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

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.

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.  

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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.

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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.

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Galleries

The Governors Ball NYC Music Festival 2013
The Governors Ball NYC Music Festival 2013


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Live reviews

Coachella Day 3 Recap: Featuring DIIV, Jessie Ware, and Father John Misty

Apr 22, 2013 By Laura Studarus

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.

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Blog

Self-Portrait: Jamie Lidell

May 30, 2013 By Jamie Lidell

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.

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Current Issue

Issue #46

Jun 14, 2013 Issue #46 - June/July 2013 - Charli XCX

Media





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.