Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra
Theater Is Evil
8 Ft Records
By David Chiu
Theater Is Evil is the latest solo work from the Dresden Doll singer, a dazzling collection of grandiose, theatrical-influenced rock music that is sexy and ironic with a dash of humor and poignancy. Continue reading “CD Review: Amanda Palmer”
Art Garfunkel
The Singer
Columbia/Legacy
By David Chiu
Recently, Paul Simon released a double-CD collection titled Songwriter that focused on the many great songs he wrote throughout his career. Now his equally famous musical partner has just put out his own collection that surveys his solid and impressive body of work. Continue reading “CD Review: Art Garfunkel”
Listen to “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” by Joe Jackson and Iggy Pop, off … Continue reading Free MP3: ““It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” by Joe Jackson and Iggy Pop
Pink Floyd
The Story of Wish You Were Here
Eagle Rock Entertainment
By David Chiu
After making probably the most commercially and artistically successful album of all time, how does a band live up to that for the next record? In the case of Pink Floyd, the result was 1975’s Wish You Were Here, the follow-up to the mammoth record Dark Side of the Moon. Continue reading “DVD: Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were”
Download “Who,” a new song from David Byrne and St. Vincent’s album, Love This Giant, coming out on Sept. 11. The two will be touring together starting on Sept. 15 in Minneapolis. Continue reading Free MP3: “Who” by David Byrne and St. Vincent
Patti Smith
Banga
Columbia
By David Chiu
Banga is the punk poet’s first new album of original material since 2004’s Trampin’, and it furthers on her powerful words accompanied by dynamic electric rock. Continue reading “CD Review: Patti Smith”
Ultravox
Brilliant
Chrysalis/EMI
by David Chiu
Is this 1981 or 1982 all over again? First Duran Duran released All You Need Is Now and it has been hailed as a return to form. Now another British synth pop group from the ‘80s, Ultravox, has reclaimed some of that old New Romantic glory with their latest new record — the first one in nearly 30 years featuring the classic lineup of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Warren Cann and Chris Cross. Continue reading “CD Review: Ultravox”
The Beatles
Yellow Submarine Songtrack
Capitol/EMI
By David Chiu
This shouldn’t be confused with the original Yellow Submarine album, which was about half Beatles songs (including “Hey Bulldog,” “It’s All Too Much,” “Only a Northern Song,” and “All Together Now”) and half orchestral music by producer George Martin for the film. Rather, this set includes all of the Beatle tunes that was in the movie but not on the soundtrack. Continue reading “CD Review: The Beatles”
The Beach Boys
That’s Why God Made the Radio
Capitol/EMI
By David Chiu
On the heels of the Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary is not another hits compilation, but an actual brand-new album and quite a good one at that. Certainly a huge part of it has to do with bringing back Brian Wilson into the fold, which really make it a true Beach Boys reunion. Continue reading “CD Review: The Beach Boys”
Metric
Synthetica
Last Gang Records
By David Chiu
Sonically-speaking, the Canadian band’s latest record picks up where 2009’s breathtaking Fantasies left. Synthetica doesn’t disappoint with its driving electronic-influenced rock as in the case of “Speed the Collapse” and the title track; Continue reading “CD Review: Metric”
NewBeats 