David Weigel

Features

Back to Happy Times Again: An Interview with Tommy Keene

By David Weigel

The dangerous use of power pop, the big label mistake, and the joys of being and not being a sideman. [1 January 1995]

Talking Oceans Apart: An Interview with Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens

By David Weigel

From the other side of the world, one of pop's best songwriting duos slowly gets their music heard.

Just What You Needed: An Interview with The New Cars

By David Weigel

The New Cars get ready to hit the road with singer Todd Rundgren.

Reviews

The Isley Brothers: Baby Makin Music

By David Weigel

With producers who know how to package their sound, the Isley Brothers turn out their best album in ten years. [24 May 2006]

Electric Light Orchestra: No Answer

By David Weigel

The release of No Answer and E.L.O. II turns the spotlight on a part of Lynne's career before he was writing pop symphonies transmogrified into schlock by decades of movies and TV commercials. [28 April 2006]

The Advantage: Elf-Titled

By David Weigel

Occasionally we need music that makes no grand statements and demands only to be played loud at a party. [13 March 2006]

The Gourds: Heavy Ornamentals

By David Weigel

The Gourds are a fun, 'try this out' kind of band, and closer to actual country music than alt-country… It’s tough to say whether this will be The Gourds' breakout album, but it sure as hell deserves to be. [24 February 2006]

Kaleidoscope: from where you were

By David Weigel

It rewards attention and re-listens. It's not music you can slap onto an iPod or run while you balance a checkbook. [23 February 2006]

Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society: Kings of Damnation

By David Weigel

Kings of Damnation leaves you to contemplate what a serious talent Zakk Wylde really is. [13 February 2006]

Bjorn Olsson (The Lobster)

By David Weigel

Something has to be said for an album that confuses you when you see the sleeve and confuses you some more when you actually hear the tunes. [31 January 2006]

Dogs: Turn Against This Land

By David Weigel

They seem like one of those groups that kicked around the London scene aimlessly until some Diet Coke-slugging A&R rep was ordered to find 'some bands that sound like those Frank Ferdinands'. [17 January 2006]

John Cale: Black Acetate

By David Weigel

Cale follows up a successful reincarnation with a release that's far more lackluster and pedestrian. [23 November 2005]

Various Artists: Got Purp? Vol. II

By David Weigel

Bubba Sparxxx and Killer Mike, are cut from the same cloth as Big Boi, and their tracks here could have appeared on Speakerboxxx. But most of the songs here sound totally different than anything on that record or even The Love Below. [21 November 2005]