THE ITHACAN

Emotional fourth album builds haunting melodies

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • April 6, 2011

With The White Stripes calling it quits as of February, a sizeable void now exists in the garage rock scene. Enter The Kills, an established team consisting of Brit James Hince and American Alison Mosshart. The duo’s brand of grunge blues-rock has what it takes to make it to the top, and their fourth studio…

Rebels rock electric beats

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • March 30, 2011

It’s time to roll out the welcome mats: The Strokes are back. After a five-year hiatus, the leather-clad collective returns with “Angles.”

Britney makes comeback with lofty new wave sound

By Benjii Maust, Contributing Writer • March 30, 2011

After the lackluster quality of “Blackout” and the failed attempt at 2008’s “Circus” comeback, Britney Spears’ latest release, “Femme Fatale,” meets expectations of a dance-pop album, especially with the new electronic craze pervading the Top 40 chart.

Odd sound redefines band

By Alexandra Palombo, Senior Writer • March 23, 2011

It’s disjointed, synthesized and strangely beautiful. With “The King of Limbs,” Radiohead returns to its rightful alternative rock throne on a wave of experimental sounds.

Alternative rock originator showcases crisper vocals

By Lucy Walker, Staff Writer • March 23, 2011

After launching 15 records in less than two decades, R.E.M. has gone three years without releasing a new album. But the band returns to the stage with its most recent, “Collapse Into Now.”

Soon-to-be-famous group wins hearts with raw lyrics

By Jared Dionne, Staff writer • March 10, 2011

When someone mentions New Zealand, many people don’t really think of rock bands. But, all this could change with The Naked and Famous, a young, up-and-coming group hailing from the island nation. Their new album, “Passive Me, Aggressive You,” offers something for everyone and hits United States stores March 15.

Immature album falls flat

By Benjii Maust, Contributing Writer • March 10, 2011

“Goodbye Lullaby,” a collection of frothy and weepy mid-tempo indie numbers, strives to be a singer-songwriter opus, with rocker Avril Lavigne penning eight of the 14 tracks.

Carefree beats lift sound

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • March 2, 2011

Massachusetts wonder kids Dom have been together for less than a year, but that doesn’t stop the band from proceeding to rock out like veterans. Its recently released EP, “Sun Bronzed Greek Gods,” glows with new talent and promise.

Soulful songstress displays full range of heartbreak

By Lara Bonner, Chief Proofreader • March 2, 2011

Though she speaks with a sassy Tottenham accent, when Adele begins to sing, her voice is powerful, controlled and stunning. But that doesn’t mean she loses her spunk.

Indie band reworks sound

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • February 23, 2011

Young Galaxy is a promising band on the forefront of a burgeoning Canadian indie rock movement. The trio’s transcendental brand of dream pop and rock brings a fresh perspective on musical styling to the industry. In its third album, “Shapeshifting,” the band swaps out the prominent guitars in its first two albums for drum machines…

Lead singer leaves group with homage to folk rock

By Alex Ash, Contributing Writer • February 23, 2011

Last year, Bright Eyes’ lead singer Conor Oberst was touring the West Coast and recording music as Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. But now he returns one last time under his original moniker, Bright Eyes, to produce the final album with the band before launching his solo project. Oberst wanted his last record…

Band revives disco inferno

By Alex Ash, Contributing Writer • February 16, 2011

Dan Bejar, the lead singer of the Canadian band Destroyer, takes listeners back in time through the compositional use of disco, jazz and ’70s soft-rock instrumentals.