Blogcritics Category: Music: Adult Alternative

Music Review: Mark Olson & Gary Louris - Ready for the Flood

Bill Sherman — Thu, 8 Jan 2009 21:34:11 EST

Two former Jayhawks reunite for a new disc of largely acoustic alt-country.
Fourteen years after Mark Olson departed the Jayhawks to strum alongside Ms. Williams' Guitar, the singer/songwriter has reunited with his fellow Minnesotan Gary Louris for a new set of largely acoustic alt-country. Ready for the Flood (New West Records) contains the twosome's appealing blend of raggedy Louvin Bros.-style harmonies and...

Best of 2008: Counting Crows, Oasis, Black Keys, Dave Carter, B.B. King, The Bittersweets, Mudcrutch, R.E.M., Coldplay, Gutter Twins, Glen Phillips

Josh Hathaway — Thu, 8 Jan 2009 18:39:57 EST

2008 was a great year for music.
It's become an annual rite of passage in the music business. Every year, the trade papers are filled with stories about how this year was worse than last year. If the music execs were hoping we'd get so tired of reading that story that we'd start to ignore it -- you know, 'the boy who cried wolf' routine -- it hasn't...

Bands to Watch in 2009

A.L. Harper — Thu, 8 Jan 2009 13:47:35 EST

Scouring our Band of the Week database, to re-introduce you to bands that are likely to achieve huge mainstream success in 2009.
Independent music is a very hot topic right now on the music scene. It used to be that indie bands were really only popular within a region and with local fans, but with the internet becoming a dominant force for indie music there are now thousands of bands to choose from. Wading through all those would be a huge chore. But BC is here to help! ...

Music Review: Enya - And Winter Came

Fitz — Tue, 6 Jan 2009 09:15:03 EST

Enya haunts the holidays with more beautiful music...
Though I know it's a bit after the holidays, this CD is one that can exist after the holidays.Enya released And Winter Came in November 2008 after two years of work. And for a person who has an allergic reaction to the typical shopping mall style of holiday music, this was a breath of fresh air. I've loved Enya's music since she...

Music Review: Rupa & The April Fishes - ExtraOrdinary Rendition

Richard Marcus — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:06:11 EST

Their music speaks to all of us and is in a language that all can understand.
If music from countries outside North America and England is considered world music, and music by people from English speaking North America is considered popular music, what would you call music performed by a band whose lead singer was born in the States to parents originally from the Punjab region of North India, who moved to the South of France...

Best Songs of 2008: Raconteurs, Black Keys, Bittersweets, Dave Carter, Jon Foreman, Glen Phillips, B.B. King, Oasis, Ryan Adams, Phil Keaggy

Josh Hathaway — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:33:50 EST

Here are a few of the 2008 tracks that dominated my iPod...
With thanks to the late Layne Staley I try not to plan the funeral before the body has died but there's only one Tuesday left in 2008 and there's nothing I'm in a hurry to go out and buy. Three years down the road I may come across a 2008 album I missed and want to amend this list, but for now, for better and worse these are...

Interview: Francis Jocky: Music That Feeds The Soul

Richard Marcus — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:15:16 EST

I do music for all people to listen to, not just people from here or there, so this makes no sense to me when they say do African music."
As anyone who has done any amount of interviews with professional performers will know, they usually follow a pretty cut and dried formula. You're told what time to phone the person, and how long - usually twenty minutes - that you have to talk to them, and you know that you're one of about forty people that they are going to be talking to...

Music Review: Cynthia Hilts - Second Story Breeze

Big Geez — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:54:05 EST

A lot of talent showcased in a small package -- a description that fits both the artist and her new album.
If you're unfamiliar with New York-based jazz artist Cynthia Hilts, you might assume that she's just one of many conventional female vocalists active on the current music scene. But if you listen to her new album, Second Story Breeze, now out on the Blond Coyote label, you'll discover that she's something special. Hilts is a...

Best Album Reissues of 2008 (CD Edition)

Gordon Hauptfleisch — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:55:46 EST

Jesus of Cool said unto them, Hear ye not all these songs? Verily I say unto you, let there be Pure Pop for Now People.
Besides staying away from anthologies and boxed sets and such, I really had no methodology here. Even the order is not airtight, and could be subject to change. But I’m not going to stress out about it -- at least not as much as I am going to about the forthcoming Best Vinyl Reissues of 2008, which are numerous, and choice, and tough to...

Jay's Best Indie Christmas Music in Video

Jayson Harsin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:15:06 EST

Fa-la-la-la-la, my friends. Xmas is doomed to be musical. At your service: the best mostly indie Xmas music videos.
Fa la la la la, my friends. Xmas is doomed to be musical. How 'bout takin' a break from "Deck the Halls?" (Don't get me wrong: there's a caroling soft spot in my Tiny Tim-loving heart of hearts.) Like everything else these days music has a major visual element, as strange as that sounds. So at your service: a list of top...