Music

Despite the spirit of reform, Cold War Kids remain loyal to their defining elements, reviving the usual suspects for their fall-staging: the lovers, liars, livers and possessors of generally every slightly-forbidden human emotion gone awry. Sorry, but this album is no cheerier than the last.

Kings of Leon, the band of Tennessee-
born kin, released their latest album on Sept. 23. Boring and prosaic, it is a step down from their previous work. “Depressive” sums it up; emotionally depressive, with minor chords dominating the tracks, and technically depressive, with a drought of imagination in song structure.

If bad band names were food, between acts like …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, the Earth could rejoice that her children need no longer suffer from hunger. And if this wonderful world were so, Portugal. The Man would be Live Aid, Bono on a charitable bender and an Oprah special all in one.

The skinny stall of a bar, known as the Mercury Lounge, was merely a waiting room for the Sunday night show. Brown velvet curtains converted glass doors, hiding the main room. TPC took the stage shortly after 11.

The Brooklyn electronica duo, Ratatat, have deemed words a thing of the past with their newest aphonic release, “LP3,” which dropped on July 8. Maybe they try to over-compensate with excellent instrumentation, but listeners would never think they were being cheated.

The Go! Team brought a one-two punch to New York City’s Bowery Ballroom: a new album that is propelling the band into the mainstream, along with a live show that had its MC, Ninja, almost in the crowd dancing herself.

“It’s incredible to me that you want to hear me sing these stupid songs,” Torquil Campbell of Canadian outfit Stars told a packed crowd at New York City’s Town Hall this past Thursday. The audience cheered and laughed.

The Charles B. Wang Center kicked off its fifth open season with Salman Ahmad, member of internationally-known Sufi Rock mainstay Junoon, and tabla player Pandit Sameer Chatterjee, Wednesday night, Sept 26 at 7 p.m.

Not many bands based out of New Mexico can make Balkan music rivaling that of gypsies and still have twenty-somethings waltzing on a Monday night. However, not all bands have the character or innovative quality of Beirut.

Animal Collective is not a band I would normally go to for deep lyrical meaning or self insight, but the band’s latest record, Strawberry Jam, released on Sept. 10, shows definitive growth as musicians and most strikingly, lyricists.

The process that transforms an indie rock band into an arena powerhouse is one of glory for its members- but may lead to confusion for their grassroots fans. Interpol’s new record, Our Love to Admire (Capitol, 2007), has begun to propel them into the realm of stardom, and seeing them live at Madison Square Garden, which has hosted the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel, just didn't seem right.

How many musical artists can you name from Alaska? Portugal. The Man from Wasilla, AK may be the first mainstream answer to that question, with their new release, "Church Mouth."

While taking a harder bluesy approach, the White Stripes were still able to maintain the sound and adversity expected by their fanbase on their new release, Icky Thump.