Word: record
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2000
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...finest indie musicians of our generation. Nevertheless, this small blurb seems the perfect place to appropriately acknowledge her understated genius. Harvey modestly writes her songs for herself and the fans of great alternative music on both sides of the Atlantic, not for radio stations and big record labels, who could only taint her art through exploitation and commercialization. Quietly, Harvey composed two of the very best albums of the '90s (1995's perfectly cooked To Bring You My Love and 1993's brilliantly raw Rid of Me), and her latest release, Stories From the City, Stories from the Sea, promises...
...move that probably caused both record company executives and jaded alt-rock skeptics to shake their heads. The quick release of the second installment of Everclear's album series keeps those executives busy before they can finish wringing the cash out of Songs From An American Movie Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile, while the very hint of a concept album (imaginary film soundtrack and all) reeks of pretentious art-rock stabs at achieving something "higher." But for fans, Good Time for a Bad Attitude offers 12 fine songs to soak up, it represents Everclear in rare form-cynical...
There's no chance of mistaking this record for its decidedly happier counterpart, as the snarling guitar barrage of "When It All Goes Wrong Again" and the fervent punk of "All Fucked Up" stand in total contrast to the tinkling notes that opened Learning How To Smile. While that first volume was a sweet and eclectic (and perhaps corny) manifestation of Art Alexakis' nostalgia, its successor rips those dreamy sentiments to pieces without even bothering to pause for breath. From its bitter opening to its bittersweet conclusion, the distorted fuzz-guitars scarcely let up, striking and churning in sullen anger...
...wake of his failed marriage, Alexakis' pain can be felt throughout the album, in such lines as "My heart is racing and/I am losing my mind/Sometimes I feel like my life is/on a slide." His ability to craft witty verses and infectious choruses remains intact, making this record unmistakeably Everclear. Likewise, subtle touches such as the delicate strings that end "Overwhelming" and the surprising ascent of the dark instrumental "Halloween Americana" into a poignantly melodic finish set this apart as Everclear's most mature and accomplished album. B+ -Ryan...
...unity, Bush chose Pete Laney, Speaker of the Democrat-controlled Texas House of Representatives, to introduce Wednesday night's acceptance speech (which the president-elect delivered in the House chamber). But while Wednesday's rosy images played well on television, political insiders are hardly convinced that Bush's record in Texas will have any bearing on his success in Washington...