Email Author Annie Zaleski

2006 Stories by Annie Zaleski

• Gold Needles in the Pop-Rock Haystack

  published December 28, 2006

  In 2006, the pop singles market continued to dominate, in no small part because the pick-to-click-driven mentality of online music stores and... More >>

• Genius of Pop

  published December 21, 2006

  When XTC's Andy Partridge is reached via phone at his home in England, he's doing exactly what one expects the prolific studio... More >>

• Gold Needles in the Pop-Rock Haystack

  published December 21, 2006

  In 2006, the pop singles market continued to dominate, in no small part because the pick-to-click-driven mentality of online music stores and... More >>

• Gwen Stefani

  published December 21, 2006

  Gwen Stefani is still pushing the limits of ridiculousness on The Sweet Escape; after all, it takes a person quite secure in her... More >>

• Paul Westerberg & Various Artists

  published December 7, 2006

  Although Paul Westerberg has always been fond of breaking out Replacements chestnuts live, he seems to be softening the anti-'Mats stance he often... More >>

• The Killers

  published October 12, 2006

  Killers vocalist Brandon Flowers makes it very clear that he wants to be Bruce Springsteen on Sam's Town, judging by the Boss-esque... More >>

• R.E.M.

  published October 5, 2006

  Compile the best of R.E.M.'s earliest output on one CD, and it's easy to see why they ultimately became one of the biggest bands in the world... More >>

• Primal Scream

  published September 14, 2006

  Even when Primal Scream didn't match the creative heights reached by Screamadelica's rave-worthy blissouts or the electro-punk of... More >>

• Various Artists

  published August 17, 2006

  Get these motherfucking emo bands off this motherfucking album. No, really — get these motherfucking emo bands off this motherfucking... More >>

• The Church

  published June 8, 2006

  The Church lost many fans in the 1990s when it began to favor meandering grooves that seduced via atmosphere rather than hooks. But while the... More >>

• Pink

  published June 8, 2006

  Let's be honest: Despite the perceived sensitivity injection (courtesy of tear-stained emo and indie artists), radio is no more welcoming to... More >>

• Taking Back Sunday

  published May 11, 2006

  After listening to Taking Back Sunday's third album, it's quite clear why the band's fan base consists mainly of adolescents. Like its... More >>

• Morrissey

  published March 30, 2006

  It's often difficult to critically analyze a much-beloved artist, because the reviewer's tendency is to excuse irksome traits or loathsome sonic... More >>

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs

  published March 30, 2006

  Before the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O strutted, spit, and cooed her way to indie-rock icon status, the last dynamic female to front a rock band was... More >>

• In from Outer Space

  published March 16, 2006

  Straight outta small-town Texas, not the Star Wars cantina, Eisley sounds more like the house band of a verdant magical forest or Rilo... More >>

• Mogwai

  published March 2, 2006

  Back in the early days of Mogwai's career, an album titled Mr. Beast would have matched the band's Category 5 noise hurricanes perfectly.... More >>

• Morningwood

  published January 19, 2006

  Once you get past the sophomoric band name (heh heh, they said wood) and the junior high-level double-entendres — the single "Take Off... More >>

• The Strokes

  published January 5, 2006

  The Strokes were labeled the saviors of NYC's rock 'n' roll scene when they oozed out of hipster enclaves (and, er, prep school) in 2001. But in... More >>