You can’t find a female anywhere who hasn’t dreamed of being in her own band. Almost every girl I know wanted to be the singer or lead guitarist, and belt it out with a “who gives a shit” attitude. They would write songs about scumbag boys or that bitch in geometry class, and wow the crowd with the explosive energy and talent that few females have been able to master. Personally, I’d always fantasize about wearing fierce heels and fishnets, with crazy-ass rock girl hair, …

Probably because we don’t get a lot of crap records in the mail and we’re all understanding and willing to treat the music we listen to on its own terms, few albums here at the Modern Pea Pod headquarters have received negative reviews. Just check the archive: a lot of digital ink spilled over music that we, for the most part, really enjoy. The Trews’ sophomore album, Den of Thieves, is unfortunately one of those crap records we try to stay away from. It’s …

It’s all but unavoidable: The press for Witch’s self-titled debut will be dominated by references to J Mascis, the alt-rock living legend who lends both musical talents and an impressive head of hair to the band. And in a way, that isn’t so bad; most listeners of catholic tastes won’t find it too hard to see parallels between Witch’s monolithic hard rawk and the more plodding aspects of Mascis’ “other” gig, Dinosaur Jr. (“Sludgefeast,” anyone?). Indeed, the jet-fueled riffage and shrieking solos which lurch …

It might not seem like it – what with the 60-degree weather here in Michigan – but it’s getting to be that time of year again. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, etc. And although tradition at the Casa de Hoskins might decree Thanksgiving weekend as the “official” time to break out the Christmas music, I imagine that some braver souls out there in Gentile-land must already have Bing, Burl, etc. in semi-heavy rotation. But what about the rest of us – those who need a little melodic rawk in …

On August 5 of this year, Chuck D turned 45 years old. That’s only two years younger than my father…my father, whose favorite band is the Traveling Wilburys. And last I checked, that makes Chuck’s group, Public Enemy, older than I am. This, of course, brings up all the usual questions about relevance and staying power, questions which are perhaps even more potent when applied to a rap group who made their reputation as a thoroughly of-the-moment firebrand “CNN of the black community.” But listening to New Whirl Odor and …

Late Registration
Kanye West
(Roc-a-Fella)
Late Registration is not just any album. Like it or not, it’s one of those keynote releases that come along every year, accompanied by a buzz which simply cannot be denied; and when 2005 rolls to a close, you can bet your only copy of Speakerboxxx that it will be gracing “Best of the Year” lists left and right, even in publications which, frankly, don’t have much business writing about rap. I don’t know or even care who started the tidal wave of hype that’s been carrying Kanye …