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Jill LaBrackFeatures
Sinéad O’Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t GotNearly perfect, and overflowing with determined beauty, one of the best recordings of the 1990s is given its due. [12 May 2009] Reviews
The Green Pajamas: Poison in the Russian RoomWere it the 1970s, this record would sell a million copies. [8 June 2009] 
Jill Sobule: The California YearsLike Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson, Jill Sobule delivers razor-sharp appraisals with a side of humor and humanity. [15 April 2009] 
April Verch: Steal the BlueA warm foray into country music's best side: despair and doubt with a smile. [31 March 2009] 
Conway Twitty: Lost in the FeelingSuaveness defined through country pop -- this is Conway Twitty. [26 March 2009] 
Magnetic Morning: A.M.Swervedriver's Adam Franklin and Interpol's Sam Fogarino create a record that will appeal to the subconscious, while sometimes confusing the conscious. [24 February 2009] 
Barbara Morgenstern: BMA lesser work, BM still captures the guts of a technological society. [10 February 2009] 
James Yorkston: When the Haar Rolls InExisting in a place that includes the Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens, the under-heard James Yorkston equals their excellence. [5 February 2009] 
The Knux: Remind Me in 3 Days…A soundtrack for all the latest commercials and mall-store openings. [30 January 2009] 
The Secret History: Desolation TownAn EP with the promise of great things to come. [22 January 2009] 
Eden & John’s East River String Band: Some Cold Rainy DayA little more cultivating in the dirt and they should be good to go. [8 January 2009] 
FreQ Nasty: Fabriclive 42FreQ Nasty further cements the Fabric label's reputation. [6 January 2009] 
Hank Williams: The Unreleased RecordingsA legend's output is doubled with stellar results. [12 December 2008] 
Herman Dune: Next Year in ZionHerman Dune takes clear talent to a professional level, unfortunately ignoring personal maturity. [2 December 2008] 
Unbunny: Sensory Underload: Uncertain Tracks 1996-2008In Unbunny’s nimble hands, indie rock becomes a bit more majestic. [21 November 2008] 
Villalobos, Ricardo: SalvadorBringing 'dance' to the physically inept, with an eye on Art. [26 May 2006] 
Eleventh Dream Day: Zeroes and OnesOne of the most consistent of rock bands offers a profound questioning of life on their latest. [25 May 2006] 
Hudson Bell: When the Sun is the Moon1990s guitar-rock made a decade later, managing to be compelling if not wholly original. [23 May 2006] 
Kate Rusby: The Girl Who Couldn’t FlyBeautiful and precise, Rusby's latest shows her growing again. [17 March 2006] Kelley Stoltz: Below the BranchesA great CD lies in wait... [28 February 2006] 
Chris Brokaw: Incredible LoveBest known for the bands he has been in, Chris Brokaw breaks free and asserts compelling individuality on his fifth solo release. [12 January 2006] 
Blood on the Wall: AwesomerSludge/blues/punk rock influenced by the best Sonic Youth guitar lines. Relive the '90s. Make it new. [11 January 2006] 
The Dead Science: Frost GiantArt Rock finds a new home in the scary beauty that is Frost Giant. [21 December 2005] 
The Bats: At the National GridOn their sixth release in over two decades, The Bats are a case study in 'What to Do to Remain Relevant'. [7 November 2005] 
Sheryl Crow: WildflowerPreviously underrated, Sheryl Crow returns with a record not worth defending. [10 October 2005] 
Slow Dazzle: The View from the Floor [EP]Smart pop that melds the old with the future, never taking its eye off the craft for a moment. [4 October 2005] 
Cobra Verde: Copycat KillersA cover CD from one of the best kick-ass bands out there. Better than most original CDs from the glut of rockers in the world. [3 October 2005] 
Music A.M.: My City Glittered Like a Breaking WaveElectronic pop music for travelers, computer melodies for the caring: this EP floats and breathes through your waking life. [2 September 2005] 
Lucero: Nobody’s DarlingsRock 'n' roll poetry finds a new voice. Lucero outdo themselves again. [1 September 2005] 
Sick Bees: The Marina Album [EP]The Raincoats busk with Skip Spence and Funkadelic throws down a $20. How to ignore this one? Well, don't. [22 August 2005] 
John Vanderslice: Pixel RevoltWelcoming new literary characters into the world, in the form of a song... they could entertain you for years. [18 August 2005] 
