Boston Globe -- Sarah Rodman columns

The Pixies party like it’s 1989

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-28T05:31:10Z

The full album concert concept that has become so popular in the past few years is on one level a gimmick to help juice catalog sales and draw out those less inclined to see a group they’ve already spent time and money on. But with a record as exhilarating and irresistible as “Doolittle,’’ it’s easy to understand the desire for ...

Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-24T01:16:45Z

Adam Lambert was commended for knowing who he was while competing on “American Idol.’’ The eighth-season runner-up might want to let his handlers in on it. From his provocative performance on the “American Music Awards’’ Sunday night to the album-by-committee feel of his debut, his musical identity isn’t completely clear.

Susan Boyle: I Dreamed a Dream

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-24T01:11:28Z

Along with Adam Lambert of “American Idol,’’ Susan Boyle was 2009’s most famous second-place finisher. Now that the people who couldn’t seem to get their heads around the idea that a middle-age woman who didn’t fit the current standards of beauty could actually have a pretty singing voice have recovered from feeding their YouTube jones, what does Boyle do? She ...

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2009-11-24T01:11:28Z

He keeps on chooglin’

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-24T01:07:47Z

The sound and fury of Rihanna

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-19T17:25:43Z

“Rated R’’ is not just an album title - it’s a warning. On her fourth release, out today, pop star Rihanna unleashes a storm, and an umbrella is not going to cut it.

Mayer gets intimate in ‘Battle Studies’

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-16T19:25:56Z

Heartbreak can be a songwriter’s best friend, and judging by the detailed and exquisite sadness radiating off of “Battle Studies,’’ John Mayer has clearly been getting acquainted.

After a seven-year break, Cranberries still sound fresh

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-16T19:24:44Z

When a band takes a lengthy break, the return can be creaky, emphasizing what may be dated about its sound.

A folk/bluegrass super . . . lineup

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-12T17:42:52Z

Whatever you do, don’t call WPA a supergroup. “It really makes my skin crawl. I’m in a band with a guy who was in a supergroup,’’ says Heartbreakers’ keyboardist Benmont Tench, referring to the Traveling Wilburys, the ’80s outfit his boss, Tom Petty, moonlighted in with guys named Orbison, Harrison, Lynne, and Dylan. “We’re a bunch of people who are ...

Sound off

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-12T17:24:20Z

A few weeks back Barbra Streisand pulled a slight upset when she bested Mariah Carey for the No. 1 slot on the Billboard album charts. Streisand had several things working for her, including an appearance on “Oprah’’ and core fans in a demographic that still buy records. Since Carey hadn’t scored a major hit - a strong album driver - ...

Spirited Thomas keeps it smooth in satisfying performance

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-11T03:25:16Z

Rob Thomas is a believer. Monday night at the Citi Wang Theatre the once and future Matchbox Twenty frontman exhorted the packed house to surrender to the moment and to the power of music and community in a spirited two-hour performance. It’s partially that sincerity that has elevated a likable average guy like Thomas to pop stardom.

Daltrey gives the Who their due

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-10T03:29:14Z

That Roger Daltrey is calling his current solo outing the “Use It Or Lose It’’ tour - in reference to his voice - naturally invites concern over whether he’s lost it.

The heart of the matter

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-09T22:30:47Z

The last time we saw Don Henley he was holding down the beat for the Eagles, as the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers hit the road with their first album in over 25 years, 2007’s multiplatinum “Long Road Out of Eden.’’ The singer-songwriter was back in the area last weekend attending a board meeting at Walden Woods in Concord ...

Lovett and his band stir the congregation

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-09T02:34:38Z

Lyle Lovett closed his splendid sold-out show at the Orpheum Theatre Friday night with the raucous country gospel outburst “Church.’’ But the long, tall Texan’s entire 2 1/2-hour performance felt like the best kind of soul-stirring church service, full of joy, solemnity, reverence, and contemplation.

