Every week, we gather some interesting stuff from our sister Village Voice Media publications' music sections. Just for kicks. Here's last week's entry.No one told Devendra Banhart he needs help with his album covers, though
Devendra Banhart, in Seattle Weekly: "I had one label tell me they would love to sign me...on one condition,"
he says. "That I allow them to hire a team of songwriters to help me
finish my songs." And a Q&A with Jimi Hendrix's half-bro.
SF Weekly peels back the layers of Janelle Monáe's new album.
Village Voice on Drive-By Truckers' The Big To-Do, and Alice in Chains is back!
Soviettes' Luke Redfield goes solo in City Pages.
An ode to the 30-year-old nightlife mainstay Avalon is in LA Weekly, along with Joan Jett and co. looking back at the Runaways.
Phoenix New Times catches
up with post-hardcore specialists Greeley Estates.
A nice wrap
of the NX35 fest by the Dallas Observer, plus Ludacris
tells Ben Westhoff, regarding new single "How Low": "Not to sound
cocky or anything, but I knew exactly what it was going to
do before I put it out."
DeVotchKa's got a kindred
spirit in the Lovely and Talented, according to Westword.
Also, a Quasi
Q&A.
In Houston Press, Black Rebel Motorcycle
Club's Peter Hayes wants
to move past the Verve and Jesus and Mary Chain comparisons: "I
think we've proved our point by now that we're much more. I mean, we've
got influences from Sam Cooke and Édith Piaf to Johnny Cash and Little
Walter."