Eric R. Danton

Every year after South by Southwest, a band breaks out with national (or international) buzz behind it. And, as the Austin American-Statesman noted, there's always a local equivalent: a band...

Gnarls Barkley "THE ODD COUPLE" RATING: 3 EXCLAMATION POINTS "The Odd Couple" is the most-watched sophomore album in a while, and there's enough interest that Gnarls Barkley moved up the...

It's either the most clever marketing scheme in years or, just maybe, a far-reaching social experiment designed to test our morality. Radiohead seems entirely capable of hatching either, which makes...

The Fratellis "COSTELLO MUSIC" Although they're late to the British indie-rock revival, the Fratellis bring enough good-natured wordplay and catchy melodic hooks to keep the party going. While fellow Brit...

Rock Star Supernova "ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA" RATING: 2 SOUND LEVELS Putting four musicians in a room with instruments doesn't automatically make them a band, which is a problem for Rock...

Amy LaVere "This World Is Not My Home" Her upright bass is taller than she is, but Amy LaVere makes up in musical ability what she lacks in physical stature....

Kristin Hoffman "REAL" RATING: 3 SOUND LEVELS. Classically trained pianist Kristin Hoffman summons moody, Tori Amos-style atmospherics on "Silhouette," and her anguished, yet reflective vocal style isn't far removed from...

Faith Evans The First Lady The liner notes to Faith Evans' first album since 2001 thank a dizzying array of people. They include, for some reason, Shooter Jennings. It's hard...

The Gourds Blood of the Ram The Austin, Texas, band plays a boozy mix of roots-music styles: There's the zydeco sound of "Do 4 U," the bluesy ballad "Illegal Oyster"...

Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand If the real Franz Ferdinand had rocked as hard as the band that bears the Austrian archduke's name, there would have been no need for World...