AMERICAN MUSIC CLUB

“Nobody here will ever save you,” sings alt-crooner Mark Eitzel in “Decibels and the Little Pills,” a devastating character sketch of a girl gone wild. “Your rebel cowboy hat,” he... read on»

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CLINIC

“Free Not Free” accents the smooth pop of a ‘60s Burt Bacharach ballad with incomprehensible lyrics and nasty, feedback-drenched guitar accents. “Shopping Bag” is garage-band psychobilly with a jittery beat;... read on»

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Juan L. Sanchez Ensemble delivers a special show before returning to Spain.

The music of Monterey’s Juan L. Sanchez Ensemble does not recognize international borders. On their second CD titled Hijos de la Tierra, the crack group of local musicians allows Latin,... read on»

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LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO

Ladysmith Black Mambazo unites native South African musical traditions with Christian sentiment and political context. It makes sense that the country’s premier vocal group would record an album honoring the... read on»

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Gypsy jazz guitarist Lulo Reinhardt follows his muse.

When it comes to Gypsy jazz, these are the best of times. The blazing musical style created by Sinti guitarist Django Reinhardt and French violinist Stephane Grappelli has maintained... read on»

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THE PHENOMENAUTS

The Phenomenauts come roaring out of the gate at warp speed on their third album with 13 inspired blasts of sugar-coated adrenaline guaranteed to slap a sap py smile on... read on»

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SUN KIL MOON

Whether recording under the moniker Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon or his given name, Mark Kozelek always captures the sonic essence of driving on a wide-open highway just as... read on»

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KENNY G

It’s not news to anyone that Kenny G’s last few recordings have been, to be kind, less than stellar; this all changes with the release of Rhythm & Romance. In... read on»

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KAKI KING

Kaki King is an excellent example of how Ani DiFranco-inspired guitar playing can be anything but derivative and annoying. King’s incredible handling of her guitar comes not so much from... read on»

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THE BREEDERS

Though the title of the Breeders’ latest seems to promise arena-sized guitar riffing (cue a mental picture of the Deal sisters surrounded by lightning strikes, crossing guitar necks like swords),... read on»

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DESTROYER

In between working on releases with his other projects (Swan Lake, Hello, Blue Roses and the New Pornographers), Dan Bejar somehow had time to record Trouble In Dreams, the eighth... read on»

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FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS

Like Spinal Tap and Tenacious D before them, the New Zealand duo Flight of the Conchords pokes fun of popular music from the inside by making outrageous songs that skewer... read on»

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CHARLES LLOYD

Nobody was hotter in the late ‘60s and ‘70s in jazz than Miles Davis and saxophonist Charles Lloyd. As headliners touring with the biggest rock bands, both artists enjoyed tremendous... read on»

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MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD

Once purveyors of traditional Jimmy Smith-esque, Verve!-era, dusty Hammond B-3 grooves, Medeski Martin & Wood started down the avant-garde road of experimentation with 2000’s The Dropper, dropped X for 2002’s... read on»

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THE B-52S

Let’s put into perspective how long ago The B-52s’ first “comeback” album, 1989’s Cosmic Thing, was released: A lovechild from a one-night stand inspired by a Bartles and Jaymes-fueled karaoke... read on»

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THE BLACK CROWES

The Black Crowes’ Warpaint marks a return to form for Georgia brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, back from a seven-year hiatus and picking up those Telecasters like their last three... read on»

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CHICK COREA AND GARY BURTON

When the original Crystal Silence was released in 1973, its historical significance was ensured because it was the first modern adaptation of the classic duet structure. Pianist Chick Corea and... read on»

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