R.E.M.- Accelerate (Warner Bros.)

Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe hit the ground running on their most relevant album in fifteen years or so with “Living Well Is The Best Revenge”- possibly the rawest and punkiest they have sounded since Chronic Town back in ‘82 (Alternate descriptions: 1. It really puts the “rapid” back in rapid eye movement, [...]

Journey Through The Past: Dire Straits- Making Movies (Warner Bros. 1980)

By 1980, Dire Straits were stuck. Their self-titled debut had attracted much praise with its pub blues/rock sound and had spawned a rock radio hit with “Sultans Of Swing”, but 1979’s Communique was a washout (save for the excellent “Lady Writer”) and the band seemed to be merely treading water as the Carter administration wound [...]

The Raconteurs- Consolers Of The Lonely (Warner Bros.)

Here, I’ll just come out and say it: Consolers Of The Lonely by The Raconteurs is the worst album that Jack White of The White Stripes has ever been associated with. That being said, it’s really not that bad. The Raconteurs, if you’re not familiar with them, feature Mr. White and softy solo artist Brendan [...]

Kathleen Edwards- Asking For Flowers (Zoe/Rounder)

On her third and latest album, Canadian country girl Kathleen Edwards confesses that “choosing my words carefully has never been my strength.” It can only be assumed that she is singing about her private life and not her artistic persona, as her first two albums were winners for their lyrical content as much as their [...]

The Black Crowes- Warpaint (Silver Arrow)

Let’s begin with some obvious things about The Black Crowes:
1. They are led by brothers Chris and Rich Robinson- one is a loudmouthed beanpole, the other is cool as hell despite having chick hair.
2. They seem to be influenced almost exclusively by early 70’s Rolling Stones and The Faces.
3. They really love the wacky tobaccy.
That [...]