Madeline - Randy Weeks'
Country/Folk, review by David Hill
Former Lonesome Stranger Randy Weeks' thin, wobbly voice conveys the pain and emotion of a grown-up cowpunk. (03/20/00)
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Neutral Milk Hotel
Pop/Rock, review by Caterina Fake
Like watching someone fly: Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane" (04/20/98)
Vitus Tinnitus - Archers of Loaf
Pop/Rock, review by David Fenton
Archers of Loaf: Uneasy beauty from a massively underappreciated band. (01/24/97)
Odelay, Odelay - Beck
Pop, review by David Fenton
With his new album, "Odelay, Odelay," Beck proves he's more than a one-hit wonder. (6/10/96)
From the Muddy Banks of the
Wishkah - Nirvana
Pop/Rock, review by David Fenton
"From the Muddy Banks of the
Wishkah" doesn't lay Nirvana to rest -- it springs them, live and electric, from the tomb.
Text-only version. (9/30/96)
"Brighten the Corners" - Pavement
Pop/Rock, review by David Fenton
Pavement's irresistibly quirky "Brighten the Corners" (2/17/97)
No Code - Pearl Jam
Pop/Rock, review by David Fenton
Eddie Vedder is incandescent — too bad the rest of Pearl Jam won't step aside.
Text-only version. (8/26/96)
Best Of, Vol. 1 - Van Halen
Pop/Rock, review by David Fenton
When Van Halen rocked(11/6/96)
Complete Lute Works, Vols. 1-5 - John Dowland
Classical, review by Paul Festa
Odette's reserve, while perhaps appropriate to stereotypes of the English
character, may leave some listeners wondering if this quiet little
instrument might not be capable of a little bit more oomph
(01/27/98)
Music from the Motion Picture "Titanic" - Composed and conducted by James Horner
Soundtrack, review by Paul Festa
So winsome are the tunes on London's "Music Played on the Titanic" that
they could almost get your mind off Leonardo DiCaprio
(02/19/98)
"Portrait of a Lady" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Score by Wojciech Kilar
Soundtracks, review by Paul Festa
Soundtrack to Campion's "Portrait of a Lady:" Bring many onions. (12/17/96)
3 Russian Fairy Tales - Natalia Makarova
Classical, review by Paul Festa
A ballerina speaks: Revelatory narration brings Stravinsky to life (01/10/97)
Great British Film Music - National Philharmonic Orchestra
Soundtrack, review by Paul Festa
"Great British Film Music: Almost as good as their food (1/6/97)
Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) - Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Classical, review by Paul Fiesta
These performances are technically flawless, lyrical and
full of dramatic tension -- and would have been nearly
revelatory 50 years ago
(03/25/98)
Pavarotti and Friends for War Child - Various Artists
Classical, review by Paul Festa
Pavarotti crushes Clapton, battles Minnelli to draw (12/02/96)
And the band played on - Music played on the Titanic
Soundtrack, review by Mark Athitakis
So winsome are the tunes on London's "Music Played on the Titanic" that
they could almost get your mind off Leonardo DiCaprio
(02/19/98)
Exotic Dances from the Opera "Stravinsky" - The Minnesota Orchestra
Classical, review by Paul Festa
A "Firebird" so lascivious you want to get to know the violinist better (12/23/96)
Joan of Arc Mass/Symphony No. 1 - Paul Paray
Classical, review by Paul Festa
Paul Paray's music can be enjoyed for its own sake; but it might also remind you how much you appreciate Brahms, and Franck, and for that matter, Emily Dickinson. (10/22/97)
Berlin Cabaret Songs - Ute Lemper
Classical, review by Paul Festa
Ute Lemper: Music too degenerate for Hitler (2/21/96)
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 -Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Classical review by Paul Festa
At the very least, Bruckner's is an Old Testament god, full of fire and
brimstone and willing to use it along with a brass section armed with
Wagner tubas. This music uses religion the way a Puritan preacher does: to scare the pants off you
(11/19/97)
60s Girl Groups - Various Artists
Pop/Rock, review by Donna Gaines
The Girl Group era is often dismissed among feminists and rocker grrrls
alike as the golden age of codependency training for women, but on "60s
Girl Groups" the sicky-sweet lyrics and sassy, sexy attitude coalesce into
a heartfelt statement of female teen torment, hope and defiance
(01/19/98)
The New Standard - Herbie Hancock
Jazz/World, review by Ezra Gale
Herbie Hancock's interpretations of pop and rock classics from the last 30
years reveal an honest search for a new direction in jazz,one that manages
to break new ground while reconnecting to its roots. (04/29/97)
Shelter - Brand New Heavies
Pop/Rock, review by Ezra Gale
Instead of pursuing the "brand
new funk" they so obviously yearn to patent, Brand New Heavies have opted to
take a step back in time and grab for the brass pop-star ring on "Shelter." (05/16/97)
Miles Davis Box Set: five discs - Miles Davis
Jazz/World, review by Ezra Gale
Miles Davis Box Set: Five discs ("Black Beauty: Live at Fillmore West,"
"Davis at Fillmore," "Live/Evil," "In Concert:Live at Philharmonic Hall,"
and "Dark Magus") that verify the musical merit of Davis' heavily
criticized early '70s work.
