Artsweek

April 24, 2003

Blur | Think Tank | Virgin

By Drew Atkins

Pros at pillaging musical styles from those more skilled than them, each of Blur's albums finds them changing their sound to match their ever-changing influences.

April 24, 2003

Lucinda Williams | World Without Tears | Lost Highway

By Eliav Appelbaum

If you enjoy sipping froth off a double latte-espresso-mocha-quadruple-swirl and tethering your neck with a lavender cashmere shawl while sporting a staple clamped on your right eyebrow - then Lucinda Williams' smug and ...

April 24, 2003

KCSB Top Ten

By Mr. Bell

April 18, 2003

Glory Be the Jam Band

By Jessica Jardine

Behind the studded belts of indie rock and the bling bling of hip hop lies a smiling, overly relaxed posse of music lovers. These fans, often trademarked unfairly with long, not-so-clean hair and an air of patchouli arou...

April 18, 2003

Spirited Away | When Ariel Just Don’t Cut it No Mo’

By Drew Mackie

"Spirited Away" entertains, mystifies and - at least for the duration of the film - allows the viewer to recall how the world looked through a child's eyes.

April 18, 2003

American Hi-Fi | The Art of Losing | Island

By Sara Smith

The incessant rise of pop-rock, with its catchy beats and brain cell-killing lyrics, is an evil vacuum capable of sucking innocent bystanders into a world of corny adolescence.

April 18, 2003

A.R.E. Weapons | s/t | Rough Trade Records

By Eliav Appelbaum

These guys dare to be hip. And they succeed because they're just a tad bit deranged - armed with refreshingly dynamic lyrics and a foul-mouthed fightin' spirit to pull it off.

April 18, 2003

Moving Units | s/t | Rx RemedyDance Disaster Movement | We Are From Nowhere | Dim Mak

By DJ FatKid

Moving Units is one band trying quite hard to learn everything they can. Having opened shows for the holy disco-punk trinity of the Rapture, Hot Hot Heat and Radio 4, they debut four songs (a prelude to a purported major...

April 18, 2003

A Man Apart | At Least Give us an Arse Cheek

By Jessica Jardine

The only thing worse than seeing a predictable, paint-by-numbers action movie is seeing it and walking out confused. The audience expects "boom!" "bang!" "pow!" and some gratuitous plot involving some nekkidness.

April 10, 2003

Where Sweden and the Sand Meet

By Jessica Jardine

What has the average 12-year-old accomplished? Maybe making the club soccer team? Winning a few spelling bee trophies? Starring as Maria in "West Side Story"?

April 10, 2003

Phonebooth | Please Hang Up and Try Again

By Luke Chamberlin

Independent films have always had to rely on the strength of their stories to compete with Hollywood blockbusters. These smaller films have the advantage of being able to take more risks, experimenting with different con...

April 10, 2003

Make Way for the Merchants

By Mr. Bell

"Like Herbie Hancock with an MPC" is how the Addict Merchants flatter themselves. And with good reason. The Merchants have become a live hip hop sensation, already rocking a few enthusiastic Santa Barbara crowds.

April 10, 2003

Boy Sets Fire | Tomorrow Come Today | Wind-Up

By Eliav Appelbaum

Boy Sets Fire exhibits a teeming tempest of energy, emotion and raw intensity that swirls around like a monsoon-blizzard-hurricane-sandstorm all rolled into one hell of a force of nature. Unfortunately, the oomph that th...

April 10, 2003

Fruit Bats | Mouthfuls | Sub Pop

By Gary Epper

The Fruit Bats spawn from the self-replicating record factory, Sub Pop. Mouthfuls is their second release that screams simplicity with lead singer Eric Johnson's gentle voice and lazy guitar putting the listener into a e...

April 10, 2003

Lagwagon | Blaze | Fat Wreck Chords

By Monique Sherman

With bands like Blink-182 and Good Charlotte pumping out pop-punk like someone after a bad encounter with Jack in the Box, it's refreshing to know that after their last release five years ago, Lagwagon hasn't lost their ...

April 10, 2003