Arts
Despite the name, 'Pyramids' is not one of the wonders of the world
October 21Supposedly, Pit Er Pat named their album "Pyramids" for the reappearing pyramid
Arts
Arts
New Fogg exhibit 'sketchy' - in a good way
October 10Under Cover:Artists' SketchbooksAt the Fogg through Oct. 22Harvard University Art Museums32 Quincy Street, Cambridge617-495-9400 A sketchbook can provide an intimate view into the mind of an artist, giving insight into how they prepare their artwork through a different medium. The Fogg's exhibit "Under Cover: Artists' Sketchbooks", on view in the Strauss gallery through Oct. 22, contains pieces from a diverse group of artists, from 18th century Rococo icon Jean-Honor?© Fragonard to contemporary artists like as Henry Moore and Boston's own Jonathan Borofsky.
Arts
Fogg presents the human body as a really funky wonderland
October 4When people think of modern art, they think of the extremes: abstract paintings and minimalism with little to relate to, save colors and shapes. The Fogg Museum of Harvard University seeks to change that impression with their show, "Nominally Figured: Recent Acquisitions in Contemporary Art."
Arts
MFA displays the 'Domain' and wide range of Indian works of art
October 2Right now at the Museum of Fine Arts, no guard will stop you from stepping too close to the artwork. In fact, it's better to bring a magnifying glass, to stand so close you are cross-eyed, dizzied from the intricate detail of "Domains of Wonder: Masterworks of Indian Painting."
Arts
'Crane Wife' first major label try for Decembrists
October 2Even before listening to it, "The Crane Wife" by The Decemberists is an interesting release. Not only is it the much-anticipated follow-up to 2004's critically and commercially revered "Picaresque," it is also the eccentric Portland quintet's first release on a major label (Capitol Records).
Arts
The Roots' 'Game Theory' absolutely a no-brainer
September 24In attempting to be a good critic, many of us journalists try to follow the advice of Lester Bangs in 2000's "Almost Famous" and try to be "honest and unmerciful." However, every once in a while, an album comes along that you just want to give so many stars to that the whole world will listen. The new Roots album, "Game Theory," is a prime example.
Arts
John-of-all-trades Mayer struggles to find niche
September 24These days, it's hard to find anyone who just downright hates John Mayer. He is popular enough to be on "Chappelle's Show" and skilled enough to jam with the legendary likes of Buddy Guy, B.B King, Eric Clapton, and Herbie Hancock. Let's face it: the ladies just love to see those faces he makes while playing guitar.
Arts
You'll 'Love' Rapture's latest
September 20Monday morning: Hair dryers whir, clock radios blare, breakfast pastries are unwrapped and somewhere, someone, hairbrush in hand, is dancing in his underwear in front of a mirror to The Rapture.
Arts
We'll always have 'Americans in Paris' . . . or at the MFA
September 6Among the museum-going college students, there are those who will become artists and those who will be art historians, but some are so appreciative, so enthralled with the art they see, that they eventually decide to forge their own personal museum to become collectors, surrounding themselves with the art they love.
Arts
'Harness' a quirky gem
September 6When I say, "independent rock from Chicago," you think of Wilco, Bound Stems or perhaps even the Smashing Pumpkins - current faces of indie and a genre pioneer, respectively - as bands who procured and continue to shape the current face of the Chicago rock scene. Chicago-bred five-piece Chin Up Chin Up fits right into the distinctive Midwestern niche with a sound directly reflecting the forefront of independent Chicago music.
Arts
Dylan's not forever young, but 'Modern Times' proves he's not over the hill
September 3Bruce Springsteen said that hearing the opening snare shot of "Like a Rolling Stone" was like the door to his mind being kicked open.
Arts
Cursive writes new masterpiece
August 29Call it art-core, call it post-hardcore, call the genre whatever you want; Omaha's Cursive has been running that drill for nearly a decade.
Arts
Truckers album will stop you from cursing country
April 23It seems common to hate country music just on principle these days. The familiar phrase "anything but country" pops up frequently in the music sections on sites like Facebook and MySpace. Indeed, with popular country artists like Kenny Chesney singing a song titled "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy," it's no wonder that music listeners would immediately be turned off to the genre. Fortunately for those listeners willing to seek out better alternatives, there is good music to be found under the label "country."
Arts
Harry Potter is not the only person who's 'Under The Stairs'
April 22This is the type of music that makes you want to celebrate its release like it's the coming of the hip-hop messiah, arriving right on time to remind us of the standards of the golden days.
Arts
Built to Spill's new album, 'You in Reverse,' isn't built to last
April 19It has been a long road for Boise's Built to Spill. While nearly all of their Pacific Northwest, grunge-pioneering counterparts have either faded into irrelevance or overdosed on heroin, the permanent trio of Doug Martsch, Scott Plouf and Brett Nelson (recently joined by touring guitarist Jim Roth) have remained relevant post-Nirvana on the strength of broken, sprawling melodies and Martsch's confounding, inspiring, utterly incomparable song writing.
Arts
Celebrity cross-dressing, rivalry and drama at the MFA
April 19People Magazine, move over: The titillating truths of Kabuki theater rivalry and stardom are on display now at the Museum of Fine Arts! Furtive eyes, wicked grins and extraordinary costumes greet visitors at the "On Stage in Osaka: Actor Prints from the MFA Collection" show.
Arts
Saves the Day might need a little saving of their own
April 17Warning: do not listen to "Sound the Alarm," Saves The Day's new album, while holding any sharp objects, standing near open windows, or taking a bath with a toaster in reach.
Arts
9th Wonder's new record won't be joining the Pyramids and Great Wall
April 17Ever since breaking into the hip-hop scene on North Carolina trio Little Brother's "The Listening" in 2003, prolific producer 9th Wonder has been popping up everywhere, laying down his trademark clever soul sample tracks on albums for local and worldwide legends. In the past few years, 9th has produced two new Little Brother albums, along with albums for Buckshot, Access Immortal, a remix of Nas's "God Son" album entitled "God's Stepson LP," and tracks for Jay-Z, Jean Grae and Memphis Bleek. It appears that hip-hop has found another golden producer with a bright future in 9th Wonder, who consistently pumps out Pete Rock-esque beats reminiscent of the sample-heavy sounds of the early to mid '90s. It's no surprise that he's featured in the title of most of the albums he works on, because all he needs is an emcee with a competent, consistent flow to make a hit record.
Arts
Everything she needed to know she learned in kindergarten
April 12"Tempo, Tempo!" could not have been a more fitting title for the Marianne Brandt show, which features the compact, visually complex effect of photomontage. On display at Harvard's Busch-Reisinger Museum through May 21, 2006, the show exhibits over thirty photomontages that strike a palpable balance between the fast, industrial, powerful content of the cut-out images and the calculated deliberateness of their placement.
Arts
Morrissey's latest: mildly tormenting
April 12After a seven-year hiatus and ten years without a relatively acclaimed record, Steven Patrick Morrissey, best known for fronting revered '80s indie band The Smiths, rocketed back into the pop music scene with 2004's "You Are the Quarry."
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