Their persistence and pluck pay off

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-07T17:46:49Z

“That sounds pretty good, actually.’’ The words rang in my head and made me a little shakier than I was already feeling. Nils Lofgren was saying that my attempt at a rudimentary chord was tolerable.

Lofgren keeps it fun and simple

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-07T17:46:42Z

In the early ’90s, E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren participated in a “rock and roll fantasy camp’’ sponsored by VH1 and discovered he really enjoyed teaching. Since he often finds himself on the road, Lofgren decided he would start offering lessons the new-fashioned way, via the Internet. For $20 a pop, wannabe ax masters can download Lofgren’s lessons, which ...

McKnight steps out

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-07T02:10:05Z

Brian McKnight is happy to lend a helping hand to the 22d edition of the “Steppin’ Out’’ benefit show tonight, noting he hasn’t been to Boston for a while.

iPod shuffle

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-05T18:53:57Z

He was battling a respiratory infection and had literally just finished a show, but that didn’t stop Train frontman Pat Monahan from phoning in from Minneapolis last week at 1 a.m. to share the contents of his iPod. The group behind pop radio anthems like “Drops of Jupiter’’ and “Calling All Angels’’ just released its fifth album, “Save Me, San ...

32 minutes of affable hip-hop

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-11-03T03:07:18Z

After the initial shock wore off, it was hard to decide whether brevity was a virtue or an embarrassment when it came to the Sean Kingston show at Natick High School on Sunday.

Still very much in season

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-31T16:50:01Z

He may be the second most famous singer named Frank to come out of New Jersey, but even Sinatra couldn’t boast of a successful Broadway musical based on his life story.

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2009-10-31T16:50:01Z

Keeping the fire burning

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-29T16:30:53Z

When Sean Kingston takes the stage at Healy Auditorium at Natick High School on Sunday, the feeling will be familiar.

Guster, 10 years after

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-26T21:09:49Z

Ten years ago three guys who formed a pop-rock band at Tufts University released their major label debut album, “Lost and Gone Forever.’’ This Saturday night Guster parties like it’s 1999 - and joins a growing trend - when it celebrates the album’s anniversary by playing it in its entirety at a sold-out Orpheum Theatre. Drummer Brian Rosenworcel, on the ...

A colorful night of Gray

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-26T02:28:46Z

David Gray picked the right city to kick off the tour for his latest album, “Draw the Line.’’

Critic's picks - pop music

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-24T16:55:58Z

FIVE FOR FIGHTING Billed as “an acoustic evening,’’ the show with FFF principal John Ondrasik will likely feature tunes from the new album “Slice’’ as well as older, sensitive piano pop faves like “Superman (It’s Not Easy)’’ and “100 Years.’’ 8 p.m. Oct. 26. $25. Paradise. 877-598-8689. www.livenation.com

Cartoon band shows real metal

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-24T16:55:55Z

Death metal doesn’t come any more fatal or metallic than Dethklok. As a unit, vocalist Nathan Explosion, guitarists Skwisgaar Skwigelf and Toki Wartooth, bassist William Murderface, and drummer Pickles are interested only in brutality and speed. The music is so assaultive that fans are required to sign pain waivers before entering the quintet’s performances. Besides the skull-crushing greatness of the ...

The love hasn’t gone

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-22T16:46:07Z

David Foster gets by with a little help from his friends. And by “gets by’’ we mean has made a fortune. The 15-time Grammy-winning composer-producer’s friends over the years have included Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Michael Bublé, to name a handful of hundreds. The Canadian multi-instrumentalist has played with all four Beatles and starred on questionable ...

His turn in the spotlight

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-19T23:38:14Z

David Foster gets by with a little help from his friends. And by “gets by’’ we mean has made a fortune. The 15-time Grammy-winning composer-producer’s friends over the years have included Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Michael Buble, to name a handful of hundreds. The Canadian multi-instrumentalist has played with all four Beatles and starred on questionable ...

