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Lupe pulls off "The Cool"
By Anika Manzoor | Dec. 23, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Lupe Fiasco's critically acclaimed debut album "Food & Liquor" was a welcomed departure from the formulaic, crass music that dominates mainstream hip-hop. Set to experimental and fresh beats, every track was a lyrical painting of Lupe's insightful musings on life that forced fans and critics to have high expectations for Lupe's next musical venture. Indeed, "The Cool," his latest release, presents hip-hop in its purest, poetic nature, contradicting Nas and other cynics who claim the genre is dead.
Winter concert preview
By Julia Mazerov | Dec. 20, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Winter break is finally upon us! Whether you're in need of a fun night of dancing to burn off some holiday calories or anticipate the need for a crazy concert after tedious exam week, you've come to the right place! Silver Chips Online has compiled a list of concerts at venues around the D.C. metropolitan area. Buy your tickets today!
SCO Holiday Mixtape
By Maya Calabrese | Dec. 20, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Christmas trees are up, gingerbread houses are constructed and stockings are hung. The holidays are in full swing, which means its time to break from hardcore rock and rap and sing along to some holiday classics. But instead of listening to the radio and waiting for that perfect song to come on amongst the commercials, Silver Chips Online has compiled a playlist that will have you in the holiday spirit in no time.
The Swell Season delivers in America
By Kiera Zitelman | Nov. 30, 2007, midnight | In Music »
It's hard to disappoint an audience that already loves the artist even before they perform. But even with an adoring crowd, the Swell Season played an exceptional show of their emotional acoustic masterpieces at Lincoln Theater on Sunday, Nov. 18, in Washington, DC.
"As I Am" aspires and nearly reaches
By Kevin Teng | Nov. 19, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Without question, Alicia Keys is this generation's Whitney Houston. She has a powerful voice and has shown it, winning nine Grammys between her last two albums. Even though "As I Am," Keys' third album release, is much of an improvement over her previous releases, her voice is not yet perfect – the rhythmic patterns in her songs are not aggressive enough to accompany her powerful tone.
Jay-Z is the one and only "American Gangster"
By Nitin Sukumar | Nov. 12, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has brought Hollywood directly to rap's front door. Over and done with building albums on his "girls, girls, girls," Jay adopts the role of a reminiscing drug dealer from the '70s with a laid back demeanor in "American Gangster."
Superman that "ho"-mecoming
By Johanna Gretschel | Oct. 22, 2007, midnight | In Music »
For all the kids who thought the "1-2 Step" was two steps too long, for everyone whose "Chicken Noodle Soup" never had a soda on the side, for anyone who has not mastered a dance since the "Macarena," there is still salvation. Silver Chips Online is here to help with a comprehensive written and pictorial guide to the latest dance craze − "Crank That (Soulja Boy)." With only a week left until homecoming, it's time for "YOUUUU" to start practicing your moves and picking up your own "Soulja Boy" or "Soulja Girl."
State Radio rocks the 9:30 club
By Jenny Williams | Oct. 10, 2007, midnight | In Music »
The upper deck of the 9:30 club is jam packed while the lower half is just as crowded, filled with die-hard fans. The neon purple lights start to shine and the crowd begins to jump, knowing that in a matter of seconds, State Radio will fill the stage with their infectious blend of rock, punk and reggae beats. State Radio cured the crowd of their anticipation on Oct. 6 with a full-throttle performance, completing every one of their fans' fantasies.
Brad Paisley's "Bonfires and Amplifiers" tour lights up Virginia
By Kate Harter, Elsi Wu | Oct. 10, 2007, midnight | In Music »
The area's country buffs found it "a good night/to be out there soakin' up the moonlight," on Saturday when Brad Paisley and his entourage hit the Nissan Pavilion stage for a sold-out show of more than 20,000 fans. On the road for his latest album "5th Gear," Paisley serenaded fans with a mix of his latest chart-toppers and celebrated classics.
