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MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER

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From Cheers to China with Greg Luttrell

Custom fit
It's a Saturday afternoon in Jamaica Plain and Greg Luttrell is sipping a house special at Canary Square.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | December 06, 2011

Chris Cornell | Songbook

Universal (2011)
Chris Cornell's reaction to the critical lynching his Timbaland-produced debacle Scream took in 2009 was to grow his hair back out, reunite with Soundgarden (currently in the studio), and embark on a solo tour stripped down to just an acoustic guitar.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | December 06, 2011

The Black Keys | El Camino

Nonesuch (2011)
El Camino has the unenviable task of following up last year's Brothers, but instead of trying to outdo its acclaimed predecessor, it scales things back and cranks up the volume.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | November 29, 2011

The Rolling Stones | Some Girls

Universal
Hindsight demands each deluxe reissue of a Rolling Stones record be declared a masterpiece, despite the reality that for every flawless Let It Bleed there is a Steel Wheels stumble, with 1978's Some Girls falling somewhere in the middle of a spotty five-decade recording career.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | November 22, 2011

Caveman | Coco Beware

Magic Man! Records/ORG Music (2011)
Hold up on that Brooklyn backlash just yet, there's still some sweet music coming out of the trendiest and most despised of the five boroughs.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | November 16, 2011

Megadeth | Th1rt3en

Roadrunner (2011)
While Metallica is in Lulu-land, in the doghouse of fans and critics alike, sometime-nemesis Megadeth stay the metal course with another solid release served without the pretense of musical evolution or artsy growth.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | November 09, 2011

The '90s spawn of gothic rock

Mall bats
In recent years, the long arm of goth has rested on many a musical shoulder.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | October 26, 2011

Beyond Bauhaus, Peter Murphy builds his own aural architecture

Forever undead
Peter Murphy's ninth solo record, artfully titled Ninth, is worth talking about, since it's his first in seven years and third straight to garner almost across-the-board praise from critics and fans alike.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | October 26, 2011

Jane's Addiction | The Great Escape Artist

Capitol (2011)
Since the origins of The Great Escape Artist nearly two years ago, the outfit has had five different people on bass duties.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | October 25, 2011

Chris Isaak | Beyond the Sun

Vanguard (2011)
Critics of Chris Isaak have long considered him a neo-Elvis in a cheaper suit.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | October 25, 2011

Billy Corgan dishes on the 20th anniversary of Gish — one smashing debut record

Tales from the Pumpkin patch
The saturation of album anniversary celebrations has gotten out of hand in recent years.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | October 19, 2011

Ryan Adams | Ashes & Fire

PAX-AM/Capitol (2011)
Historically, Ryan Adams has released, via labels or for download, every idea he's put down on tape.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | October 04, 2011

Misfits | The Devil's Rain

Misfits Records (2011)
The reason there hasn't been a new Misfits record of all original material in a dozen years is because without Glenn Danzig, it's just not the Misfits.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | September 27, 2011

Kasabian | Velociraptor!

RCA/Columbia (2011)
Four records in and Kasabian are still dodging that lazy comparison to Oasis, which is based mainly on their healthy egos and partly on how singer Tom Meighan sometimes pulls off the best Liam Gallagher sneer since Be Here Now — look no further than the way he stretches syllables on the cocksure, bass-driven "Re-Wired."

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | September 20, 2011

The National carry indie rock's aging flag

Elder statesman
The National seem to be among the ranks of Bon Iver, Adele, and TV on the Radio as some of the fresh-faced replacements for tired cranks like Sting, Billy Joel, and the Eagles when it comes to the music Baby Boomers and — now Gen-Xers — are latching onto.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | September 07, 2011

The Nightwatchman | World Wide Rebel Songs

New West Records (2011)
It's been interesting watching the progression of the Nightwatchman, the sometime moniker of Tom Morello.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | August 30, 2011

Dave Mustaine's righteous path

Tragic hero
Now sober, the ginger frontman is not only sharing a bill with Metallica, but the stage in an end-of-the-night jam to celebrate the Big Four, along with Slayer and Anthrax, and commemorating 30 years of pioneering thrash by playing select gigs around the world, including New York's Yankee Stadium next month.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | August 24, 2011

Anthrax | Worship Music

Megaforce Records (2011)
Anthrax has remained relevant over the past two decades mainly because John Bush, with his rumbling and powerful vocals, replaced Joey Belladonna.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | August 24, 2011

Beady Eye's Liam Gallagher talks new music, the Oasis breakup, and 'shithole' Glastonbury

Feeling supersonic
Back in March, I caught up with Liam post-soundcheck in Paris, when he called to talk about his new gig, Noel taking credit for the success of Oasis, and how he is scaling back the partying -- but not to Chris Martin of Coldplay levels.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | August 17, 2011

Active Child | You Are All I See

Vagrant Records (2011)
Pat Grossi used to be a choirboy, which is not surprising at all, given that his full-length debut under the Active Child moniker sounds like it was cut in some sort of dimly lit, hallowed hall under the cover of night.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | August 16, 2011

Pepper Rabbit | Red Velvet Snow Ball

Kanine (2011)
Were Zach Braff still struggling to get Garden State made, there's no doubt one of these songs would have made the mix CD he was shopping around Hollywood with his script.

By: MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | August 03, 2011

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