Album Reviews
Austra
Olympia
Jun 17, 2013 Issue #46 - June/July 2013 - Charli XCX
Olympia reportedly captures a more democratic Austra, with benevolent dictator Katie Stelmanis relinquishing some of her control and the road-weathered six-piece now writing as a band.
Sigur Rós
Kveikur
Jun 14, 2013 Web Exclusive
Sigur Rós' seventh full-length starts with amiasma of thunderous crashes. A year later and one member fewer than the paper-thin whisper that was previous album Valtari, it's almost as if the Icelandic trio is making up for lost time with sheer volume.
Classic Interviews
My Brightest Diamond
Following the White Rabbit
Feb 07, 2012 Web Exclusive
Ever since Shara Worden (who performs as My Brightest Diamond) donned a cheerleader uniform to tour with Sufjan Stevens, there’s been an approachable, yet otherworldly presence about her. Since her time with the Illinoisemakers, Worden has produced three albums of material—wrapping big ideas about life and death in a chamber-pop beauty. Her new album, All Things Will Unwind, follows suit. Under the Radar caught up with the songstress via e-mail to get her take on collaborations, going out on a limb, and what current artist is making the next generation dance.
Comic Book Reviews
Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes
First Second
Jun 07, 2013 Issue #45 - Winter 2013 - Phoenix
Matt Kindt's done it again. This original graphic novel from the writer/artist/designer is refreshing in a similar manner to some of his other works, such as 3 Story and Super Spy.
Book Reviews
Neil Young
Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream
Jan 03, 2013 Web Exclusive
Neil Young's autobiography, although written in somewhat unconventional form, is a fascination portrait of a master.
Video Game Reviews
Omerta: City of Gangsters: Xbox 360
KALYPSO MEDIA
Mar 26, 2013 Web Exclusive
Atlantic City, for the early half of the 20th century, was regarded as America's Playground. Before it devolved a slightly dirtier, East Coast version of Vegas, the City by the Sea was theplace for Americans from any walk of life to cut loose and enjoy some of life's little decadences.
News
Watch: Foals - “Bad Habit” Video [NSFW]
Jun 17, 2013
Teaming up once again with the daring visual director Nabil, Foals have premiered a music video for their new Holy Fire single "Bad Habit."
Interviews
Michael Shannon on Playing General Zod in Man of Steel and Loving Deerhoof
Jun 14, 2013 Web Exclusive
Michael Shannon's been acting since the early '90s: he cut his teeth in Chicago's theater community and showed up in a small scene in 1993's Groundhog Day, as the enthusiastic recipient of WrestleMania tickets as a wedding gift from Bill Murray's character Phil Connors.
Molly Green and James Leffler
Jun 17, 2013 Web Exclusive
There's a scene early in the romantic road-trip comedy, Forev, where Sophie (Noël Wells), an aspiring L.A. actress, invites herself into the apartment of her neighbor, Pete (Matt Mider), and plops down in the middle of the floor to ponder the status of her life. She's just returned from a humiliating audition for a hot dog commercial, coming on the heels of an even worse date night with a guy. The apartment scene stems from a time in which co-writer/co-director Molly Green was going through a rough period and would come over to co-writer/co-director James Leffler's place to do the same.
Pleased to meet you
Vondelpark
Jun 06, 2013 Web Exclusive
Seabed, the full-length debut from London-based trio Vondelpark, slickly melds dance grooves, sample-heavy guitar pop, and sweet R&B-influenced vocals for a sound that's remarkably difficult to place in any one genre or era.
Lists
Ranked: Radiohead
Jun 14, 2013
Welcome to Ranked, our recurring series in which one of our writers takes an artist's catalogue and ranks all of their official studio albums from most essential to least essential. The order is decided by the individual writer, rather than our editors. If you disagree with our ranking then please let us know in the comments section. This time Dan Lucas ranks Radiohead. And then at the end several of our other writers provide their own ranking of Radiohead's albums.
Galleries
The Governors Ball NYC Music Festival 2013
The Governors Ball NYC Music Festival 2013
- Sasquatch Festival 2013 Sasquatch 2013
- Make Music Pasadena 2013 Make Music Pasadena 2013
- Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings SXSW: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, March 14, 2013
- Crystal Castles Crystal Castles & Doldrums at The House of Blues in Houston. April 20, 2013.
- Wavves Wavves & FIDLAR at Fitzgeralds in Houston, Texas. April 18, 2013.
Live reviews
Coachella Day 3 Recap: Featuring DIIV, Jessie Ware, and Father John Misty
Apr 22, 2013
Mental haze threatening to become an impermeable fog, I took the quality over quantity approach to the final day of Coachella, and caught impressive sets from DIIV, Jessie Ware, and Father John Misty.
Blog
Self-Portrait: Jamie Lidell
May 30, 2013
When we asked Jamie Lidell to take a self-portrait, he provided several. We also asked him to write a list of personal things-interesting facts that perhaps Lidell's fans may not know about him. Earlier this year the British soul singer/songwriter/musician released his latest album, simply titled Jamie Lidell, on Warp. He's currently based in Nashville.
Cinema Reviews
Man of Steel
Jun 14, 2013 Web Exclusive
Let's cut to the chase. Is Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen), a good film? Yes. Does Henry Cavill fit the part of Superman? Yes. Is Man of Steel better than the Bryan Singer-directed Superman Returns from 2006? Yes. Is it on par with the Richard Donner-directed Superman starring Christopher Reeve? Not so much.
DVD Reviews
Les Misérables Blu-ray/DVD
Studio: Universal
May 17, 2013 Web Exclusive
Tom Hooper won an Academy Award for Best Director for his mind-numbingly average character study The King's Speech, the sort of film that was made for middle American parents traveling to megaplexes around holiday time. When it was announced that his follow up would be the long-awaited film adaptation of the beloved Broadway classic Les Misérables, it felt as though his terribly British sensibilities might be a good match for the built-in drama of the iconic musical. After all, generations of fans already know the story, characters, and songs, so adequately capturing the spirit of the show should be victory in itself. He accomplishes this, to an extent.
Television Reviews
Arrested Development (Season Four)
Netflix
Jun 07, 2013 Web Exclusive
Arrested Development has always been a show that rewards repeated viewings. Last week, the release of 15 all-new episodes kept that trend going—but instead of retreading familiar territory, the long-awaited new season is as original and clever as its debut was almost 10 years ago.


