Snoop Dogg – Ego Trippin’ (2008)

Ego Trippin’, Snoop Dogg’s 1,979th album in as many years (dog years?) has the old fogie getting all hyphy with the kids and giving nods to New Jack Swing. He’s a Renaissance Man, that Dogg.
Never one to pay attention to details, Snoop offers up 21 tracks of extremely varying quality. If one has… Click to read more

Following the blueprint laid down by Radiohead late last year, Nine Inch Nails have released Ghosts I-IV, a 4-disc instrumental album, without the (full) aid of a major label. A digital download gives you the first nine tracks free of charge; for $5 the entire set is yours. A deluxe version is available for the hefty price of $300, but let’s not go there j… Click to read more

Beach House – Devotion (2008)
Kinda-sorta hypnotizing display of Mazzy Star dream pop for the winter lover’s crowd. A warm reverb swallows the LP, allowing the prettier melodies to keep afloat amongst the morass of gentle but typical songcraft. Weirdo Beardos like Gary Higgins spin pastoral cottage folk-pop far better than mousy, bookish t… Click to read more

Lupe Fiasco’s debut album Food and Liquor showcased the quick-witted rapper’s penchant for good vibes and G.O.O.D. beats, following in the footsteps of Chicago’s pride and joy, Common and Kanye West. His ambitious coupling of diverse subjects and long narratives (summarized with his heartfelt paean to skateboarding, “Kick… Click to read more

When the clock struck 12:00 this morning Radiohead fans clamored to their website and downloaded their new album In Rainbows in record numbers, causing the server to crash as expected. With a digital copy safe in my clutch I, at the same time as any music critic in my time zone (no promos for the big mags), will listen to the album.
Radiohead, without a label, hav… Click to read more