(09/16/97)
The Brown Album - Primus
Pop/Rock, review by Ezra Gale
Primus bassist and vocalist Les Claypool has always written some of the
craftiest lyrics around, and "The Brown Album" proves he hasn't lost his
knack for satire.
(07/18/97)
A Go Go -
John Scofield (with Medeski, Martin & Wood)
Jazz, review by Ezra Gale
On his funky new album "A Go Go," John Scofield and his backing band --
acclaimed trio Medeski, Martin and Wood -- mesh so tightly, it's hard to
believe this is their first recording together. (04/09/98)
1+1 - Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock
Jazz/World, review by Ezra Gale
On "1+1," Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter are at it again, and in contrast
to some of the pair's recent solo efforts, it's the kind of work that
reminds us of why these two jazz giants are so revered in the first place.
(07/23/97)
Blue Roses
from the Moon - Nanci Griffith
Country/Folk, review by Dwight Garner
Nanci Griffith is never going to be Lucinda Williams. But as "Blue Roses
from the Moon" proves, it's a mistake to underestimate her. (04/11/97)
I Lived To Tell It All - George Jones
Country, review by Dwight Garner
With "I Lived to Tell It All," country legend George Jones recalls his journey across "a sea of whiskey and a mountain of cocaine." (8/19/96)
Landmarks - Clifton Anderson
Jazz/World, review by Andrew Gilbert
Boning up: Authoritative swinging from trombonist Clifton Anderson. (01/16/97)
Jazz Celebration - Tribute to Carl Jefferson - Various Artists
Jazz/World, review by Andrew Gilbert
All that jazz: A glowing tribute to the founder of Concord Jazz. (12/12/96)
"Remembering Bud Powell" - Chick Corea
Jazz/World, review by Andrew Gilbert
Chick Corea's tribute to monster pianist Bud Powell (2/18/97)
Blood On The Fields - Wynton Marsalis
Jazz, review by Andy Gilbert
"Blood on the Fields," the triumphant jazz symphony for which Wynton
Marsalis recently became the first jazz composer to be awarded the Pulitzer
Prize for Music, finds transcendence in the brutal story of American
slavery through love and community. (07/10/97)
Silent Pool - Marian McPartland with Strings
Classical, review by Andrew Gilbert
Masterpiece by a forever-young pianist (01/09/97)
Live in Time - Mingus Big band
Jazz/World, review by Andrew Gilbert
Channeling Charlie: The Mingus Big Band live in New York (12/9/96)
Oranj Symphonette Plays Mancini - Oranj Symphonette
Jazz/World, review by Andrew Gilbert
Mod Moon River: Oranj Symphonette plays Henry Mancini. (11/20/96)
The Beautiful Thing - Stephen Scott
Jazz/World, review by Andrew Gilbert
Thelonius would be proud: Young piano master Stephen Scott comes of age. (01/31/97)
"Being John Malkovich" - Various Artists
Soundtrack, review by Michelle Goldberg
Creepy and romantic, subtle and strange, the music from "Being John Malkovich" is good enough to stand on its own.
(12/24/99)
Live -Erykah Badu
Pop/Rock review by Michelle Goldberg
Erykah Badu may never be as haunting as Billie Holiday, but Holiday never
had the perfect comic timing Badu reveals on "Live."
(12/02/97)
A Woman & A Man - Belinda Carlisle
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
She may be gorgeous now, but like Madonna, Carlisle made her best music
when she was chubby and funky. But beneath layers of treacly production on
"A Woman & A Man," Carlisle's voice trills just as prettily as it did when
she was the fabulous lead singer of the Go-Go's.
