Music Reviews


Music Review: Dana Radcliffe's Replacement Published on May 24th, 2013 0 comments The first track on Dana Radcliffe’s sophomore LP, Replacement, is entitled “Wander,” an apt name to begin the eclectic compilation. “I wander and you settle down,” Radcliffe croons, a claim he...
Ghost stories: Local metalheads now stronger but more paranoid Published on Feb 19th, 2011 2 comments Where do you go after you've already blasted into outer space? After local prog-rockers Corsair released their debut record approximately one year ago, they immediately began pushing their boundaries...
Interview: Picking away at the hard questions with the Carolina Chocolate Drops Published on Feb 19th, 2011 3 comments Dom Flemons and his band have an uphill battle as long as one of our culture's prevailing images of a black man in a cowboy hat is Sheriff Bart from Mel Brooks' satirical western Blazing Saddles. The...
Blue Man? Local Americana up-and-comer explains his twenty-something woes Published on Feb 13th, 2011 0 comments Isn't it a little too soon for a twenty-something to have the blues? Not so, says local bluegrass guitarist Carl Anderson, whose premiere solo EP, 20 Something Blues, came out February 18. The...
MUSIC REVIEW- K-razy: James Brown knocks 'em dead Published on Jun 1st, 2006 0 comments If James Brown died tomorrow, I don't think anyone would be shocked. Truth be told, I would be okay with it. I can now officially scratch James Brown from the list of historical musical icons I have...
MUSIC REVIEW- Join in: Nice Jenkins' 'party' fun for all Published on May 25th, 2006 0 comments I can't begin to describe how happy I am to be listening to The Nice Jenkins album. I'm happy for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it gives me a chance to be alone with the band. I cherish that...
MUSIC REVIEW- Summer slump: Local venues miss the Hoos Published on May 18th, 2006 0 comments The University of Virginia is both a blessing and a curse for the local music scene. Charlottesville is in many ways a college town. The locals and the nonuniversity-affiliated transplants, Im sure,...
MUSIC REVIEW- Red Eye flight: Their great jazz escaped me Published on May 11th, 2006 0 comments When last I wrote about Red Eye Seamus, I had just finished listening to their debut album recorded at Crystalphonic last year. The music, which could be categorized as progressive jazz-fusion, was...
MUSIC REVIEW- Playing truth: Eli Cook connects to sublime Published on May 4th, 2006 0 comments Eli Cook is the truth. Period. Now, I know what youre thinking. Youre thinking Im exaggerating. Youre thinking Im blowing things way out of proportion, and theres no way a local cat deserves the...
MUSIC REVIEW- Nit-picking: Critics hit Randolph's technique Published on Apr 27th, 2006 0 comments There's a bit of scandal surrounding Robert Randolph, and in recent weeks it's come to my attention a number of times. For the amount of press the young pedal steel player is getting, there's an...
MUSIC REVIEW- Be honest: Real artists value candid feedback Published on Apr 20th, 2006 0 comments According to a popular comedian, many entertainers consider the Apollo Theatre in Harlem to be one of the greatest theatres in the world. However, chances are those same entertainers have a change of...
MUSIC REVIEW- Jumpin' and jivin': Through the portal to novelty Published on Apr 13th, 2006 0 comments It was like jumping through the dimensional portal in Stargate SG-1. On one side, a universe of alien creatures. Barren land. Only a few life forms wandering around, for the most part in their own...
MUSIC REVIEW- Wrong turn: Scratch Academy misjudged audience Published on Apr 6th, 2006 0 comments The University Programs Council at UVA tries very hard to bring a diverse range of events to the campus to expose the student body to things they would otherwise have to travel long distances to...
MUSIC REVIEW- Close quarters: Wrapped in intimacy at Atomic Published on Mar 30th, 2006 0 comments Atomic Burrito's layout lends itself to the easy flow of people in and out of the establishment. The design is flawless. I have tested it myself. I have, on many occasions, gone to Atomic during peak...
MUSIC REVIEW- Moody: State of mind colors reception Published on Mar 23rd, 2006 0 comments Some of my favorite records I disliked the first time I listened to them. I can think of two in particular: Funkadelic's "Uncle Jam Wants You" and De La Soul's "3 Feet High and Rising...
