Going public with an alter ego is generally not a great career move. It creates the impression of Section 8 craziness, or at least a painful lack of self-awareness. Remember "Esther," Madonna? ...more

December 4, 2008

Give Metallica credit. When 1991's eponymous "black album" landed the band squarely in the mainstream, it didn't milk the formula. It forged ahead with "Load" (1996) and "Reload" (1997), tweaking things here, trying new approaches there. ...more

September 12, 2008

The buzz on Coldplay's fourth album was that Chris Martin and friends hadn't made the same album they've made three times before. Admittedly, this says nothing flattering about the band, but it certainly was a necessary adjustment. Had Coldplay continued to refine its sound, the next disc surely would consist of a single sustained piano chord and a quavering, wordless whimper from Martin. ...more

June 26, 2008