Sounds like bliss
By Sophie Schwadron | Sept. 25, 2007, midnight | In Music »
What a difference a few months can make. At an Annapolis show last May, Eric Hutchinson was playing to a half-filled room whose patrons seemed more interested in their Tavern burger than the talent on stage. Sunday night, the singer/songwriter was the unmistakable center of attention at his sold out show at Jammin' Java in Vienna.
'90s bands playing their way into the millennium
By Jenny Williams | Sept. 24, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Oh the '90s – the decade of the boy and girl band. The Backstreet Boys, N'SYNC, Hanson, 98 Degrees, the Spice Girls and LFO all had their heyday but seemingly vanished shortly after the new millennium began. Justin Timberlake and Nick Lachey left N'SYNC and 98 Degrees in the dust of their respective solo careers. Backstreet was no longer back, Hanson didn't have anywhere to go after their one hit single "MMMBop," fell off the charts and LFO went downhill after their first CD. The Spice Girls, once in a league of their own, faltered after the departure of fiery red-head Ginger. Now, seven years into the new millennium, many of these bands are attempting a comeback in the harsh music industry.
Murphys "Dropkick" Baltimore
By Courtney Burtraw | Sept. 23, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Famous for their rowdy St. Patty's Day weekend shows in Boston, the Dropkick Murphys played before a sold-out crowd last Monday as a part of their "Halfway to St. Patty's Day" tour. Formed in 1996, they immediately caught the public eye for their unusual blend of Celtic traditional sounds, including mandolin and bagpipes, with hard-core punk rock. Touring now behind their most recent album, "The Meanest of Times," in stores Sept. 17, the Dropkicks performed Monday at the Rams Head Live in Baltimore to an extremely enthusiastic crowd response.
Hip-hop hits the battlefield
By Jenny Williams, Julia Mazerov | Sept. 14, 2007, midnight | In Music »
When two of today's greatest rap moguls have the same release date for much-hyped albums, peace can't exactly be expected in the music industry. Superstars Kanye West and 50 Cent, both of whom had new albums released on Sept. 11, are locked in a showdown of album sales. This summer, 50 Cent, whose CD "Curtis" features the hit "Ayo Technology," announced that if his album sold less than West's release "Graduate," he'd retire as a solo artist. So who will win? Let the sales decide...
Talib Kweli overcomes a "struggle"
By Julia Mazerov | May 11, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Shuffling and chatter were audible inside Cole Field House at the University of Maryland on Thurs., April 19. The audience was scarce, a mere scatter of faces amidst a sea of empty seats. Yet that didn't stop Talib Kweli from stirring up a current of energy inside the echoing auditorium. Sending his meaningful rhymes reverberating through the airwaves, Kweli promoted his adage of black power in a top-notch, "quality" performance.
The Killers knock 'em dead
By Josie Callahan | April 27, 2007, midnight | In Music »
The lights dim in the Patriot Center and a montage of grainy black and white images-a ram, Miss America, Las Vegas, and the American West-shine on an enormous screen that masks the stage. As the screen lifts, red, white and blue confetti rains down on the audience below. Then come the pounding bass, soaring synthesizer and idiosyncratic vocals. It can only be The Killers.
Same old musiq
By Betsir Zemen | April 24, 2007, midnight | In Music »
With his first album in over three years, Musiq Soulchild is back with Luvanmusiq. As if it would make him a better artist, Music made a few changes, like adding "soulchild" to his name and transferring from Def Jam Soul to Atlantic records, but no changes were grand enough to improve his music. His storytelling lyrics and laid-back beats in "Luvanmusiq" maintain the one-dimensional theme of love he is known for, but if that's up your alley, then please, read on.
Spring and summer concert preview
By Julia Mazerov | April 22, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Now that SAT, SAT II, ACT, and AP exam preparation is in full swing, you may need a night out on the town to recharge your batteries. Or, you may want to check out a concert in celebration of all your hard work after it's over. Either way, local concerts provide a great getaway in the last few months of spring and the entire summer.