(07/22/97)
Homework - Daft Punk
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
Daft Punk's debut album "Homework" puts a Eurotrash gloss over fat,
squishy hip-hop beats and ecstatic house crescendos, and the result is
exuberant, hands-in-the-air techno. (05/29/97)
Milight - DJ Krush
Pop/Rock review by Michelle Goldberg
When Krush puts his DJ skills at the forefront, the results are layered and
plush, if sometimes lacking in variety. But it's the mindless stoner bon
mots that distract from what would otherwise be a deliciously narcotic
groove
(11/24/97)
Sentimental Education - Free Kitten
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
With Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth, Julie
Cafritz formerly of Pussy Galore, Mark Ibold from Pavement and Yoshimi
from The Boredoms, you can't help but come out with a few sparks of
brilliance, as the combo Free Kitten does on "Sentimental Education."
(01/06/98)
Please Do Not Disturb (EP) - Juliana Hatfield
Pop/Rock review by Michelle Goldberg
Strange that Hatfield should be complaining about her lack of success after 10 years and eight recordings, while Loeb already has already had a number one single, a Grammy nomination and a Brit award. Isn't it ironic?
(11/18/97)
Sisters of Avalon - Cyndi Lauper
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
Once a New York City new-wave goddess who had legions of
pre-teen girls singing along to a song about masturbation, Cyndi Lauper's
no longer enough of a chameleon to pull off an album this eclectic. (04/02/97)
Building a Mystery - Sarah McLachlan
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
Sometimes, its the simplest pop-music banalities that are the most sublime.
It's not just Sarah McLachlan's pain that seems more real on "Surfacing" --
her voice sounds even more sensual and more sultry than it did on 1994's
"Fumbling Towards Ecstasy."
(07/29/97)
Happy End Of The World - Pizzicato Five
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
This Tokyo trio's combination of disco, lounge, '50s sitcom jingles and
techno would scream zeitgeist even if they weren't fronted by a gorgeous
supermodel-type who sings in Japanese and French.
(09/17/97)
Portishead - Portishead
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
Whereas Portishead's fabulous debut "Dummy" hinted at something frightful
and dissolute, the self-titled follow-up could be the soundtrack to a
horror movie, with unfortunately few sublime moments to be found. (10/08/97)
This Is Hardcore -
Pulp
Rock/Pop, review by Michelle Goldberg
Forget Chumbawamba -- with "This Is Hardcore," Pulp once again prove themselves the kings of prole pop.
(04/15/98)
Brand New Knife - Shonen Knife
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
In the heydey of sarcasm-sick American bands, no one comes close to Shonen
Knife for pure cotton-candy punk exhilaration.(3/25/97)
All Over Me - Various Artists
Soundtracks, review by Michelle Goldberg
From Riot Girl to Righteous Girl: No other collection of songs has ever
expressed the poignant agonies and sheer rage of girlhood like these from
"All Over Me." (05/06/97)
Firecracker - Lisa Loeb
Pop/Rock review by Michelle Goldberg
Strange that Hatfield should be complaining about her lack of success after 10 years and eight recordings, while Loeb already has already had a number one single, a Grammy nomination and a Brit award. Isn't it ironic?
(11/18/97)
Suburbia OST - Various Artists
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
"Suburbia" soundtrack - Music to hate life to. (2/7/97)
99th Dream - Swervedriver
Pop/Rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
Just file Swervedriver's new album, "99th Dream," under "psychedelic
alternative" -- and pull it out to use in Volkswagen commercials.
(03/03/98)
Sound Museum - Towa Tei
Pop/rock, review by Michelle Goldberg
Lately, acid-jazz has gotten a bad rap as the muzak of the techno world,
and with two exceptions, the songs on "Sound Museum" do nothing to
dispel that idea
(03/13/98)
Live from Chicago's House of Blues - Blues Brothers and Friends
R&B, review by Pete Golkin
With the lesser Belushi standing in for John, the old minstrel show is back -- just in time for the Clinton era, where the man himself brings home the Reagan Democrats and is known to strike the smirk-and -shades pose at his favorite House of Blues. (06/20/97)
The Complete Chess Recordings - Jimmy Rogers
Pop/Rock, review by Pete Golkin
With this long-delayed collection, one could argue that the late bluesman
Jimmy Rogers' only error was in working among too many legends
(01/13/98)
Live at Carnegie Hall - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Pop/Rock, review by Pete Golkin
Recorded at New York's music temple in October 1984, "Live at Carnegie
Hall" was Stevie Ray's professional bar mitzvah. And presiding over it all
was the great rabbi himself, John Hammond, Sr., who had steered the likes
of Count Basie and Bob Dylan through the same rites of passage.
