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| basement tapes | concert reviews | cd reviews | interviews | ticket swap | music news |
 By Andy Argyrakis |
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Weekend Report: A pair of more Pixies shows, Cranberries plot comeback
Friday, November 20, 2009 When The Pixies announced they'd be playing 1989's classic album Doolittle in its entirety, the clamor for tickets reached a fever pitch similar to its reunion tour a few years back. This weekend marks the second and third shows of the up close and personal Aragon residency, which features No Age opening on Friday and Jay Reatard on Saturday. (Bet your life - Friday and Saturday at Aragon Ballroom- Chicago, IL: www.jamusa.com). Based on Imogen Heap's post Frou Frou album Speak For Yourself in 2005, it appeared as though she'd literally follow in the steps of Kate Bush for a lengthy career of innovation. Though that's still in the cards, this year's Ellipse lacks the artistic ingenuity of the previous outing, which given the four year wait, is generally inexcusable. But in concert,  she's known to be just as charming as she is quirky, making this an intriguing tour even if it doesn't turn out to be her best. (Worth a shot - Tuesday at Vic Theatre- Chicago, IL: www.jamusa.com).Seven years have passed since The Cranberries last stepped on stage together, but front woman Dolores O'Riordan's kept a high profile as a solo artist. Ironically, she announced a tour earlier this year in support of the individual album No Baggage, but it was soon canceled and announced the band would indeed be getting back together. And we're glad to have them, thanks to alternative rock tunes of enduring interest like "Zombie," "Linger" and "Free To Decide." (Bet your life - Wednesday at Riviera Theatre- Chicago, IL: www.jamusa.com) |
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Street Week: Adam Lambert attack, Perry unplugged
Monday, November 16, 2009 He may have first found fame on "American Idol," but Adam Lambert has since established himself as one of this fall's most anticipated rockers with some early props from the surviving members of Queen. Though he's sure to pack plenty of commercial punch throughout For Your Entertainment (RCA), expect plenty of theatrics and flamboyant delivery. The collection includes key cuts such as "Soaked" (penned by Muse's Matthew Bellamy) and "Music Again" (written by The Darkness' Justin Hawkins). MTV: Unplugged, which in its heyday featured iconic rockers like Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and Nirvana performing acoustic sets, is back on CD and DVD with performance from good girl gone bad Katy Perry.  The set list will feature top hits like "I Kissed a Girl," "Waking Up in Vegas," Thinking of You" and "Lost," plus the brand new tune "Brick by Brick" and a cover of Fountains of Wayne's "Hackensack."Anyone who considers OneRepublic to be an overnight success story hasn't just underestimated the Colorado-bred modern rockers, but probably doesn't look at album credits too carefully. Contrary to popular belief, the band's actually been in business since 2002, with front man Ryan Tedder teaming with Timbaland around the same time. These days, the collective drops its second official disc Waking Up (Interscope), which is a much more musically accomplished album than Dreaming Out Loud. While that first collection seemed geared towards radio playlists, the second invokes a increased artistic element, but still packs plenty of infectiousness (like the lead single "All the Right Moves") sure to earn plenty of chart action. |
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