Artsweek

The Best Words in Their Best Order

November 1, 2001 by

"You can analyze the music of poetry, but it's difficult to conduct an argument about its value, especially when it's gotten into the blood. It becomes autobiography there." -Robert Haas
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Bush | Golden State | Atlantic

November 1, 2001 by

Emerging from the grunge movement, comparisons with bands that defined the genre were inevitable. Bush, however, was cursed with more than its fair share of naysayers that slammed the band as another ...
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Saul Williams | Amethyst Rockstar | American

November 1, 2001 by

Saul Williams wasn't breast-fed. The 28-year-old goes beyond mere personal tragedy to the world's ills on his debut album, Amethyst Rockstar.
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Various Artists | Give the People What We Want: Songs of the Kinks | Sub Pop

November 1, 2001 by

The only valid purpose of a tribute album, as far as I can tell, is to get the listener to ask of each band, "How in the hell can their song sound like this?"
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Mogwai | My Father King | Matador

November 1, 2001 by

Like the wrath of a vengeful God, Old Testament style, the new 20-minute instrumental opus from Mogwai channels enough power to level both Sodom and Gomorrah in a single haunting melody.
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We Interrupt Our Program…

October 25, 2001 by

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the most terrifying thing I have ever witnessed ... Wait a minute! Someone's crawling out of the hollow top. Someone or ... something.
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“From Hell”: Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter…

October 25, 2001 by

There is more pathology and suspense in an episode of "Blue's Clues" than in the contrived "From Hell."
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The Cranberries | Wake Up and Smell the Coffee | MCA Records

October 25, 2001 by

The Cranberries | Wake Up and Smell the Coffee | MCA Records The early ’90s Irish rock band that combined pre-Brit pop textures with a touch of the Celtic world returns to their roots on Wake Up...
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Death Cab for Cutie | The Photo Album | Barsuk

October 25, 2001 by

The Seattle-based indie pop quartet has released two full albums in the last two years, and may not be esoteric for long. Their recent outing is a welcome supplement to previous work.
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Milemarker | Anaesthetic | Jade Tree

October 25, 2001 by

The band isn't soulless like Rush - head buried firmly in the ass of spandex and high concept; rather, it's soulless like Devo - nervingly alien and unerringly critical of the human condition.
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Tangled Up in Blue and Gold

October 18, 2001 by

I love seeing a live music performance, but I hate concerts. There are always too many damn people to ruin the whole experience.
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Titans of Chamber Music

October 18, 2001 by

The haunting, intense soundtrack from the acclaimed Darren Aronofsky film was performed by this innovative string quartet. Now they are coming to UCSB.
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Opera: the Best Russian Export Since Vodka

October 18, 2001 by

Some stories are universal: love, death, betrayal, murder. They speak to the human condition now as they have for centuries. But we do not often get the opportunity to see how these themes are interpr...
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Roxie and Velma Rock Santa Barbara

October 18, 2001 by

All of my close friends know one thing about me: When it comes to entertainment, I will pass up almost anything in favor of seeing a Broadway musical. Hello, my name is Armando and I am an addict.
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“Iron Monkey”: A Tail as Old as Time

October 18, 2001 by

"Iron Monkey" may not have the beauty and artistry of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," but it is "Dragon's" critical acclaim and international commercial success that directly resulted in "Monkey's" ...
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