THE ITHACAN

Experimental sonic tones amplify through decade

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • February 16, 2011

The Swedish masterminds behind The Radio Dept. may not be the best known, but they are certainly one of the most original and refreshing acts to experiment with sonic structures of the past decade. The group recently released “Passive Aggressive: Singles 2002-2010,” a two-disc compilation of its studio singles.

Indie band strays off beat

By Rachael Lewis-Krisky, Contributing Writer • February 10, 2011

Cake’s sixth studio release, “Showroom of Compassion,” is surprisingly safe for what fans expect of this innovative band.

Third album leaves fans nostalgic for former sound

By Allie Healy, Contributing Writer • February 10, 2011

Loyal fans of Cold War Kids will find themselves disappointed with the band’s third album release, “Mine is Yours.”

Drums amp up soft sound

By Allie Healy, Contributing Writer • February 2, 2011

Blossoming from elegant acoustics to a full-bodied sound, Iron & Wine’s fourth studio album, “Kiss Each Other Clean,” is a robust twist on its usual, sweet-sounding folk style.

Eerie electronic textures showcase dance rock band

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • February 2, 2011

Post-punk revivalist band White Lies has been hailed as the group on the rise since its debut album release, “To Lose Your Life,” back in 2009. The Brits’ ability to craft haunting melodies with uplifting themes landed them at No. 1 on the UK charts, and now they’re back for round two with “Ritual.”

New style softens sound

By Alex Ash, Staff Writer • January 27, 2011

The Decemberists are known for their dramatic ballads and largely complex progressive-rock songs, but the band’s newest release, “The King Is Dead,” goes in a simpler direction.

Album’s raw punk energy puts band at rock forefront

By Jared Dionne, Staff Writer • January 27, 2011

Chances are, garage-punk outfit Cage the Elephant didn’t know just how big it would get after writing its first album lyric, “We ain’t got the tunes that’s gonna put us on the map.” The now-established band returns with “Thank You, Happy Birthday,” an album that exudes musical power and sheer dominance.

Soulful CD soothes fans

By Cady Lang, Staff Writer • December 8, 2010

Norah Jones’ latest release, “…Featuring Norah Jones” is exactly what the name denotes: a compilation of 18 collaborations with musical artists from 2001-10.

Album of unreleased songs proves artist still ‘The Boss’

By Lauren Mateer, Staff Writer • December 8, 2010

Bruce Springsteen’s “The Promise” is a compilation of songs recorded during the sessions that produced 1978’s, “Darkness at the Edge of Town.”

Ke$ha’s emotions fuel CD

By Drew Kellog, Contributing Writer • December 1, 2010

Ke$ha’s sophomore album, the LP “Cannibal,” manages to mix her usual heart-thumping dance beats with heart-breaking ballads.

Kanye reveals ‘dark’ world with iconic hip-hop album

By Richard Paek, Contributing Writer • December 1, 2010

Masterfully orchestrated, intently verbose and emotionally charged, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is a dense and complex mixture of the lyrical musings of a rhyme maestro unsure of his place in the world. More than any artist now, Kanye West goes above and beyond the norm and creates one of the most fascinating albums to…

CD breaks bars with beats

By Megan Devlin, Staff Writer • November 18, 2010

While Lil Wayne’s prison-break album, “I Am Not a Human Being,” does not offer as much lyrical originality as previous ones, gone are the days of the artist’s signature use of onomatopoeia in songs like “Lollipop” and “Mrs. Officer.”