REVIEW: ALKALINE TRIO – THIS ADDICTION (2010)
Seven has been associated with This Addiction, whether covering the CD itself to the earplugs the band uses during their tour. The integer itself denotes either dread or luck, depending on your viewpoint. The seventh album is as polarizing as the number; you’ll either love it or hate it. In f
On the Horizon: Lawrence Arms + Methadones = Noise By Numbers
Ah the coincidence! Sitting in my flat today after French courses, I was reminiscing over old Lawrence Arms (Ghost Stories). Coming back from Place Verte in the 11e arrondissement, I discovered that their drummer/Swiss army knife, Neil Hennessy, joined up with members of Screeching We
PHOTOGRAPHY: JAGUAR LOVE AND POLYSICS IN CHICAGO
The Abbey Pub on Grace and Elston is a smaller venue that hosts acts on the verge. A few years ago, I caught Heiruspecs before they began to take off (expect their first new album in years shortly) as well as O’Death earlier this year. As a venue, it’s the bridge between the Empty Bottle-ty
PHOTOGRAPHY: YELLE’S ‘C’EST L’AMERIQUE’ TOUR IN CHICAGO
Tuesday night the French electro-pop dance-influenced Yelle landed in Chicago, by way of Reykjavík, for their C’est l’Amérique Tour (It’s America! Tour) accompanied by L.A.’s Funeral Party. Helped by Club DJ Tepr and drummer/”songmaker” GrandMarnier, Yelle delivered one of thos
REVIEW: FOUR STAR ALARM – SELF-TITLED EP (2006)
Small, yet gearing up to start setting them off with their upcoming debut album, Four Star Alarm is one of the few Chicago punk bands that has risen through dozens of Chicago punk denizens to treat those who listened with a remarkable debut EP. The self-titled EP (Thick Records, 2006) is a
REVIEW: ALKALINE TRIO – AGONY & IRONY (2008)
Opening the sleeve of Agony & Irony (Epic Records, 2008), you pull out a rather simple, but elaborate disc with the retro font logo of Epic Records. Alkaline Trio’s first release with this label isn’t the pinnacle, nor the penultimate in their catalog, but is the strongest effort s