Beatles producer George Martin dead at 90
For many aficionados of studio recording, pop-music production can be divided into two eras: Before George Martin, and after. The well-connected producer and talent scout, who helped bring the Beatles...
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Kendrick Lamar’s surprise ‘Untitled, Unmastered’ rarely sounds unfinished
Not bad for a bunch of leftovers -- not bad at all. In this era of surprise album releases, Kendrick Lamar dropped his latest project "Untitled, Unmastered" (Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope) on...
Early Jeff Buckley recordings depict struggle, not genius
When Jeff Buckley drowned in the Mississippi River in 1997 at age 30, he was still something of a musical phantom, represented by one indelible studio album, "Grace," and a...
David Bowie is personal for Metro’s Joe Shanahan
For Metro owner Joe Shanahan, it's personal. As with many fans who grew up with David Bowie, the artist's music and life — even the way he died — resonated....
Shadowy blues master Blind Willie Johnson gets his due on new tribute album
Blind Willie Johnson left behind a mere 30 songs and a towering legacy that empowered disciples ranging from Pops Staples and Bob Dylan to Led Zeppelin and Ry Cooder. Yet...
No apologies from Le Butcherettes
Teri Suarez, aka Le Butcherettes' singer-guitarist-contortionist Teri Gender Bender, does not believe in half measures. Her trio's latest album, "A Raw Youth" (Ipecac), plunges deep into her teenage past, when...
Pitchfork Music Festival lineup announced
Beach House, Carly Rae Jepson, Brian Wilson, Savages, Sufjan Stevens, Miguel, Shamir, the Sun Ra Arkestra and Super Furry Animals are among the acts scheduled to perform at what is...
Bonnie Raitt plays rough on ‘Dig in Deep,’ and it sounds good
Bonnie Raitt has got chops a mile deep on slide guitar. Within a few seconds, her tone is instantly recognizable, with its bluesy bent and hint of lingering melancholy, as...
Classically trained Julia Holter finds joy in simplicity
Julia Holter's latest album, "Have You in My Wilderness" (Domino), was universally hailed as the singer's breakthrough, the moment when she merged her arty music with more of a pop...
Kanye West’s bewildering, frustrating ‘Pablo’
Kanye West's "The Life of Pablo" (GOOD/Def Jam) sounds like a work in progress rather than a finished album. It's a mess, more a series of marketing opportunities in which...