By Bram Gusman - 12-Inch Satisfaction - 01/29/2008

Very rarely do you find artists who master their art as well as DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist do. Both hailing from California, these Hip Hop pioneers have been revolutionizing the scene since the early 90’s. It seems that these deejays are always on their game and the “Hard Sell Tour” show at the Metropolis on January 29^th was no exception.

By Comma Chameleon - Semicolon Cancer; - 02/08/2008

After the dull lull of the crowd’s roar, Xavier Rudd’s opener was dominated by a backup recording of a strong baritone-and-nasally throat singer.

WAR. CONSUMERISM. DRUGS. FAMINE. RACISM. TERRORISM. PORNOGRAPHY. POWER. VANITY.

By Simon Howell - The Listening Ear - 01/22/2008

"I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw / I'm in the prime of my life." Beginnings don't get much more confident than "Time to Pretend," the ebullient opener to Brooklyn synth-pop duo MGMT's (pronounced "management") debut album. The track explodes with Technicolor synths, Dave Fridmann's typically commanding production work and an infectious sense of purpose -- even as it tosses out inanities about getting "models for wives." It's a sign either of brilliant things to come, or a band a little too eager to grab your attention.

By Simon Howell - The Listening Ear - 01/22/2008

Too many bands get the particulars right but offer little in the grand scheme of things. They dazzle you with colorful cover art, witty liner notes, slick production, or a clever name. So it was refreshing to discover B.C. duo The Pack A.D.'s Tintype, which eschews all of these superficialities to deliver a surprisingly multifaceted blend of blues-rock, undercut by a compelling moody streak and aided by its bare-bones production (courtesy of drummer Maya Miller).