Artsweek

Elvis Costello | When I Was Cruel | Island

May 1, 2002 by

Elvis Costello released his first record a quarter century ago. When I Was Cruel, his 17th album proper, proves time hasn't mellowed the lyrically acerbic wit of this man behind the glasses.
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Chris Isaak | Always Got Tonight | Reprise

May 1, 2002 by

Chris Isaak's most polished album is also one of his best, focusing more on Roy Orbison-style rock 'n' roll than broken-hearted ballads.
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Hot Hot Heat | Knock Knock Knock | Sub Pop

May 1, 2002 by

Stealing liberally from the Cure, the Stooges, and piano-driven post-punk groups, such as the Get Hustle and Tarot Bolero Hot Hot Heat knocks out an album full of dry danceable indie rock.
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KCSB Hip Hop Top Ten

May 1, 2002 by

1) Sage Francis | Personal Journals | Anticon 2) Fat Jon the Ample Soul Physician | Wave Motion | Mush 3) RJD2 | Good Times [single] | White Label 4) DJ Shadow | You Can’t Go Home Again [EP] | M...
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Declaration of Independents

April 24, 2002 by

Alas, not everybody gets to deal with the glitter that is crystal meth and ticket sales - and thankfully for them, not everybody likes the mainstream record industry's sounds.
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Getting Past Portraits

April 24, 2002 by

Funeral Diner avoids cheese. They play a form of hardcore that is devoid of pained melodies, ranting anger, blazing licks, or mosh breakdowns.
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Heavy Mettle

April 24, 2002 by

Justice for David Attias' victims won't end with a lengthy sentence from the court, but it may start with a monologue in Snidecor Hall.
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Murder by Numbers: Counting the Minutes

April 24, 2002 by

What "Murder By Numbers" does for the thriller genre, Sandra Bullock does for her career.
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Desaparecidos | Read Music Speak Spanish | Saddle Creek

April 24, 2002 by

Musically, Desaparecidos seem to take a cue from mid-'90s proto-emo bands such as Jawbreaker or J Church - the chunky chords alternating with bouncy picked melodies.
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Gomez | In Our Gun | Virgin

April 24, 2002 by

Gomez's synthesis of the last 40 years of rock is notable, but the band's ability to incorporate the latest in digital sampling lacks.
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Wayne | Music on Plastic | TVT

April 24, 2002 by

Like the reviews and profiles say, their music is "emotional" and "powerful," but Wayne fails to consistently express these elements in any sort of depth.
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J-Live | All of the Above | Coup d’

April 24, 2002 by

Whether it's the "jiggy," beats mixed with bearable lyrics or meaningless,annoying choruses mixed with bearable beats, All of the Above delivers no more than five good cuts.
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Like Moth to the Fame

April 18, 2002 by

You can tell a lot about a record label's faith in its band by the size of its tour bus. Virgin clearly has high hopes for its recent signee, Moth.
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Bathtub Film Festival

April 18, 2002 by

I Love Adolph Hilter co-producer Matt Wienglass says his 4/20 showing of seven experimental films in I.V. Theater has a drug theme corresponding with the worldwide smoke-out, but it's in no way limite...
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Aude Man in the House

April 18, 2002 by

Techno and jungle beat freaks of SB, put your dancing shoes on. High-powered digital guru and L.A.-native Dave Aude is set to pound Velvet Jones tonight like a blood-soaked tom-tom.
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