XTC Drums and Wires album cover

XTC: Wired for Sound

written by: Craig Bechtel on June 29, 2011

They were always a pop band, as they declared on their early song “This Is Pop,” but their first two records, and only a few of the records they produced following, have the staying power and the timelessness of the songs on Drums and Wires.

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Beware! The Vodka Thieves have returned

written by: Craig Bechtel on June 17, 2011

Team Band distills their alcohol-fueled version of glam-punk and art-blues, and the tracks virtually crackle with energy, and never fade out, always crashing and burning instead.

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What does S&M really stand for?

written by: Craig Bechtel on June 3, 2011

Rihanna clearly is invested fully in playing the part of the bondage queen, and the performance at the resurrected Billboard awards served as a natural extension of the similarly over-the-top music video.

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She Wants Revenge band portrait

She Wants Revenge at Double Door on May 29, 2011

written by: Craig Bechtel on May 29, 2011

Justin Warfield and the other half of SWR, keyboardist/bassist Adam 12 are joined by guitarist Thomas Froggatt and drummer Scott Ellis—and they clicked like a well oiled machine with the occasional accent of maraca or tambourine.

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Two Suns EP album cover

Silk Flowers – Ltd. Form

written by: Craig Bechtel on April 28, 2011

Silk Flowers have produced something that fits their moniker well—music that’s beautiful and smooth, but is ultimately artificial.

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Steven Drozd at 80-35
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Scandalous album cover

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears – Scandalous

written by: Craig Bechtel on April 18, 2011

Throughout, “Black Joe” sounds like he’s about to jump back and kiss himself, and utters sounds that haven’t been heard since Eddie Murphy tipped his toe into James Brown’s hot tub in the 80s

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