Critic's picks - pop music

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-17T17:16:53Z

POP MUSIC AVETT BROTHERS The purveyors of one of the finest albums of the year, the shaking, quaking, heartbreaking rootsy rocker “I and Love and You,’’ bring their rip-roaring live show to bear on the new tunes. Simpatico rocker Nicole Atkins handles warmup duties. 8 p.m. Oct. 18. $25-$35. House of Blues. 800-745-3000. www.ticketmaster.com

Another awesome moment

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-17T17:16:49Z

Josh Farro, lead guitarist and songwriter for the band Paramore, swears he has not started making a voodoo doll of Barbra Streisand.

Sound Off

Sarah Rodman — 2009-10-15T19:44:02Z

It’s a demo and it sounds like a demo. And that rough-hewn charm may be what makes the “new’’ single “This Is It,’’ the latest strand in the web of posthumous Michael Jackson products so interesting. (After its unveiling this week, it came to light that Jackson originally co-wrote the song with Paul Anka more than 25 years ago under ...

Lenny Kravitz’s iPod shuffle

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-15T19:42:52Z

Lenny Kravitz plays Wednesday at the Orpheum Theatre, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album, “Let Love Rule.’’ His iPod was also clearly in a nostalgic mood when we caught up with the New York native in the midst of a run of hometown shows, as a ton of ’70s gems popped up. A very chipper Kravitz marveled at ...

Vultures supergroup gets into a jam

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-12T20:46:48Z

Led Zeppelin may not be embarking on a reunion tour, but it’s not because John Paul Jones isn’t ready.

At home in her own space

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-10T16:55:05Z

Colbie Caillat went from MySpace to everybody’s space in record time when her frothy 2007 hit “Bubbly’’ dominated the airwaves and propelled her debut album, “Coco,’’ to multiplatinum success. The 24-year-old singer was prodded into learning guitar and songwriting by her producer/sound engineer father, Ken, who worked on mega-albums like Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors.’’ Now he’s one of her producers and ...

Sound off

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-08T16:26:26Z

What do you get when you coop up an eclectic group of musicians - including members of Radiohead, Wilco, Crowded House, the Smiths, and KT Tunstall - for three weeks over the Christmas holiday on the New Zealand coast? You get “The Sun Came Out,’’ a terrific benefit album of all original material featuring the above rock critic dream team ...

Pop with staying power

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-05T22:03:42Z

Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Britan Littrell, and A.J. McLean - a.k.a. the Backstreet Boys - release their seventh album, “This Is Us,’’ today. Filled with dance floor and bubble pop confections courtesy of hitmakers like RedOne, T-Pain, and old Swedish friend Max Martin, it’s the boy band’s best effort since its boffo ’90s heyday. On the eve of the album ...

Not the same old song and dance

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-03T16:52:37Z

DUXBURY - Being in a band for nearly 40 years is not something you plan, says Joe Perry.

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2009-10-03T16:52:37Z

Self-indulging, Pink is at top of her form

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-03T06:31:10Z

During her raucous and spectacle-laden, carnival-themed performance last night at the TD Garden, Pink danced in front of a series of funhouse mirrors. While the reflections may have made the pixie-cute, steel-toed tough pop star look drawn out or squeezed small, that was certainly never the reality of the nearly two-hour performance.

Making music on her own terms

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-01T21:06:22Z

Meshell Ndegeocello lets out a low chuckle when asked if she's worried her fans might think she's been hitting the bottle based on some of the boozy characters on her new album, "Devil's Halo."

What pops up when you put someone's music on random

Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff — 2009-10-01T17:05:38Z

Howard Jones is playing four shows at the intimate Scullers jazz club next Wednesday and Thursday, but don’t expect the pioneering electro-popster to scale it back or bust out the Coltrane. On the phone from England, the ’80s hitmaker jokes that his trio will be playing all of his famous tunes - like “No One Is to Blame’’ and “What ...