RA RA RIOT: THE RHUMB LINE (BARSUK) ***½ Sadly, the first some of us heard of Ra Ra Riot was when drummer John Pike died following a performance last year, around the time the band's eponymous EP was released. As it is, though, "The Rhumb Line," serves both as a fitting tribute to Pike and as a proper introduction to the band. ...more

September 19, 2008

AL GREEN: LAY IT DOWN (BLUE NOTE) **½ Al Green's previous two albums, 2003's "I Can't Stop" and 2005's "Everything's OK," were faithful recreations of the singer's classic '70s sound. Problem was, they sounded like faithful recreations - the pieces were in place but the songs and performances seemed as if they were tiptoeing to keep the façade from collapsing. ...more

July 31, 2008

ST. VINCENT: MARRY ME (XL) ***½ One spin of 'Marry Me' and listeners may be ready to propose to Annie 'St. Vincent' Clark - if not marriage, then at least a long-term musical relationship. ...more

October 5, 2007