zBoneman.com -- Home Music Reviews
2008 Music Reviews
2007 Music Reviews
2006 Music Reviews
2005 Music Reviews
2004 Music Reviews
2003 Music Reviews
2002 Music Reviews
2001 Music Reviews
2000 Music Reviews
1999 Music Reviews
1998 Music Reviews
zBoneman on Rotten Tomatoes
"Weightlifting" by Trashcan Sinatras

"Weightlifting" by Trashcan Sinatras

Who could have predicted that eight years since their last release, and 11 years (!) since their last domestic release, Scotland's long lost sons, Trashcan Sinatras would come out of virtually nowhere and offer up one of the prettiest records of the year? No one should have - that's for sure. Partic... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Stealing of a Nation" by Radio 4

"Stealing of a Nation" by Radio 4

There's been a lot of griping recently about Radio 4's newest release Stealing Of A Nation. Everything from the DFA's edgier production on 2002's Gotham! being replaced by Max Heyes fascination for retro drum machines, to Radio 4's dance punk upbringings almost being completely erased with an 80's i... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Decadence" by Head Automatica

"Decadence" by Head Automatica

Head Automatica is one of those bands that play with The Revolution and The Time in the Prince movie Purple Rain. Actually this is a side project of Daryl Palumbo, lead vocalizer in Glassjaw, and Dan "The Automator" Nakamura. You know Nakamura from Handsome Boy Modeling School, Doctor Octagon, and D... [More]

Written By: Tyson Cantrell
"A Boot and a Shoe" by Sam Phillips

"A Boot and a Shoe" by Sam Phillips

Sam Phillips and I have been in love for nearly 18 years now. In 1988 she released her debut The Indescribable Wow, which couldn't have been a more apt title. The album was produced by her husband T. Bone Burnett and was just a lush, hopelessly poppy affair that was equal parts Beatles, Bangles and... [More]

Written By: Kevin Jones
"Kyle England's Top 50" by Best of 2004 -So Far

"Kyle England's Top 50" by Best of 2004 -So Far

 1. Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South  2. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose 3. Cee-Lo - is the Soul Machine  4. Phantom Planet - Phantom Planet 5. Madvillain - Madvilliany  6. Bjork - Medulla  7. The Killers - Hot Fuss  8. The Walkmen - Bows & Arrows  9. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans  10. Fr... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2" by Jill Sc...

"Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2" by Jill Scott

It's been four long years since Jill Scott came out of nowhere and shocked the R&B world with her brilliant debut album Who Is Jill Scott? But since then the question has virtually turned into where the HELL is Jill Scott? In 2001 she released the ultimately forgettable live album Experience: Jill S... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" by Tears For Fears

"Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" by Tears For Fears

Tears For Fears has long been a favorite band of mine, and before I get on with this review, I just want to thank Mr. England for stepping aside and letting me take a crack at this one. He too is a big fan, and I got the idea that I will be slightly more favorable in this review than he would ha... [More]

Written By: Adam Mast
"Radical Connector" by Mouse On Mars

"Radical Connector" by Mouse On Mars

For the last 10 years or so, German electronic artists Mouse On Mars have defied the conventions of labeling. Since their 1994 debut Vulvaland, Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner have morphed their sound with every release and have always stayed one step ahead of the techno pack. Their follow up albums, I... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"Up In Them Guts" by Planes Mistaken For Stars

"Up In Them Guts" by Planes Mistaken For Stars

Planes Mistaken for Stars is one of those bands right on the border of really hard and past the point of grisly. Gared O'Donnell sings like he is choking on a chicken bone or is trying to sing while brushing his teeth with a belt sander. It's like a high pitched yell, or a low pitched scream. Up... [More]

Written By: Tyson Cantrell
"Don't Cut Your Cloth To This Year's Fashion" by Action...

"Don't Cut Your Cloth To This Year's Fashion" by Action Action

A few nights ago a lonely tweaker in my neighborhood decided he needed a fix, and fast damn it! After a few moments of prowling around the block, the crackhead eyed my fuel-efficient early nineties Asian sedan and swooped. Unfortunately, though it looks like my driver's side door is locked, the d... [More]

Written By: Tyson Cantrell
"Living Things" by Matthew Sweet

"Living Things" by Matthew Sweet

Matthew Sweet is one of those artists who have been around for a long time and enjoyed occasional commercial success, with his jangly alt/pop sound. The ebbs and flows of his career and his distinctive yet undeniably Beatlesque approach reminds me in kind of a generalized way to Neil Finn's Crowded... [More]

Written By: Kevin Jones
"Folker" by Paul Westerberg

"Folker" by Paul Westerberg

Paul Westerberg has become so prolific as of late, that it's as if he and Steve Earle are coming to the end of a long marathon and they've both called upon some superhuman second-wind for a strong kick to the finish line. It seems like only yesterday that I was writing about the virtues of Come Feel... [More]

Written By: Kevin Jones
"The Libertines" by The Libertines

"The Libertines" by The Libertines

If you've followed the insane antics of The Libertines for the past year, I'm sure you're as shocked as myself that they actually had any time whatsoever to make a follow-up to 2002's shambling but brilliant debut Up The Bracket. If you weren't previously aware, co-frontman Pete Doherty has had some... [More]

Written By: Kyle England
"The Artist and the Ambulance" by Thrice

"The Artist and the Ambulance" by Thrice

WOW! This album is absolutely amazing! For those of you who are looking for a CD with lyrics that tug your emotions and is also great to listen to when you're pissed off, Thrice is the band for you. They might be lumped in a category with all those other emo and pop-punk bands, but trust me, you'... [More]

Written By: Doug Radunich
"Rubber Factory" by Black Keys

"Rubber Factory" by Black Keys

Wow, here's something that doesn't happen every day: within the space of three or four concentrated listens, I've gone from finding the Black Keys new Rubber Factory competent blooze rock revivalism (something that, in its truest form is already rare enough these days) to being almost certain that t... [More]

Written By: Jeff Hubbard