Tara Angell: Come DownFolk-gothic, ghost-ridden debut channels Marianne Faithfull meeting Nick Drake and punching him in the head. Now mandatory for cross-country drives. [27 July 2005] 
Turin Brakes: JackInABoxTwo happy guys surround themselves with all of the materials, but none of the means. Result: a house that collapses under the slightest scrutiny. [15 July 2005] 
The Stanley Brothers: Earliest Recordings: The Complete Rich-R-Tone 78s (1947-1952)Get out your notebooks. The Stanley Brothers have an important lesson to teach you. Don't forget to bring your humanity. [17 June 2005] 
Sleater-Kinney: The WoodsConsistently challenging and absolutely thrilling, S-K's seventh release is a renewal of the word 'loyalty': to a band, and to rock 'n' roll. [1 June 2005] 
Shrimp Boat: SpecklyWay underground legends' first vinyl is finally reissued. Test of time applied with mixed results. [25 May 2005] 
Dinosaur Jr.: You’re Living All Over MeThe best of the early Dino Jr reissues, this recording proves its relevance. Again. [20 May 2005] 
The Hold Steady: Separation SundayBreathless music with a dark edge: isn't that how everyone likes their true blue rock 'n' roll?" [12 May 2005] 
Amy Ray: PromShining with her release of vitriol and emotion, Amy Ray pushes for greater heights with her solo follow-up to the rockin' surprise that was 2001's Stag. [6 May 2005] 
Keren Ann: NolitaA unique possible Big Hit, but the obvious talent within does not hit its full potential. [21 April 2005] 
Damien Jurado: On My Way to AbsenceDelivering his most consistent record to date, Damien Jurado bypasses some of the dynamics that have made past songs so incredible. [20 April 2005] 
Okkervil River: Black Sheep BoyThis reviewer's early, although confident, pick for Album of the Year. [8 April 2005] 
David-Ivar Herman Dune: Ya YaDavid-Ivar Herman Dune channels Jonathan Richman for the new (anti-) kids on the block. Recommended. [7 April 2005] 
Josh Rouse: NashvilleJosh Rouse cements his reputation as a superb artist in the vein of Aimee Mann or Jackson Browne, but with more musical variety. [24 March 2005] 
50 Foot Wave: Golden OceanAs vital a punk rock record as you could hope for, 50 Foot Wave's Golden Ocean is as vast and powerful as the title would suggest. [7 March 2005] 
Regina Spektor: Soviet KitschEarnestness, a cloying quality in most music, becomes the secret to this piano-based singer/songwriter's success. [28 February 2005] 
Bettie Serveert: AttagirlWhile the world sits and patiently waits, Bettie Serveert makes another record that does not live up to the promise of their debut. [18 February 2005] 
Ida: Heart Like a RiverPretty, well-arranged, and heart wrenching, this is music for those realizing relationship angst never goes away. [16 February 2005] 
Magnapop: MouthfeelMagnapop comes out of nowhere to quietly put out Mouthfeel, one of the better warm-weather pop records you may have come across in, say, a decade or so. [10 February 2005] 
Refrigerator: Upstairs in Your RoomIn which an indie rock band adds a minor classic to the canon. [26 January 2005] 
Black Mountain: self-titledBlack Mountain mean well. They really do. But sometimes too much is just too much. [24 January 2005] 
The Minus 5: At the OrganThe Minus 5 prove again that while you continually search for your new favorite pop band, you should just trust in the stamina of Scott McCaughey. [21 January 2005] 
Okkervil River: Sleep and Wake-Up SongsOkkervil River, in 5 gorgeous songs, lay to waste many critics' 'best-of' picks. [20 January 2005] 
The Dead Science: Bird Bones in the BughouseTaking cues from all over the music map, the Dead Science swoop down from the Northwest, dropping upon us a solidly intriguing record. [19 January 2005] 
Autolux: Future PerfectAutolux is the band that Pavement and Pastels lovers in the mid-'90s were hoping for. About a decade too late. [4 January 2005] 
The Green Pajamas: Ten White StonesThe Green Pajamas exist in a place where music meets art. [8 December 2004]
Alison Krauss and Union Station: Lonely Runs Both WaysAlison Krauss has the voice of an angel. This phrase may sound so overblown that it becomes trite, but it is true. [29 November 2004] BlogsConsuming Consumables: Hank Williams: The Unreleased Recordings [5 December 2008] |
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