Category: Artists

b. Aaliyah Dana Haughton, 16 January 1979, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA, d. 25 August 2001, Marsh Harbour, Abaco Island, Bahamas, West Indies. Although she grew up in Detroit, Michigan, Aaliyah pronounced Ah-Lee-Yah (“highest, most exalted one” in Swahili), initially came to attention as part of the “new jill swing’ movement in the […]

One of the most genuinely talented groups to emerge from the UK music scene in recent years, a1 is geared up with the musical goods to break big in 2002. In an era of prefabricated manufactured pop music, a1 is the real thing: four talented young men–Ben Adams (vocals, keyboards), Christian Ingebrigtsen (guitar, vocals, bass), […]

I’m the first to swing/Home run with that ‘Gimme What You Got’ thing. “Batter Up” As the unofficial leader of the platinum-plus selling unit St. Lunatics (which includes the 9x platinum solo rapper Nelly), ALI is somewhat of a soothsayer. In the mid-90’s the St. Louis native conceived the group, pulled the group together and […]

Artist: Louise Goffin Title: Sometimes A Circle Label: Dreamworks Rating: 8/10 Louise Goffin has one hell of a pedigree. Her mom is the world-renowned Carole King and her father, Gerry Goffin, co-wrote many of her hits. Sometimes A Circle comes out with a lot to live up to. After a few listens Sometimes A Circle […]

Artist: Montell Jordan Title: Montell Jordan Label: Def Soul Rating: 5/10 Montell Jordan opens with a montage called “MJ V Intro” a pledge to God with a few drops of rhyme that fall far below. On “MJ’s Anthem” Montell gives himself props about doing it for seven years and giving the world five albums. He […]

Abandoned Pools may well be the ideal way to describe Tommy Walter’s escape from a seemingly idyllic upbringing in the affluent L.A. community of Westlake Village. He might have “ruined his life,” to paraphrase one of his song titles, but Walter has most definitely spurned a predestined future of the perfect family, a manicured backyard, […]

It’s 4:20 somewhere. Or at least that’s the way AFROMAN sees the world through his green tinted shades. If you took a musical bong hit concocted out of equal parts Biz Markie, Cypress Hill, Beck, Beastie Boys, and James Brown, the ensuing head rush might be comparable to AFROMAN’s unique sound. His Universal debut, The […]

Much of the music industry is anticipating that 14 year old Brooke Allison’s forthcoming recording will be one of the hottest releases of 2001. Her debut, slated for release May of 2001, is garnering attention from music executives, as well as many of the country’s most prominent radio program directors for whom she has already […]

Caught in the snow after the so-called Nor’easter, Oleander bassist Doug Eldridge called me and we discussed all things Oleander, including the new album, life on the road, and being a dad. You got caught. Yeah, in the (sarcasm) Nor’easter of the decade. (laughs) But I’m glad we took our time coming into the city […]

Aerosmith was one of the most popular hard-rock bands of the ’70s, setting the style and sound of hard rock and heavy metal for the next two decades with their raunchy, bluesy swagger. The Boston-based quintet found the middle ground between the menace of the Rolling Stones and the campy, sleazy flamboyance of the New […]