Decades come and go, generations pass and fade, yet some artists seem reluctant to leave. The Pet Shop Boys marched through the 80s with a series of chart toppers, especially in the UK. “West End Girls”, “Suburbia”, “It’s A Sin” and the as-slick-as-80s-production-can-be cover of “Always On My Mind” all hit a chord and many a key in all of our lives. There was even time for collaboration with Dusty Springfield for “What Have... more ›

Primal Scream - Riot City Blues (Columbia): The Primals seem to have found a time machine. This disc sounds more like a follow-up to 1994's Stones-rock Give Out But Don't Give Up rather than anything they've done in the decade since. The electronics and experimentation from Vanishing Point on are all gone, replaced by throwaway lyrics like "Gotta keep on keepin' on," Rod Stewarty 'Maggie May'-style mandolins, and blues shuffles that place them firmly in Dadrock territory. While there's no doubt that the noisy sample-heavy phase of the Primals had run its course, it's hard to see this album as anything but a placeholder or (worse) a retreat. It sounds like it could've been made in a week, and while the songs are mostly fun, there's a lot of filler. Our advice: Primals fans should head for iTunes to grab 'Country Girl', 'Dolls', 'When The Bomb Drops' and 'Hell's Comin' Down' for four bucks, and let the rest of this one be. more ›

FRIDAY [16] [music] The Streets with Lady Sovereign at La Zona Rosa (link) [film] Raiders of the Lost Ark at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) (link) [film] Sinus Show: Showgirls at Alamo Downtown (7pm & 10pm, $12.50) (link) [film] Rolling Roadshow: Curious George at Bushy Creek (8pm, Free) (link) [books] Kinky Friedman presents Cowboy Logic: The Wit and Wisdom of Kinky Friedman (and Some of His Friends) at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Yuppie Pricks Beach Party with... more ›

Tomorrow night, The Streets take to the stage at La Zona Rosa. Mike Skinner's third album, The Hardest Way to Make An Easy Living, has drawn many favorable reviews ("twice as good as any album about the price of celebrity has a right to be" -- Guardian UK). Be sure to arrive in time to check out opener Lady Sovereign, easily one of the most entertaining acts we caught at SXSW. If you haven't... more ›

You can throw a rock this month and hit a good touring show in Austin. After our usual post-SXSW doldrums, everyone seems to be scheduling Austin as an early summer stop. Check out new additions like Pete Yorn, M. Ward, Reverend Horton Heat, and indie-blogger favorite Human Television in the listings below: June: 6/02 The Roots + Blackalicious (Stubb’s) 6/03 Film School + Margot & The Nuclear So-And-Sos (Emo’s) 6/07 Arctic Monkeys + We... more ›

When The Streets' third album, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, came out last month, Austinist sponsored a listening party with the We Explode! kids at Beauty Bar. By now, most of you've probably had a chance to check out the new record by the feisty UK rapper; The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (VICE) follows up the adorably adroit Mike Skinner's hugely successful first two albums, Original Pirate Material and... more ›

With new shows on sale from Sonic Youth, INXS, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Rancid, it seems to be college radio nostalgia week for the concert update. There are also a nice batch of new indie shows, including Tapes 'n' Tapes for Pitchfork fans, Dios Malos for the mellow types, The Futureheads for the edgy punky stuff, and even Tilly and the Wall for you tap dancers. On with the shows: May: 5/10 -... more ›

Tomorrow night over at the Beauty Bar, Austinist has teamed up with our friends over at Car Stereo (Wars) and Learning Secrets to bring you the official Listening Party for the new record by superstar UK rapper The Streets. The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (VICE) follows up the adorably adroit Mike Skinner's hugely successful first two albums, Original Pirate Material and A Grand Don't Come for Free, both which shocked us with their disarmingly honest glimpses into the rather mundane life of a gritty, "street-level" Londoner. more ›

Last week, we posted a major concert update for May and June. If you missed it, just click the Expand-O-Tron for the recap. You're welcome. This week has already brought a flurry of updates including two new shows at The Backyard. Here they are (Austinist looks out): 5/28 - Eagles Of Death Metal @ The Parish Room 6/03 - Film School + Margot & The Nuclear So-And-Sos @ Emo's 6/10 - Radio 4 +... more ›

Über-hipster magazine, VICE, has a surprisingly large presence at this years music convention. Their party schedule features Bloc Party, Death From Above, and the creators of [adult swim]'s Aqua Teen Hunger Force. more ›