MUSIC REVIEW- Tortured souls: Putting it out there takes nerve Published on Mar 16th, 2006 0 comments Wrinkle Neck Mules performed at Gravity Lounge Friday night, March 10, but I'll get to that in a minute... What if, for as long as you could remember, you've always wanted to be an architect? But for...
Tortured souls: Putting it out there takes nerve Published on Mar 16th, 2006 0 comments Wrinkle Neck Mules performed at Gravity Lounge Friday night, March 10, but I'll get to that in a minute... What if, for as long as you could remember, you've always wanted to be an architect?...
MUSIC REVIEW- CD round-up II: Folk, pop, and a Carnival of Oddities Published on Mar 9th, 2006 0 comments March Madness is upon us. In sports, that phrase, of course, refers to college basketball hoops and hoop dreams. In music, March Madness is that time of year when the tour season picks up. This past...
CD round-up II: Folk, pop, and a Carnival of Odditie Published on Mar 9th, 2006 0 comments March Madness is upon us. In sports, that phrase, of course, refers to college basketball hoops and hoop dreams. In music, March Madness is that time of year when the tour season picks up. This past...
MUSIC REVIEW- CD roundup: From hilarious to forgettable Published on Mar 2nd, 2006 0 comments The desk is beginning to pile up. CDs are everywhere: in cases, out of cases, on the floor, in drawers, on the windowsill. As I stare at this mountain of bottled-up creative energy, I can't help but...
CD roundup: From hilarious to forgettable Published on Mar 2nd, 2006 0 comments The desk is beginning to pile up. CDs are everywhere: in cases, out of cases, on the floor, in drawers, on the windowsill. As I stare at this mountain of bottled-up creative energy, I can't...
MUSIC REVIEW- Show of spirit: Martin Sexton's universal passion Published on Feb 23rd, 2006 0 comments There was a Star Trek episode where Captain Picard was having a drink with his archenemy, Q. Q was always on a mission to show Picard that he didn't know everything, that he was far from prepared...
MUSIC REVIEW- Musical marvel: Falsies bring <I>Hedwig</I> to life Published on Feb 16th, 2006 0 comments Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a brilliantly written play. You don't need me to tell you that. Just type the name in the Google search engine, and you'll find accolade upon accolade for writer John...
Musical marvel: Falsies bring <I>Hedwig</I> to life Published on Feb 16th, 2006 0 comments Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a brilliantly written play. You don't need me to tell you that. Just type the name in the Google search engine, and you'll find accolade upon accolade for writer John...
MUSIC REVIEW- Scheduler, hello? Orgy of opposites at Starr Hill Published on Feb 9th, 2006 0 comments Rains, SickshotStarr Hill Music HallSaturday, February 4 Imagine a 1980's movie for girls 12 to 17. The scene you have just walked in on is reminiscent of every Molly Ringwoldesque Pretty in Pink...
MUSIC REVIEW- 'John Henry' Rose: Battling percussion ends in draw Published on Feb 2nd, 2006 0 comments Remember John Henry? He was said to be the biggest, strongest "hammer man" working on the C&O railroad. One day a dude came along with a steam-powered drill, claiming it could work...
'John Henry' Rose: Battling percussion ends in draw Published on Feb 2nd, 2006 0 comments Remember John Henry? He was said to be the biggest, strongest "hammer man" working on the C&O railroad. One day a dude came along with a steam-powered drill, claiming it could work faster than...
Friendly fire: Travis Elliott Published on Jan 26th, 2006 0 comments Travis Elliott is preparing to hit the road on a tour that will last a couple of months. He's been hard at work writing new material. Recently he's been playing gigs in town as Travis Elliott...
MUSIC REVIEW- Two Red Shoes: Inspired by All-Stars Published on Jan 19th, 2006 0 comments Two Red Shoes aren't bad. Especially when they're a pair of classic Converse All Stars. All Stars are the original sneaker (the "Chuck Taylor" model really got things going) and the founding...
Glassy-eyed: Bad bands better beware Published on Jan 12th, 2006 0 comments Today I walked on broken glass– a whole lot of broken glass. It was all over the floor. Nice healthy shards from beer bottles and preserves jars just lay there in the middle of the living room...