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CD Reviews

The Living End

State of Emergency | Adeline/EastWest
A tight little Australian trio who began life as a rockabilly group but now play high-octane pop punk, the Living End might be the perfect act for Rocket from the Crypt fans bumming over that band’s break-up late last year.

By MIKAEL WOOD | August 01, 2006

The Ditty Bops

Moon Over The Freeway | Warner Bros.
Armed with mandolin, lap steel guitar, and washboard, Los Angeles’ Ditty Bops reach farther back in time than a synthesizer and drum machine for nostalgia. Songs from Moon Over the Freeway, The Ditty Bops

By MEGAN BELL | August 01, 2006

Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited

Various Artists| Verve Forecast
Mark up another score for the seductive spirit of Serge Gainsbourg.

By SIMON W. VOZICK-LEVINSON | August 01, 2006

Sofía Koutsovitis

Ojalá | Sofiamusic.com
Jazz singers are supposed to showcase themselves in front of a backing trio, not a septet.

By JON GARELICK | August 01, 2006

Cheap Trick

Rockford | Big3
After a decade of trying to create (and capitalize) on a return to form, Cheap Trick have delivered.

By JED GOTTLIEB | August 01, 2006

Rinocerose

Schizophonia | V2
Who would have expected, at this late date, to find a 1980s glam band with a feyish, Trent Reznor–influenced singer leading the action?

By MICHAEL FREEDBERG | August 01, 2006

Peter Gammons

Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old | Rounder
What, you thought this would be just another dilettante vanity project, an excuse for the unofficial commish to clown around in the studio with some of his favorite Red Sox and bash out a few classic-rock chestnuts? Peter Gammons, "She Fell From Heaven" (mp3 )

By MIKE MILIARD | July 27, 2006

Dr. Octagon

The Return of Dr. Octagon | OCD International
How much fun can a CD be that opens with images of environmental collapse punctuated by the plaintive chorus “Trees are dyin’ ”? Dr. Octagon, 'Aliens' Promo video Dr. Octagon, “A Gorilla Driving A Pick-Up Truck” - Kid Loco (Banana Loco Remix) (mp3)

By FRANKLIN SOULTS | July 24, 2006

Counting Crows

New Amsterdam: Live At Heineken Music Hall | Geffen
For hardcore Counting Crows fans, the California roots-pop band’s live shows have often been more revelatory than their albums, affording frontman Adam Duritz the opportunity to stretch his time-tested Van Morrison impression out to inhumane lengths.

By MIKAEL WOOD | July 24, 2006

The Raconteurs

Broken Boy Soldiers | V2f
Jack White’s other band — the White Stripes — may be known for their bass-less, three-drums-and-six-strings set-up. But the truth is, he’s been using all kinds of instrumentation all along.

By LEON NEYFAKH | July 24, 2006

Dashboard Confessional

Dusk and Summer | Vagrant
Emo is the new arena rock and Dashboard Confessional are poised to become the next U2.

By JULIA KAGANSKIY | July 24, 2006

Tom Petty

Highway Companion | American/Columbia
If it sometimes seems that Tom Petty’s been writing the same song — or at least the same album — for the past two decades, that’s because, well, he sorta has been. Tom Petty media player with songs and a video from a Highway Companion

By MATT ASHARE | July 24, 2006

Chris Thomas King

Rise | 21st Century Blues
King has never sounded more at home than on this sadly beautiful album, which mourns and celebrates New Orleans culture.

By TED DROZDOWSKI | July 18, 2006

Los Lobos

Wolf Tracks: The Best Of Los Lobos | Rhino
How have this band of East LA wolves not only survived but thrived in the hostile midlands of popular music for 30 years?

By FRANKLIN SOULTS | July 18, 2006

Peeping Tom

Peeping Tom | Ipecac
Sure, there’s a low-grade shock factor in Norah Jones’s crooning the word “motherfucker.” Peeping Tom, “Mojo”

By ANDREW GRAHAM | July 18, 2006

MSTRKRFT

The Looks | Last Gang
Most dance punk is just a shower and a missing guitar away from straight dance music, so it’s not such a surprise that aggro-electronicist Jesse F. Keeler of Death from Above 1979 and his group’s producer, Al-P, would go house.

By MATTHEW GASTEIER | July 18, 2006

Peaches

Impeach My Bush | XL
Peaches sharpens her synth hooks, varies the electrogrooves, and serves up 13 tracks that are just amusing enough in their risqué behavior to keep the smiles coming.

By MATT ASHARE | July 18, 2006

Ane Brun

A Temporary Dive | V2
The second album by this Norwegian singer-songwriter blands out into coffeeshop background blur a little too often to earn a place next to more dynamic records by fellow folk-pop females like Beth Orton and Feist.

By MIKAEL WOOD | July 18, 2006

Deadboy and the Elephantmen

We Are Night Sky | Fat Possum
If a co-ed blues-punk duo make a sound and no one hears it, will they still elicit comparisons with the White Stripes and the Fiery Furnaces? Yes. Deadboy and the Elephantmen, "Stop, I'm Already Dead" (mp3) Deadboy and the Elephantmen, "Evil Friend" (mp3)

By MIKAEL WOOD | July 11, 2006