Rock/Pop/Etc.

Music Review: The 10 Best Songs of 2011 (Some Brown, a little Perry, People and a whole lot to Gaga over)

By CARLOS DELGADO 01/06/2012
Lady Gaga performs on the AMERICAN IDOL Season 10 finale | ©2011 Fox/Michael Becker

It was a pretty eclectic year in music, and that’s reflected with the best songs of 2011. A little Adele, a bit of Kanye and some more than welcome Katy Perry. And what would a year be without a song to go Gaga over. So here’s the ten best songs of 2011. 1. Adele – “Rolling in the Deep” Undeniably powerful, soulful and sincere. Sometimes, with the right lyrics and right vocals, a song just hits home. Read the lyrics if you must, or to feel it’s true impact, simply sing at the top of your lungs, “we could have …Read On »

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Concert Review: CRACKER / CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN – December 27, 2011 – Belly Up, Solana Beach, CA

By A.C. FERRANTE 12/29/2011
Johnny Hickman, David Lowery, Frank Funaro and Sal Maida of Cracker perform at Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA on December 27, 2011 | Photo ©2011 and courtesy Ami J. Flori

Few artists can claim they are part of one successful band, but David Lowery can cite two  – Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven (and both active) as the very eccentric home to his hybrid musical compositions that span country, rock, ska and alternative music (with a little folk thrown in for good measure). And now, Lowery continues the tradition of touring with both bands simultaneously for a brief little end of the year tour. Things kicked off on Tuesday night in Solana Beach, CA at the Belly Up as Lowery’s Camper Van Beethoven served as opening act (they also have …Read On »

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Five Awesome CD Sets You Can Crank Up to 11

By The Editors of ASSIGNMENT X 12/16/2011
Pink Floyd - DARK SIDE OF THE MOON | ©2011 Capitol Records

With all the Christmas songs on the radio and in the mall, corporate sponsored holiday specials taking over the airwaves and department store commercials encouraging you to BUY, BUY, BUY, it becomes harder and harder each year to find that perfect gift for someone special. That’s where ASSIGNMENT X comes in with our annual Holiday Gift Guide. We dig deep, so you don’t have to and have come up with a whole slew of books, music, games, toys and more that should satisfy the pop culture addict on your gift-giving list. So without further ado, welcome to ASSIGNMENT X’s 2011 …Read On »

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Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Five Cool Christmas-Themed Gifts

By The Editors of ASSIGNMENT X 12/15/2011
A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS - A SNOWY SURPRISE Hallmark Keepsakes | ©2011Hallmark

With all the Christmas songs on the radio and in the mall, corporate sponsored holiday specials taking over the airwaves and department store commercials encouraging you to BUY, BUY, BUY, it becomes harder and harder each year to find that perfect gift for someone special. That’s where ASSIGNMENT X comes in with our annual Holiday Gift Guide. We dig deep, so you don’t have to and have come up with a whole slew of books, music, games, toys and more that should satisfy the pop culture addict on your gift-giving list. So without further ado, welcome to ASSIGNMENT X’s 2011 …Read On »

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CD Review: Chris Isaak – BEYOND THE SUN

By CARL CORTEZ 11/16/2011
Chris Isaak - BEYOND THE SUN | ©2011 Vangaurd Records

Distributor: Vanguard Suggested Retail Price: $14.88 Whenever you hear someone digging into the past for a bunch of cover songs, it usually isn’t a good sign. Yet Chris Isaak, the smooth singer behind “Wicked Games” has decided to travel back to the songs of the 1950s that were recorded at the legendary Sun Records studio in Nashville with his new set BEYOND THE SUN. And hot damn if it doesn’t work. Isaak is a rare performer, whose silky smooth and emotive vocals have always had a bit of a retro tinge to it even with his own modern sensibilities thrown …Read On »

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CD Review: Lady Antebellum – OWN THE NIGHT

By CARL CORTEZ 11/15/2011
Lady Antebellum - OWN THE NIGHT | ©2011 Captiol Records

Distributor: Capitol Records Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 At some point, when pop radio went bland and soulless, country artists started to adapt the hooky stylings that made them appeal to people who missed the good old days. Shania Twain perhaps paved the way with music that was country in labeling only (she was secretly a pop star, even if steel guitars were playing in the background). She even proved that theory with a two-disc set that had the songs mixed for country radio stations AND rock radio. Now, many country artists teeter on that thin line and no more blatant …Read On »

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CD Review: Erasure – TOMORROW’S WORLD

By CARL CORTEZ 11/02/2011
Erasure - TOMORROW'S WORLD | ©2011 Mute Records

Distributor: Mute Suggested Retail Price: $13.88 It’s amazing that Vince Clarke has been a part of not one, but three ground-breaking bands and all within the span of five years in the early 1980s. First, he jump-started Depeche Mode being one of the primary songwriters for that band’s exceptional debut SPEAK & SPELL providing such memorable tracks as “Just Can’t Get Enough”, “Dreaming of Me” and “New Life” Leaving after the release of that ground-breaking first album, Clarke then formed a partnership with singer Alison Moyet with Yaz (known as Yazoo in the U.K.). The two albums they put out …Read On »

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CD Review: Thomas Dolby – A MAP OF THE FLOATING CITY

By CARL CORTEZ 10/27/2011
Thomas Dolby - THE MAP OF THE FLOATING CITY | ©2011 RedEye

Distributor: RedEye Suggested Retail Price: $14.36 Thomas Dolby may be best known for his 1982 pop hit “She Blinded My With Science,” but anyone who has dug deeper into his catalog has discovered a wealth of wonderfully eclectic and cleverly constructed tracks. I’ll always had a place in my heart for “My Brain is Like A Sieve” from his 1988 release ALIENS ATE MY BUICK and it always reminds me there was more going on with this artist than he was given credit for. However, his studio output has been few and far between, with his last official release being …Read On »

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CD Review: PAJAMA CLUB – self-titled debut

By CARL CORTEZ 10/12/2011
PAJAMA CLUB | ©2011 Lester Records

Fans of CROWDED HOUSE may be a bit surprised at the new side project by co-founder Neil Finn. The singer-songwriter, who has made a fine career out of expert pop craftsmanship that has evoked the best of the Beatles at times, tries something completely different with Pajama Club. Created with his wife Sharon (who shares vocals with him), the album is more synth heavy and totally alternative in sound and feel than Crowded House. The beautiful melodies and harmonies Finn and Crowded House are known for have been replaced by chunkier musicianship and songs that take a few listens before …Read On »

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CD Review: Tori Amos – NIGHT OF HUNTERS

By CARL CORTEZ 10/05/2011
Tori Amos - NIGHT OF HUNTERS | ©2011 Deutsche Grammophon

You never quite know which direction Tori Amos is going to zigzag in. She’s an avant garde pop princess who burst onto the scene in the early ‘90s as that decade’s answer to Kate Bush. Her piano playing was impeccable and her knack for catchy songwriting with deep messages made her debut LITTLE EARTHQUAKES a phenomenal and still potent debut. Since then she’s followed the beat of her own offbeat drummer with highs and lows. She never sits still long enough to question her decisions and her latest NIGHT OF HUNTERS is perhaps the most challenging work to date. It’s …Read On »

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