The Best Soul-Blues Album Covers and Other Assorted Goodies

Here’s a selection of the best of last week’s music blogging from around the Village Voice chain: Sometimes, you can judge a book by it’s cover — or an album, at least. A look at thirteen soul-blues albums, a genre that’s mastered the art of capturing the record’s flavor with…

Bender’s Ball

The bouncer on stage did a decent Axl Rose impression — complete with bandanna. “All we need is just a little patience,” he sang into the karaoke mic. In the room next door, a DJ mixed Stevie Wonder’s “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” with “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” It could only be…

If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say…

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. Uh, yeah, there’s at least one recently deceased 27-year-old rapper who’d probably beg to differ with that adage after an MC battle turned deadly earlier this week in the Motor City. Having witnessed countless battles in my…

45 Second Reviews: Nik Freitas, Man Man, P.O.D., Ray J

Nik Freitas Sun Down Team Love Records 01:00-01:45 of “Sun Down” “Sun Down” sounds like what would happen if a 14-year-old boy only owned two records, Harry Nilsson’s The Point and N’Sync’s N’Sync. What comes out of that is an adorable little song that sounds like it’s made for and…

Friday Rap-Up: 25 Colorado Rappers Spit on One Song

Joe Thunder isn’t known for his skills behind the mic. He isn’t known for creating hot beats either. He’s more likely to just listen to records than mix and scratch them. And you’ll catch him nodding his head before he’d bust out in a backspin. So what does Joe Thunder…

Yellow Second Reunites

Yellow Second. Remember that band? Scott Kerr and Andy Verdecchio’s post-Five Iron Frenzy, super badass power pop outfit? If not, you’ll have your chance to get reacquainted on Friday, May 9, at the hi-dive. Before the Fray and before record deals were being handed out like Handi Wipes at a…

Emma, Prom? -Ari

Joel Harvey is Ari from East High School’s new hero. Mine, too. On his day off, Harvey happened to head into work at the Bluebird Theater and caught a phone call from Eli asking if the Bluebird would be willing to post his prom date invitation on the marquee. Having…

This Just In: Flobots Hottest Brand Going

Great googly moogly! Are Flobots playing with the house’s money right now or what? At this moment, the act is still the top seller at Twist & Shout, outselling new releases from R.E.M., Nine Inch Nails, the Breeders, Raconteurs, Van Morrison and Gnarls Barkley. And next month in Tucson, Jamie…

Redline Defiance Breaks Up… or Not

Redline Defiance is dunzo. Or not, depending on what you’ve heard. “REDLINE DEFIANCE QUIT! NO LONGER A BAND!” reads a blind post on the band’s myspace page. That post was followed by a more in-depth pronouncement from guitarist Emerson Willis that was sent out to the band’s mailing list…..

Tusk Safari Lounge

I recently got a tip about a hip, safari-themed bar in south Longmont, of all places. Looking at the website of Tusk Safari Lounge, I envisioned a massive place with a jungle motif and a crocodile head sitting on the bar. The slogan alone — “drink, graze, chill” — was…

Somethin Somethin Productions Brings Something Different

Emily Francis wants to make a difference. And now that Planes Mistaken for Stars is permanently grounded, the band’s former manager has an idea that’s ready for takeoff. Francis, who’s helped curate Denver Fest for the past three years, has teamed with Jeff Campbell, former NIPP staffer and current 3…

Enon Slows Things Down

During the first half of the decade, John Schmersal, the guiding light of Enon, churned out ditties so quickly that he made hyper-prolific songwriter Ryan Adams seem like a slacker in comparison. But after years of affixing fresh compositions to the band’s website on practically a daily basis, he decided…

Communikey

The organizers of the Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts want to accomplish two things: First, they want to make you dance, and second, they want to make you think about — and work toward — a sustainable future that embraces technology. “This festival smacks of Boulder,” muses Marko Manriquez, head…

Meet Juno MacGuff’s Muse

The success of Juno, a modest independent film that earned multiple Academy Award nominations and over $200 million in worldwide box-office receipts, has brought many good things to Kimya Dawson, including recognition, renown and a share of royalties from the flick’s companion CD, which topped the Billboard sales chart earlier…

Eyes and Ears

It takes a lot of balls for a band to play in matching Christmas sweaters. Although Eyes and Ears has done that, “ballsy” may not be the best way to describe the act’s sound; after all, one of the members is a girl. What Eyes and Ears lacks in testicular fortitude,…

Shapeshifters

It’s easy to understand why the Shapeshifters — Simon Marlin and Max Reich — have scored four crossover chart hits in the U.K., including a top single with their initial release, “Lola’s Theme.” The DJ and production duo cherry-picks the catchiest elements of any number of styles (techno, electro, deep…

Tera Melos

Though powered by prog pretentiousness and punk pissiness, Sacramento’s Tera Melos isn’t just another band of post-rock pansies. These guys came to agitate and irritate anyone who shows up with a preconceived notion. Nick Reinhart layers guitars, loops, electronics — and even the occasional vocal melody — over Nathan Latona’s…

David Dondero and the Entire State of Florida

The songs on David Dondero’s most recent record, Simple Love, sound as polished and hooky as anything you’re likely to hear on “modern rock” radio. The difference is, Dondero, whose voice is ever so husky and quavers with undercurrents of strong emotion, has a knack for avoiding the type of…

Ghostland Observatory

Austin’s Ghostland Observatory is more than just another pair of sweaty dudes making party music. Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner crank up the heat on this formula by combining filthy French electro with ’60s soul and plenty of ’80s synth pop. While Turner churns out beats that butts can’t resist,…