Mar 01, 2010 10:52AM

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night

Artist: The Besnard Lakes Review: At its website, Montreal's Breakglass Studios — run by Besnard Lakes bandleader Jace Lasek — trumpets its custom 1969 Neve mixing board, used by Led Zeppelin on Physical Graffiti. The same piece of equipment was used on "Albatross," a standout on the Lakes' immersive second LP, a magnificently oceanic meld of Beach Boys harmonies, My Bloody Valentine tidal waves and Phil Spector girl-group siren songs shot through with soaring guitar. It's a producer's wet dream, like most of the... Rating: 3.5 Stars

Mar 01, 2010 10:48AM

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil's Tattoo

Artist: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Review: Five studio albums in, California psych-garage trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are still religious zealots — worshippers in rock's Gothic cathedral. The song titles tell the tale: "Bad Blood," "War Machine," "River Styx." In "Aya," singer-guitarist Peter Hayes moans, "She's a reckless lover/With blood-stained hands/Around the neck of her helpless man." There was a time, circa 2001, when Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were supposed to inherit the Earth, or at least the mantle of Rock's Great... Rating: 3 Stars

Mar 01, 2010 10:47AM

Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead

Artist: Serj Tankian Review: System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian's 2007 solo debut, Elect the Dead, was a harmless brain-dump, but the idea of recording it live with an orchestra is another story. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra gamely chase Tankian into a maze of art-song, but where SoD might turn lyrics like "prophets all destroying the Tao" into an apocalyptic blitz, surging symphonics expose it as the doofy pomp it is. And asking classical musicians to play a song called "Beethoven's Cunt"? That's just mean. Rating: 1.5 Stars

Mar 01, 2010 10:38AM

Jimi Hendrix - Valleys Of Neptune

Artist: Jimi Hendrix Review: Some grousing from fans greets most posthumous Jimi Hendrix studio releases. And fair enough: Hendrix can't offer his opinion anymore, and between past dubious product (i.e., the heavily overdubbed Crash Landing) and ongoing estate squabbles, there's been plenty of sketchy business over the years. But on Valleys of Neptune — a collection of more-or-less previously unreleased tracks recorded with the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1969, assembled by the archivists at Legacy and the Hendrix... Rating: 3.5 Stars

Feb 16, 2010 09:38AM

Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Artist: Broken Bells Review: Part Kanye West, part Brian Eno, producer-musician Brian Burton — a.k.a. Danger Mouse — has defined himself with his excellent taste in brilliant misfits. His biggest smash was Gnarls Barkley, with whom he turned oddball former Dirty South rapper Cee-Lo into a falsetto swinging soulman on the sublime "Crazy," triggering moving karaoke performances worldwide. He's helped blues-rock freaks the Black Keys find their groove; helped midcareer weirdo Beck locate his mojo on 2008's Modern... Rating: 4 Stars

Mar 09, 2010 02:30PM

On latest guitar game, players strum real strings (AP)

AP - An upcoming musical video game lets players strum a real six-string electric guitar instead of tapping buttons on a fake instrument.

Mar 09, 2010 06:39AM

Sony Signs Major HD Deals for PlayStation Network (PC Magazine)

PC Magazine - In the ongoing battle for content, Sony said Tuesday that it had locked in the five top studios to supply HD content to the PlayStation Network.

Mar 09, 2010 06:35AM

Bigpoint to unveil platform for MMO games on Mac, iPhone (Macworld.com)

Macworld.com - Perhaps you’ve seen that recent Microsoft demo where a game could save and load progress from Xbox 360, Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7 Series devices. My first thought upon seeing that was “So, why doesn’t Microsoft have something that can do that on Xbox and PC right now?” My second thought was “Boy, wouldn’t it be nice if there was something like that for the iPhone and Mac OS X?” It turns out that I wasn’t alone.

Mar 09, 2010 01:50AM

WiMax Hitches a Ride on 1000 Taxis in Taipei (PC World)

PC World - People in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei will on Tuesday be able to surf the Internet, watch Web TV, play online games and more in 1000 taxis that have been equipped with Mobile WiMax wireless broadband service.

Aug 29, 2009 12:18PM

YooStar entertainment system

DVD Reviews: Yoostar aims to be the 'Guitar Hero' of the film world

Feb 05, 2009 09:54AM

Open Season 2

DVD Reviews: Boog is back but not so Martin Lawrence, who voiced the domesticated bear in "Open Season" (Mike Epps takes his place). Same goes his antler-challenged companion Elliot, who's no less spastic with "Talk Soup's" Joel McHale subbing in for Ashton Kutcher.

Feb 02, 2009 01:33PM

Magnificent Obsession

DVD Reviews: Criterion has long harbored a weakness for helmer Douglas Sirk, and this two-disc release of his 1954 version of "Magnificent Obsession" furthers the love affair. But though this issue offers ample bonuses, including director John Stahl's 1935 version of the film, not all the extras live up to Criterion's generally impeccable standards.

Jan 27, 2009 02:05PM

Mary Poppins

DVD Reviews: The 45th anniversary of "Mary Poppins" returns as a two-disc DVD edition and remains the exact same collection as the 40th anniversary package Disney put together four years earlier, save for one new wrinkle: An hourlong-plus set of extras about the Disney on Broadway production.

Jan 26, 2009 04:33PM

The Express

DVD Reviews: The extras on the DVD offer a bit more insight into Ernie Davis' real-life struggles and accomplishments, but not nearly enough to make it a must buy.