Christmas Music

by Shawn Stone December 6, 2012

The coolest Christmas album of 2012 arrives courtesy of Cee Lo Green. Cee Lo’s Magic Moment (Elektra) is a savvy collection of well-loved tunes that, musically, are all over the map. Cee Lo never gets ...

1 comment

Gift Guide: Music Books

by David Greenberger December 6, 2012

There are musical biographies and memoirs aplenty this year. Top among them are two books that follow the artistic search and ascendancy of a pair of New Jersey-based acts: Bruce Springsteen and Yo La Tengo. ...

1 comment

De La Soul

by Jeff Nania December 6, 2012

“You all like anything that's out now?” Trugoy asked the crowd. “I'm trying to figure if there's anything out I should listen to.” The crowd shouted back a few names, and he agreed to a ...

Marco Benevento

by Josh Potter December 6, 2012

He was probably just a little drunk and clowning, but when Marco Benevento put on a pair of oversized sunglasses partway through his set, it was impossible not to think he was somehow channeling Elton ...

Railbird EP Release

by Jeff Nania December 6, 2012

Railbird's homecoming Friday night at Valentine's saw them perform all three songs from their newly released EP, Lucky, as well as new interpretations of some of their most popular tunes from their album No One. Local ...

1 comment