Artist: Drake Album: Take Care Genre: Hip Hop Label: Young Money Only seventeen months have passed since Drake released his label debut, Thank Me Later. In that time, the Canadian born rapper has rocketed from an already high plateau of exposure and respect (thanks to the success of his So Far Gone mixtape), to a […]
critique
REVIEW: Drake – Take Care
November 12th, 2011 
James Shotwell 
Posted in Features, Reviews 
Tags: 2011, album review, critique, Drake, drizzy, hip-hop (genre), leak, new hip hop, new music, review, Reviews, score, take care, take care review, YMCMB, young money 
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REVIEW: A Plea For Purging – The Life And Death Of A Plea For Purging
November 10th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: A Plea For Purging Album: The Life & Death Of A Plea For Purging Genre: Metalcore Label: Facedown Records Admittedly, I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately; maybe the changing weather is messing with my mood, and it’s just a seasonal things that’s unavoidable, or maybe because I’ve been considerably busier than […]
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: a plea for purging, album review, APFP, apfp review, Christian, critique, facedown records, hardcore (genre), metalcore, michael hogan, new album, review, the life and times of a plea for purging Comments Off on REVIEW: A Plea For Purging – The Life And Death Of A Plea For Purging
REVIEW: Los Campesinos – Hello Sadness
November 10th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Los Campesinos Album: Hello Sadness Genre: Indie pop Label: Wichita Hello Sadness is a discreet and refined work, a barely-there kind of album, with a subtle and enduring appeal. It’s composed of delightful little indie gems, all quirkily executed with a pleasing rhythm and simple, refreshing charm.
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: album review, critique, grace duffy, hello review, hello sadness, hello sadness review, indie (genre), leak, los campesinos, pop (genre), review, rock (genre) Comments Off on REVIEW: Los Campesinos – Hello Sadness
REVIEW: The Wanted – Battleground
November 9th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: The Wanted Album: Battleground Genre: Pop Label: Island (UK) The Wanted are, apparently, kind of a big deal. I failed to notice this until I saw a poster for this album in the window of HMV in town this morning. Well, it’s not unusual for me to have never heard of anything that’s appeared […]
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: 2011, album review, battleground, boy band, critique, grace duffy, island, new album, pop (genre), pop music, return of boy bands, review, the wanted, top 40 Comments Off on REVIEW: The Wanted – Battleground
REVIEW: Florence And The Machine – Ceremonials
November 6th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Florence and the Machine Album: Ceremonials Genre: Baroque pop/indie Label: Island Records Once upon a time, I really wasn’t the greatest fan of Florence and the Machine. I got so tired of hearing the incessant hype that I flat out refused to listen to most of the music. Except that backfired, cos songs ended […]
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: album review, baroque pop, ceremonials, ceremonials review, critical consensus, critique, FATM, fatm-ceremonials, florence + the machine, florence and the machine, indie (genre), island records, perfect albums of 2011, review, rock (genre) Comments Off on REVIEW: Florence And The Machine – Ceremonials
REVIEW: Canterbury – More Than Know EP
November 6th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Canterbury Album: More Than Know EP Genre: Sweet rock Label: (unsigned) I first saw Canterbury live with Cancer Bats and Billy Talent two years ago. It says a lot about the English four-piece (then a five-piece) and their precocious talent that they stood out on a bill like that, and won themselves a steady […]
Posted in Features, Reviews, Unsigned Tags: album review, canterbury, canterbury ep, critic, critique, ep review, more than know ep, more than know review, mroe than know ep review, sweet rock, unsigned Comments Off on REVIEW: Canterbury – More Than Know EP
REVIEW: Childish Gambino – Camp
November 5th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Childish Gambino Album: Camp Genre: Hip Hop/Rap Label: Glassnote 2011 has undeniably been the year of Childish Gambino, but few realize the hip hop side project of Community‘s Donald Glover has actually been rising through the ranks since 2008. Like any artist, Glover experienced his fair share of growing pains, both in terms of […]
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: album review, camp album review, camp review, childish gambino, childish gambino album, childish gambino camp review, community, critique, donal glover, donald glover camp, gambino cd, gambino record, Glassnote Records, hip-hop (genre), in review, rap (genre), review, score 8 Comments »
STAND-UP TUESDAYS: Josh Gondelman
November 1st, 2011 Angie Frissore Stand-Up Tuesdays is a weekly comedy spotlight written by the wonderfully talented Angie Frissore. Covering both known and unknown comics, Stand-up Tuesdays is your new source for all things funny. This week, Angie puts a spotlight on Josh Gondelman and his latest release, Everything’s The Best! If you or your comedy troupe would like to be featured on Stand-Up […]
Posted in Columns, Comedy, Features, News, Reviews, Stand-Up Tuesdays Tags: album review, cd review, comedy, comedy review, comic review, critique, everything's the best, everything's the best review, josh gondelman, josh gondelman comedy, stand up, stand up comedy, standup Comments Off on STAND-UP TUESDAYS: Josh Gondelman
REVIEW: Close Your Eyes – Empty Hands And Heavy Hearts
October 28th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Close Your Eyes Album: Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts Genre: Hardcore/progressive/pop punk Label: Victory Records Not to put too fine a point on it, but this album is the bomb. Sprawling music and cutting vocal sprees combine to create a powerful and edgy record full of emotional breakdowns and gorgeous melodies. In keeping with […]
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: album review, cd, close your eyes, critique, Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts, record, review, tony brummel, Victory Records Comments Off on REVIEW: Close Your Eyes – Empty Hands And Heavy Hearts
REVIEW: Aiden – Some Kind Of Hate
October 24th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Aiden Album: Some Kind Of Hate Genre: Punk Label: Victory Since forming in 2003, Aiden have continually redefined what it means to be punk in the 21st century. Where Nightmare Anatomy brought them to the forefront of the then peaking post-hardcore front, Conviction showed there was much, much more than met the eye. From […]
REVIEW: Tokyo Police Club – 10x10x10
October 24th, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Tokyo Police Club Album: 10x10x10 Genre: Indie/rock Label: Mean Beard/Mom & Pop/Dine Alone/Memphis Industries/Dew Process Tokyo Police Club seem to have made a career out of sounding not all that bothered about anything. Or at least, that’s the overriding impression I get from this record, which is full of laconic drivel so laid-back it […]
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: 10 review, 10x10x10, 2011, album review, critique, indie rock, review, tokyo police club, tpc-10 Comments Off on REVIEW: Tokyo Police Club – 10x10x10
REVIEW: Outsiders – Shallow Graves
October 21st, 2011 James Shotwell Artist: Outsiders Album: Shallow Graves Genre: Rock Label: [unsigned] Outsiders, a likable four piece from New Zealand, acquit themselves admirably on their second full length record. It’s a rewarding listen with a somewhat DIY mixed-in-your-basement feel but very able. The rawer sound gives it an air of gritty realism which enhances its appeal, with plenty […]
Posted in Features, Reviews Tags: album review, critique, indie (genre), punk (genre), shallow graves, the outsiders Comments Off on REVIEW: Outsiders – Shallow Graves