(09/08/97)
The Art of Rhythm -
Tom Harrell
Jazz, review by Marc Greilsamer
When the opening cut of an album called "The Art of Rhythm" includes
several instruments -- but not a single percussion instrument -- clearly
it's an ambitious recording.
(04/16/98)
In the Fishtank -
Tortoise meets the Ex
Pop/rock, review by Joe Gross
On "In the Fishtank," Tortoise meets the Ex, new prog meets art-noise and boredom meets indifference.
(06/02/99)
The Complete '50s Chess Recordings (2CDs) - John Lee Hooker
Pop/rock, review by Andrew Hamlin
If old blues records tell the story of one man and one guitar against the
world, then these tell how the earth must have trembled at the sight of
John Lee Hooker climbing in the ring circa 1951.
(01/29/98)
Jet - Kattell Keinig
Pop/Rock, review by Heather Havrilesky
Although Katell Keineg's lastest offering, "Jet," is unpredictable, at her
best she sounds like a combination of Sinead O'Connor and PJ Harvey, with
only a simple acoustic strum accompanying her haunting voice.
(09/09/97)
Magic City- Helium
Pop/Rock, review by Heather Havrilesky
Helium is a less kind, less gentle B-52s for the late '90s. What better
antidote for the bubble-gum-flavored sawdust that is the current
alternative grind?(10/30/97)
50 Eggs Dan Bern
Pop/Rock, review by Joe Heim
Dan Bern, the neo-folkie who was dubbd the "next Bob Dylan" after his
self-titled debut, has developed a Tori Amos problem on "50 Eggs": He
vomits words, sets them to music, and somehow thinks this makes him an
inspired songwriter (04/28/98)
All for Nothing- The Replacements
Pop/Rock, review by Joe Heim
"All for Nothing" highlights the waning years of The Replacements, one of
the most influential bands of the '80s (10/29/97)
Life Could Be A Dream - Auntie Christ
Pop/Rock, review by Joe Heim
As the music charts float and flutter with the pristine melodies of Jewel
and the pseudo-funk harmonies of the Spice Girls, the disquieting,
discordant rage of Exene Cervenkova on Auntie Christ's "Life Could Be a
Dream" is more than a welcome antidote. (05/30/97)
About to Choke - Vic Chesnutt
Pop/Rock, review by Joe Heim
The beneficiary of "Sweet Relief II" sings his own songs on his major-label debut. (11/11/96)
"The Horse Whisperer" Soundtrack -
Various Artists
Soundtrack, review by Joe Heim
Whatever its merits as a movie are, "The Horse Whisperer's" remarkable
soundtrack is one the most honest and moving collections of western and
country music to ever accompany a film
(04/06/98)
Got No Shadow - Mary Lou Lord
Pop/rock, review by Joe Heim
For those not yet familiar with Mary Lou Lord, "Got No Shadow" works quite
well as an introduction -- but longtime fans want more, not less, of her
signature writing style
(02/03/98)
Blood Brothers - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Pop/Rock, review by Joe Heim
Heavy music, lite video (11/29/96)
Mandela — The Soundtrack - Various Artists
Soundtracks, review by Joe Heim
Mandela Unbound: The heart and soul of South African pop music (01/14/97)
Rambler 65 - Ben Vaughn
Pop/Rock, review by Joe Heim
Using his Rambler as a recording studio, Vaughn gets his engine-revving act
into gear. (3/03/97)
Honky-Tonk Operation
EP - Sukpatch
Pop/rock, review by Adam Heimlich
"Honkytonk Operation" is so consistently gentle and understated that in a
side-by-side comparison to Beck's "Odelay," its closest kin among hit
albums, the former loser-turned-critics' poll champion doesn't fare so well
(04/01/98)
The Beatles Anthology, Volume 2 - The Beatles
Pop/Rock, review by Mark Hertsgaard
Their "new" single "Real Love" is one of the highlights of the Beatles' second Anthology CD. (3/23/96)
Lazy Line Painter Jane (EP) - Belle and Sebastian
Pop/Rock review by Nick Hornby
Belle and Sebastian, a ramshackle, cute and only
occasionally fey folk-pop band from Scotland, provide a charming respite
from the braying mob that is Britain these days (11/14/97)
The Ultimate Collection - Rick James
Hip-Hop/R&B, review by Althea Hughes
Rick James' "Ultimate Collection" captures the King of Funk at his best:
brash, bold, outrageous and openly horny. (04/15/97)
Tone Soul Evolution- Apples in Stereo
Pop/Rock review by Andrew Hultkrans
Apples frontman Robert Schneider, a four-track whiz kid with a line in
homebrew pop that draws on the Beatles, Kinks, Byrds, and most prominently,
Pet Sounds/Smile-era Beach Boys, doesn't sing about anything in particular
on "Tone Soul Evolution," but who cares? With melodies this memorable,
lyrics are pure frosting.(11/03/97)
The Boatman's Call - Nick Cave
Pop/Rock, review by Sam Hurwitt
The godfather of goth lets his lyrics into the limelight on "The Boatman's
Call." (3/19/97)
200 More Miles - Cowboy Junkies
Gentle Creatures - Tarnation
Pop/Rock, review by Sam Hurwitt
Sam Hurwitt mainlines the Cowboy Junkies and Tarnation. (12/2/95)
Pardon My French - Fuck
Pop/Rock, review by Sam Hurwitt
Though the name may suggest a garage punk group, this San Francisco combo
is a more slow and languorous Fuck than one might expect. "Pardon My
French" is music for sleepyheads, soporific and yet far from boring.
