DEAD MEADOW
OLD GROWTH
MATADOR

by Nick McGregor

Over the past ten years, Dead Meadow has steadily strengthened its position as connoisseurs of all things stoner rock, that hard-to-describe but easy-to-recognize hybrid of psychedelic metal and hard rock. (more…)

VAMPIRE WEEKEND
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
XL Recordings 2008

by Nick McGregor

Riding a wave of Internet hype into 2008, the four lads of Vampire Weekend could seemingly do no wrong on their much-anticipated self-titled debut. (more…)

CAT POWER
JUKEBOX
MATADOR

by Nick McGregor

Cat Power’s ascent from underground sensation to mainstream stalwart has weathered the twists and turns of 13 years and eight albums, but whether this sultry songstress (real name Chan Marshall) was ready for her second collection of cover songs is up for debate. (more…)

By Nick McGregor

Environmental Youth Crunch may sound like a hardcore band’s name, but this St. Augustine trio deals more in upbeat pop-punk riffs and heartfelt lyrics than anything the word “crunch” denotes. Well known for playing local shows in their underwear, EYC combines fun-loving live antics with thoughtful examinations of our species’ effect on the environment, often calling out developers, Wall Street types, and politicians point-blank. But instead of insisting on confrontational or extremist viewpoints, this Bakery Outlet Records band relies on humor and even a bit of heart-on-my-sleeve balladry to make its point known. (more…)

By Nick McGregor

Devendra Banhart made the transition from wandering ex-art student to celebrated folk personality in less than five years, and his latest album Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon proves Banhart will remain a musical force for years to come. Expanding on the full band format he conceived for 2005’s Cripple Crow, the 16 songs on Thunder Canyon showcase everything from upbeat samba to ‘50s Hebrew pop, with orchestral arrangements and gospel choruses thrown in for good measure. “Wait,” you might ask, “didn’t you say this guy was a folkie?” Well, yes and no. (more…)

By Nick McGregor

Manu Chao gave credence to the emerging Latin alternative movement in the 1980s as a member of Mano Negra, but simply relegating him to the Spanish-speaking scene neglects about 3/4 of his personality. Born in Paris to Spanish parents, Chao also sings in Portuguese, French, and English, and has cultivated a global-citizen image that allows him to fit in no matter where he travels. Whether it be supporting Spanish anarchist organizations, sympathizing with leftist South American rebels, or embodying the plight of France’s immigrants, Chao has successfully broken down national boundaries on his way to international success. (more…)

By Nick McGregor

While the heated gangsta subgenre has dominated rap music for the last 15 years or so, small pockets of holdouts have managed to keep the fun-loving side of hip-hop alive. One of the younger proponents of late ‘80s-inflected boom is Brooklyn-based Junk Science, a duo whose latest album, Gran’Dad’s Nerve Tonic, combines dusty basement beats and a smooth lyrical flow reminiscent of groups like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. (more…)

By Nick McGregor

Local St. Augustine bands typically play easy-going covers to pay the bills, but the trio Tubers concentrates on original guitar rock interspersed with jagged melodies and intelligent vocals, tourists be damned. Their latest release Shell Out, on local label Bakery Outlet, contains enough post-punk riffs to please any fan of thinking man’s hardcore. But unlike bands like Minor Threat or Fugazi, the Tubers boys shy away from blatantly political lyrics in favor of personal and heartfelt odes to complicated relationships, natural surroundings and the intricacies of modern life. A rootsy, home-recorded vibe keeps Rich Diem’s shouting vocals and noisy guitar fragments organic, especially on “Ambulate” and “Dine on the Process.” A little bit of indie rock appears on the instrumental “P52,” while “No Ornament” embodies the angular guitar work and start-stop song structures of popular (and hard-to-classify) bands like Pavement and Built To Spill. “Schooner Than Later” and “Late Bloomer” feature incredible interplays between Diem’s vocals and Jeff McNally’s basslines, proving that Tubers have put in their practice time and know how to create complex yet enjoyable songs. (more…)