Everyone's a Critic:
Music Reviews from our Readers
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CD Reviews
Broken Bells
By Rollo Cabeza, March 20, 2010
Certain things just don't mix: oil and water, laxatives and sleeping pills, indie rock and electronica. The latter is apparent on the debut album from Broken Bells, which features James Mercer, front man for indie heavyweights the Shins, and musician-producer Danger Mouse. The two excel at what they do -- ... More Comment (1)
Sisterworld
By Andrew Hamlin, March 15, 2010
So the new Liars album sounds exactly right whilst reading about a 12-year-old Indiana girl tortured and killed by an impromptu gang of female teens. But that's not the surprising part. No, the surprising part is how I turned it on after hours at my day job, empty quiet cubicles ... More Comment (1)
Faith of Our Fathers
By Mary Leary, March 14, 2010
"PhD-holding members of Glimr make new record in a particle accelerator; drink bourbon from Ankle the Mimic's prosthetic leg" slightly paraphrases the hype with which this blazed into view. While I might not have known this was a particle-accelerator recording, I do detect worldly musicians who approach Prog. Rock as ... More Post a comment
Soft Pipes, Play On
By Wate Charles, March 13, 2010
This album is just one more reason why I'm convinced San Diego is some sort of afterlife. I mean, if it were up to me to choose the post-life house band, it would go something like this: a spastic drummer reminiscent of Danny Carey and Zach Hill, haunting Sunny Day(ish) ... More Post a comment
Ain't No Grave
By Michael Caldwell, March 13, 2010
Posthumous release American VI: Ain't No Grave is the last of the albums Johnny Cash created with Rick Rubin. Producer Rubin collected songs from various writers, eras, and genres; stripped the arrangements, ditching drums and bass; and put Cash in front of a microphone. For the title track, Rubin enlists ... More Post a comment
Big Echo
By Luke Winkie, March 8, 2010
Big Echo is the sound of a career synthesizing into a kaleidoscope of sound and imagery. The Morning Benders have delivered on their potential. After a needle drop and a rumbling "2...3...4...," we're launched into "Excuses," a show-starting slab of retro-pop glory -- boomer-era dance music that recalls the Ronettes. ... More Post a comment
Concert Reviews
Musico ambulante
By Mary Leary, March 20, 2010
Through indifference or ignorance, Santiago has been busking at the southern end of the North Park Farmer's Market (Queen Bee's usually claims the north side). Santiago needs money and players for a new conjunto; there's no ... More Post a comment
Cutting Teeth
By Rollo Cabeza, March 18, 2010
It's St. Patrick's Day, a few dozen people crowd Whistle Stop's bar trying to find a pint on the other side of the rainbow. While they clamor, 30 others surround San Diego mellowcore band Little White ... More Post a comment
Shakin' All Over
By Mary Leary, March 17, 2010
While No Bunny's Tower Bar stop pulled some bodies from opener and second act Bare Wires and So Cow, once the Baths hit the stage it was getting crowded. For Thee Oh Sees about 40 people ... More Post a comment
No Megaphones in Rome
By Wate Charles, March 17, 2010
Boyscout opened with two drummers, two guitars. Informed by San Diego's unique brand of hardcore and guitarist Lain Weck's roots (Marasol, Fever Sleeves) in odd-time noodling, the set was an energetic experiment in dueling strings and ... More Post a comment
Romeo et Juliette
By Michell Thitathan, March 14, 2010
March is a fatally romantic month at the San Diego Opera, which kicked off its first performance of Gounod's Romeo et Juliette since 1998. Using the beautiful traditional set and costumes from Utah Opera, Cynthia Stokes ... More Comment (1)
Folk This
By Rollo Cabeza, March 14, 2010
The Cave Singers’ Derek Fudesco grabbed his sunburst Gibson hollow-body and took a seat on a stool. Singer Pete Quirk stood at the mic and peered out from under a trucker hat, his face shrouded with ... More Post a comment
Ding! Ding!
By Wate Charles, March 14, 2010
It's a lively night at the Ruby Room. Post-apocalyptic quasi-porn plays on flat screens. Resident artist Alex draws caricatures of unwitting patrons. Vinyl Film plays a generic Get-Up-Kids-grow-a-pair pop punk set. "Yes, I'm wearing a Lady ... More Comments (2)