(07/15/97)
Road to Ensenada - Lyle Lovett
Country, review by Sam Hurwitt
With his new "Road to Ensenada," Lyle Lovett, the country singer for people who hate country music, continues to transcend his genre. (6/24/96)
Gospel Oak EP - Sinead O'Connor
Pop/Rock, review by Sam Hurwitt
No, Sinead hasn't converted to Christian Rock. The 30-year-old Irish
Catholic-cum-Buddhist's new six-song EP of original spirituals points
rather toward a vague pagan pantheism, with no ready answers but a dogged
conviction that things will somehow turn out for the best. (06/11/97)
Naughty Little Doggy - Iggy Pop
Set the Twilight - Lou Reed
Pop/Rock, review by Sam Hurwitt
Punk forefathers Iggy Pop and Lou Reed show their age. (2/24/96)
Surrender to Jonathan - Jonathan Richman
Pop/Rock, review by Sam Hurwitt
Jonathan Richman, the celebrity no one has heard of, croons sad, sweet, irresistible songs.
Text-only version.. (9/16/96)
Pete - Pete Seeger
Country/folk, review by Sam Hurwitt
Pete Seeger, the folk legend and onetime Red Scare target, sounds great on
his first studio album in 17 years. (5/27/96)
Factory Showroom - They Might Be Giants
Pop/Rock, review by Sam Hurwitt
More songs about Nixon and girlfriends from alt-rock's original free spirits, They Might Be Giants.
Text-only version. (9/23/96)
Nine Objects of Desire - Suzanne Vega
Pop/Rock, review by Joshua Klein
Suzanne Vega escapes the folk-rock label with the streamlined, stylish cacaphony of "Nine Objects of Desire."
Text-only version. (9/9/96)
Share My World - Mary J. Blige
Hip-Hop/R&B, review by Laura Jamison
Mary J. Blige, the mean queen of hip-hop soul, reigns on the smooth "Share
my World," but she seems to have lost heart along with her rough edges.
(05/02/97)
EV3 EASTWEST - En Vogue
Pop/Rock, review by Laura Jameson
It's a good thing the women of En Vogue can sing as well as they do -- even
with their hackneyed proselytizing, EV3 is still a joy to listen to.
(07/21/97)
Life After Death - Notorious B.I.G.
Hip-Hop/R&B, review by Laura Jamison
Listening to Notorius B.I.G.'s posthumously released "Life After Death" is
a predictably eerie experience, but one that suggests his final album would
have been just as compelling without his passing. (04/08/97)
Boys For Pele - Tori Amos
Pop, review by Cynthia Joyce
This time, not even sex can save Tori Amos. (1/13/96)
Pup Tent - Luna
Pop/Rock, Interview by Cynthia Joyce
Pop rocks: Members of New York's Luna poke their heads out of "Pup Tent."
(08/21/97)
Shocked, shaken and stirred - Michelle Shocked
Pop/Rock, By Cynthia Joyce
Michelle Shocked talks about declaring war and finding peace. (10/14/96)
Strand - The Spinanes
Pop/Rock, review by Cynthia Joyce
"Strand," the new album by the Spinanes, proves that Rebecca Gates is not just another Angry Woman Rocker. (2/24/96)
"Good Will Hunting" Soundtrack - Various Artists
Soundtrack review by Cynthia Joyce
Without six songs from indie rocker Elliott Smith, the "Good Will Hunting"
soundtrack would have been little more than the sum of a cross-marketing
agreement's parts
(12/23/97)
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