By Casey Newton Wilco’s 8th record, The Whole Love, came out in September, and was greeted with hosannahs by rock critics yearning for a return to form. “Powerful, mind-reeling stuff, if you have the heart for it,” said Rolling Stone. “Wilco’s most sonically adventurous work since 2004’s A Ghost Is Born,” offered Entertainment Weekly. Pitchfork, in … Read more
By Casey Newton Just after nightfall at the Outside Lands festival, the Shins took the stage for their first tour in years. The band’s most recent album, Wincing the Night Away, was released in January 2007; they last toured in 2009. They picked up their instruments and launched into “Caring is Creepy.” “It’s a luscious … Read more
By Casey Newton of Crumbler Fifteen years ago, “You Oughta Know” turned Alanis Morissette into a pop icon. She couldn’t get away from it fast enough. Why? As a girl who aspires to be famous, your basic path to riches has been clear since the days of Frankie and Annette. Start out on a children’s … Read more