Kevin McKeough

Skeletons Nothing to Lose (Hightone) (star) (star) 1/2 The Skeletons properly are known as the world's greatest garage band, with an emphasis on the garage. They play with the relaxed...

Various artists "Suburbia" Soundtrack (Geffen) (star) (star) (star) Suburbia: Hootieville or mecca of cutting-edge music? The latter, answers this soundtrack to the film from director Richard Linklater ("Slacker," "Dazed and...

Kim Richey Bitter Sweet (Mercury) (star) (star) (star) Most country musicians who borrow from the Eagles take their cloying sentimentality and cheesy pomp. Kim Richey, whose work is more like...

60 Ft Dolls The Big 3 (Geffen) (star) (star) 1/2 If Oasis too much of the time sounds like Green Day covering "Sgt. Pepper," 60 Ft Dolls sound like the...

Sally Timms Cowboy Sally (Bloodshot) (star) (star) 1/2 Waco Brothers Cowboy in Flames (Bloodshot) (star) (star) (star) 1/2 With fellow members of the Mekons increasingly busy with Chicago country-punk ensemble...

Kate Campbell Moonpie Dreams (Compass) (star) (star) Like Iris DeMent, Campbell writes country-folk songs that draw heavily on childhood memories. On much of her second record, however, she relates those...

Marty Brown Here's to the Honky Tonks (Hightone) (star) (star) (star) After making three records for a major Nashville label, Brown debuts for the smaller, roots-oriented Hightone. His melodies have...

Various Artists Star of Wonder: A Country Christmas Collection (Arista) (star) (star) (star) 1/2 Steve Wariner's understated rendition of "Silent Night" lets the song's indelible melody stand gorgeously on its...

Various Artists Just Say Noel (Geffen) (star) (star) (star) "Just Say Noel" takes a contrary attitude towards the holidays, but what else would you expect from a bunch of alternative...

Vanessa Williams Star Bright (Mercury) (star) (star) 1/2 Various Artists Special Gift (Island) (star) (star) (star) Quad City DJ's Quad-City All-Star Christmas (Quadrasound) (star) (star) (star) The sleek, twinkling arrangements...