Music

Long stuck in the shadow of the metal titans Queens of the Stone Age, the Eagles of Death Metal have so primed their swaggering, rock 'n' roll engine that no one will mistake them for a hot-rod side project again. Their recent concert in Madison, Wis., demonstrates their groove-oriented tunes can shake hips as well as preconceptions.

The introspective, bearded singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne has already attracted a dedicated audience despite a pronounced onstage shyness. In a recent concert in Madison, Wis., this support seemed to nudge him closer and closer to revealing the folk-rock soul man aching to get out.

With a new album hitting stores, New York art-rock combo TV on the Radio is presented with the unenviable task of wowing fans as they did with their much-praised, post-9/11 masterwork, "Return To Cookie Mountain." But for the follow-up, the band skews heady expectations and instead throws a New Wave dance party.

As a performer, singer Neko Case is an intoxicating presence to be seen as well as heard. On Friday night's concert in Madison, Wis., the country-rock songbird with the golden pipes mesmerized the audience whether it was with old favorites or the unfamiliar brand-new songs.

Free at last from the hits-only brainwashing of longtime producer Bob Rock, Metallica has recorded a new album that takes the metal icons back to the days when they were the reigning kings of high-octane thrash. So does this mean that they've rediscovered themselves? Or are they simply impersonating themselves?

The Roots and the Black Keys spearheaded an eclectic slate of underground acts at the SoCo Music Experience, a free-admission festival on Saturday in Madison, Wis. Despite the event's birth as elaborate marketing ploy, the show exceeded expectations, attracting sonic connoisseurs and offering a lesson in musical appreciation.

Perhaps acting under the deluded belief that some of their fans have been hanging tough through their two-decade absence, '80s boy band New Kids on the Block has reunited and cut a new album of mature, loverman-type songs. Find out if these former teen idols still have the right stuff to win them back.

Spurned by his former patrons, gangsta rapper the Game has carved out a musical niche that isn't aligned with Dr. Dre's West Coast or 50 Cent's East Coast dominions. Unfortunately, this style, as exemplified on his new album, is little more than a star-sponsored imitation celebrating gangsta-rap's golden age.

"Changes are no good" is something that the Stills sang about on their debut album, but the Canadian indie-rockers learned the lesson the hard way when their "difficult" second disc took a nosedive upon release. The band's brand new record resurrects their old sound to win back the disillusioned rock hipsters.

Already secure in his place as the imaginative, whiny voice of the emo generation, Bright Eyes' frontman Conor Oberst has embarked on a solo career that leaves behind much of what we've come to expect from him. His new, self-titled album dumps overwrought songwriting confessionals for the sweet and simple sounds of country-rock.

For all the jokiness inherent in the Melvins' music, many might think fate has played the ultimate joke on the hardcore/metal pioneers. After all, 20 years is a long time to follow an artistic vision with meager results. But the group proved on Sunday night's concert in Madison, Wis., that being eclipsed by Nirvana and other grunge grandmasters hasn't tamed their sonic firepower or their sense of humor.

If you ever wish your favorite rock gods would just rawk out like they used to, the Hold Steady aims to satisfy. The Brooklyn, N.Y., quintet is an indie-rock sensation by championing and recreating the big, dumb sounds of the '70s and '80s. Their new album is more of the same.

With their latest disc, alt-rockers Weezer try to lay claim once again to their legend as masters of power-pop hooks. Unfortunately, the new songs show a weakening vision of how to marry their high-art aspirations and dreams of stardom.

Odd men out in the hip-hop game because of their reliance on live instruments, the Roots have proved why their musical approach why they are such adept and potent performers. But they're not perfect. David reviews Thursday night's show in Minneapolis.

David gives his two cents on the solo efforts from pianist Ben Folds and Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval.

The Flaming Lips are in the catbird seat. They've won a Grammy, toured with Beck and have literally crowd-surfed while inside a giant plastic bubble at rock festivals around the world. But can their new album keep the band's winning streak alive?

For their debut album, New York rock quartet Interpol created a Joy Division-inspired songwriting template that rivaled the music of their mentors. Five years later, the band continues to rely on the same mold for its new album, but its latest reproductions no longer live up to its exhilaratingly gloomy predecessors.

After spending more than a year focused on his side band, White Stripes mastermind Jack White is back in red and white and ready to throttle listeners with his first love's new spin on blues-rock. The group's latest, however, isn't exactly the knockout blow that we've come to expect.

It seems that the easy success of California heavy rock group the Queens of the Stone Age has been carefully mapped out by their creative kingpin, Josh Homme. But the group's new album, "Era Vulgaris," signals that they might be losing their way on a side route.

Ten years after shocking his way into the pop scene, Marilyn Manson is still somehow a pre-eminent figure in music despite the number of times his career appeared to die a horrible death. His new album, "Eat Me, Drink Me," thanks to a musical partnership, is bringing him back from the dead yet again.