Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

One of the more interesting elements of rock music and its multifaceted genres is the way in which different styles go in and out of style. When they’re out of style, they percolate more or less quietly, never really going away, and at some point make what for want of a better word a “comeback.” Metal has done this any number of times; rap, despite…

Supreme Balloon by Matmos is a very impressive record, not only because of its challenging premise but the music is modest and thoughtful. Unlike the bands previous releases, which provide the standard dance beat electronic listeners crave, Supreme Balloon strays from conceptual responsibility. Internationally based synth-bands such as Air and Krafterwerk wouldn’t dare attempt the Supreme Balloon challenge: record an album entirely composed of synthesizers…

It is amazing how contemporary CRAYONS sounds without pandering to the sound du jour. It could have been released thirty years ago, and sounds like it was released just yesterday. And Summer carries the whole thing. No featured artists (except for a restrained star turn by Ziggy Marley on the title track), and no cluttered arrangements designed to hide the singers weaknesses (primarily because they…