Shamrock and roll
By Alexis Egan | March 16, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Word is that the Irish know how to party. DC's Shamrock Festival, self proclaimed as the largest St. Patty's festival in DC, featured music, games and more last Saturday in celebration of the Emerald Isle's most famous saint. And boy, did they get their party on.
The (slightly old) kids are alright
By Bridget Egan | March 12, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Even the most dedicated fan of British rock band The Who might be slightly hesitant upon hearing about their 2006-2007 tour 30 years after the band's prime; after all two members are dead and the remaining two are three times as old as they were when "My Generation" became famous. But, remaining members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend's recent performance at the Verizon Center proves that The Who isn't popular exclusively with the baby-boomer generation, but rather with every generation since.
"West Coast Winter Tour" paints D.C. dark blue
By Julia Mazerov, Elsi Wu | March 6, 2007, midnight | In Music »
The comeback kid of the alternative music scene, Andrew McMahon (formerly of Something Corporate), is striking out on his own. Releasing a solo album under the stage name Jack's Mannequin, McMahon's self-invented genre of "piano rock" is captivating audiences and selling out venues nationwide with the rocker's latest "West Coast Winter Tour." McMahon tore it up at the 9:30 Club in a two-night stint on Feb. 25 and 26, making it plain that while he may be sans Something Corporate, he sure isn't lacking in talent.
Sexy's been brought
By Madeline Raskulinecz | Feb. 20, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Justin Timberlake in the round. 360 full degrees of Justin Timberlake. Can it get any better? For more than 25,000 screaming girls (and a few reluctant boyfriends), it most certainly cannot.
"Infinity" has its highs and lows
By Julia Mazerov | Feb. 13, 2007, midnight | In Music »
Their lyrics aren't poignant, make little sense, and often contain less content than their song titles. But there is something so catchy about Fall Out Boy's pop-punk ballads that allow this Chicago native band to cling to the "guilty pleasure" category for many listeners. Their latest installment, "Infinity on High," released on Feb. 6, is choc' full of witty titles and nonsensical stanzas. Fortunately, what lead bassist/lyricist Peter Wentz lacks in lyrical genius, he makes up for with spectacular instrumental collaborations with lead guitarist Jon Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley. Lead singer Patrick Stump's smooth and booming vocals complete this soulful sundae with a cherry on top.
They're red hot
By Courtney Burtraw, Madeline Raskulinecz | Jan. 30, 2007, midnight | In Music »
The moment when guitarist John Frusciante giddily held up bloody fingers coming off a five-minute improvised duet, it was clear that even as they near their 25th year together, the Red Hot Chili Peppers still know how to rock.
Time to "Start Wearing Purple"
By Courtney Burtraw | Dec. 22, 2006, midnight | In Music »
Gogol Bordello, a "Gypsy punk" band out of New York City's Lower East Side, rocked the 9:30 Club in a sold out show Tuesday night. With Eugene Hütz as frontman (you know him as Alex, the interpreter from "Everything is Illuminated"), Gogol Bordello is comprised mostly of Eastern European immigrants, and their music borrows heavily from Gypsy sound, mixed with The Pogues-esque punk with The Clash overtones.
"Escape" while you can from Stefani's latest
By Johanna Gretschel | Dec. 18, 2006, midnight | In Music »
Once upon a time, Gwen Stefani was one cool chick. She was blue-haired sometimes, fearless all the time and sang girl-power anthems while fronting as the only female in third-wave ska band No Doubt. However, upon reaching "senior citizen" status as a 30-something, Stefani felt compelled to record "Love.Angel.Music.Baby.," throwing her rock cred out the window in favor of synth-heavy Madonna-wannabe singles tailor-made for repeat on 99.5 FM. Released Dec. 15, Stefani's sophomore solo album, "The Sweet Escape," is recorded in a similar vein to "L.A.M.B.," failing to introduce anything new and causing listeners to feel nostalgic for the good old "Tragic Kingdom," No Doubt's 1995 breakthrough hit album.
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