27 Dec 2006

Eight Albums From 2006 You Won't Want to Miss

By Administrator

Augie March, Augie March, Moo, You Bloody Choir. Charting number-one singles on the Australian home front, it's shocking that Augie March achieved close to no notice in the States. Elegant in its simplicity, the band's brand of rock can be compared to post-alt-country-era Wilco, but with a definite Aussie influence - think elements of Midnight Oil, but more literate. Past albums saw Augie March rushing forth like a speeding train, but this time the songs are built around acoustic, rather than electric, guitar parts, so they have a more cautious and quiet path to their destinations. From pop anthems to grandiose ballads, singer-songwriter Glenn Richards uses lyrics as instruments strung together to shimmer like violin strings or crash into one another like cymbals. While Australian critics sing the band's praises, and fans sing their songs, one can't help but wonder if we Yanks are simply mooing in the wrong bloody choir.

27 Dec 2006

Auld Lang Sing: New Year's Eve in the Quad Cities

By Mike Schulz

Hedroom HertzIf you're looking to "take a cup of kindness" this December 31, the following local venues will - to borrow some phrasing from "Auld Lang Syne" poet Robert Burns - be more than happy to fill your pint-stowp with a right gude-willie-waught. But they'll also be showcasing some of the area's most popular bands, so take a look at who's playing where, and when, and what sorts of New Year's Eve treats you can expect if you attend.

And if you decide to trek to a local eatery or watering hole on Sunday night, remember to do two things: (1) Be careful during your travels, and (2) tip your wait staff. I don't know about auld acquaintances, but those who work past midnight on New Year's Eve definitely should not be forgot.

Happy New Year from the entire Reader staff. We'll see you in '07!

27 Dec 2006

Half-Baked Taste: The Human Aftertaste, "Loose Ends"

By Administrator

Calling a CD Loose Ends is dangerous - with the implication that a band is emptying its junk drawer of songs - but for a local act that hasn't broken yet, it's downright lethal.

I had hoped that the third CD from Iowa City's Human Aftertaste would merely be misnamed, but Loose Ends is a perfectly appropriate title. There's an EP of good material on this collection, but at 45 minutes it's fatty and self-indulgent. Two versions of the cover "Goodbye Horses," a live track, and a mostly spoken-word piece drag it down, and much of the remainder is undistinguished.

27 Dec 2006

Looking Ahead to 2007 in Music

By John M. James

Looking forward to a new year, a handful of new artist tributes have my inner "cover-crazy kid" smiling in anticipation.

20 Dec 2006

Environmentalism Goes Beyond Posturing in 2006's Music Scene

By Administrator

Kelley Stoltz - "Below the Branches"Kudos go out to Sub Pop Records and its commitment to alternatives to fossil fuels. Earlier this year, the label purchased enough wind-powered Green Tags to be 100-percent Green-e Renewable Energy certified, and it debuted the first-ever "green" album with Kelley Stoltz's Below the Branches. Green Tags financially support the generation of power from renewable sources, and are meant to offset a business' or household's consumption of fossil fuels.

13 Dec 2006

The Blue Band Turns Silver: Iowa Outfit Celebrates Anniversary with DVD, CD, and Quad Cities Show

By Karen McFarland

Bob Dorr & the Blue Band They're not quite in the league with The Who or the Stones, but Bob Dorr & the Blue Band are celebrating their silver anniversary this year. And to mark those 25 years, they've released a retrospective two-DVD set of live performances (produced with the help of Iowa Public Television) and a separate live CD of their 25th-anniversary concert recorded in April.

13 Dec 2006

Old Farts Plan to Rock the House in 2007

By John M. James

Who says only "the kids" can rock? A handful of new CDs from older, established artists are on the horizon for the new year, tickling my ears with hip collaborations, serious ambitions, and a "supergroup" to slay all supergroups.

06 Dec 2006

Punch Drunk Love: Local Band Tries to Find an Audience for Its Reggae-Infused Rock

By Brad Vidmar

Rude PunchAt first glance, you wouldn't guess that the guys in Rude Punch are ambassadors for reggae rock in the Quad Cities. Often sporting T-shirts, jeans, and baseball caps, the three band members look like typical white, early-20s college kids.

The trio - singer/guitarist Brady Jager, bassist Robb Laake, and drummer Adam Tucker - has been working this fall on its debut album and is gearing up for shows in Iowa City and in the Quad Cities over the next two months. And while the young band is at stylistic odds with most of its peers in this area, it is hell-bent on bringing its brand of Jamaican-flavored jingles to the masses.

06 Dec 2006

Aspiring to Universality: The Spiral Band, "The Spiral Band"

By Matthew Dusenberry

The Spiral Band, "The Spiral Band" Imagine if Dave Matthews moved back to South Africa to find inspiration for a new album. After contemplating what really matters in life and taking some elements of the native music styles, including hand-drum percussion and backing vocals that at times sound similar to tribal choirs, that new Dave Matthews album might sound a lot like the debut recording from the Spiral Band.

06 Dec 2006

This Year's Crop of Christmas Music Makes the Grade

By Administrator

There's not a lump of coal in this season's stocking of new Christmas music, with five CDs from indie record labels worth finding.

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