Album Reviews
Nada Surf
The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy
Jan 27, 2012 Issue #39 - Best of 2011
In the midst of everything, a heart-in-mouth Matthew Caws proclaims “it’s never too late for teenaged dreams!” This comes on the sixth track of Nada Surf’s seventh studio album, which marks the band’s entry into a third decade of existence (they formed in 1992).
Classic Interviews
Koop
Oct 01, 2007 Web Exclusive
The Swedish duo of Oscar Simonsson and Magnus Zingmark, professionally known as Koop, have done a great job of adapting—and in the process, owning—music from parts of the world other than where they hail from.
Comic Book Reviews
Justice League #3
DC
Nov 22, 2011 Web Exclusive
After an alright debut issue and an action-packed second installment, Justice League takes one step forward and two steps back as a marquee series this month. The cast of characters are almost assembled and Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams hit their story and art beats with precision most of the time.
Book Reviews
Debbie Nathan
Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case
Jan 16, 2012 Web Exclusive
Sybil Exposed is a fascinating examination of the truth behind the subject of the 1973 bestseller Sybil and the "multiple personality" case that revolutionized the psychotherapy industry and the study of psychology.
Video Game Reviews
Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim (Android)
HeroCraft Ltd
Aug 12, 2011 #37 – St. Vincent
The purest measure of any game on a phone or tablet is addictiveness, and Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim ends up somewhere right around crack.
News
Composer Steve Reich to Perform Piece Inspired By Radiohead
Jan 27, 2012
The Guardian reports that pioneering minimalist composer Steve Reich will be premiere a new work at London's Southbank Centre based on two Radiohead songs.
Interviews
2011 Artist Survey: Carter Tanton
Jan 27, 2012
For Under the Radar’s 9th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2011. Here’s a survey from Carter Tanton.
Pleased to meet you
Body Language
Jan 26, 2012 Web Exclusive
Body Language’s squiggly, headphone-worthy electro-soul feels very... 2011-ish. Social Studies, the band’s excellent EP (with its sugary synth pads and smooth percussion), may harken back to the glistening, disco-lite pop of the early ’80s, but the songs seem linked genetically to this decade, if for no other reason than the music press’s fascination with genre trends.
Lists
Under the Radar’s Top 50 TV Shows of 2011
Dec 22, 2011
Each of Under the Radar's writers submitted a list of their Top 20 favorite TV shows of 2011. Those lists were all combined and tallied up to form Under the Radar's master Top 50 TV shows of 2011. The list will also appear in Under the Radar's forthcoming Best of 2011 Issue.
Favorites from last year’s list, Mad Men and Eastbound & Down didn’t show new episodes in 2011—thus were ineligible in this year’s vote. However, favorites Modern Family, 30 Rock, and Community hung on—joined by such newcomers as American Horror Story, Game of Thrones, New Girl, and Suburgatory. Basically, any show that aired new episodes in America sometime in 2011 was eligible. Check out our final rankings below.
Blog
From the Road Part 4: White Sea’s Morgan Kibby on Tour with M83
Jan 27, 2012
Poland. Berlin. Amsterdam. Paris. London. Home stretch. NYC admittedly took every ounce of anything out of me, and after sleeping for a scant two hours on Thanksgiving, we piled into the van and headed to JFK.
Cinema Reviews
In the Land of Blood and Honey
Dec 24, 2011 Web Exclusive
It's not that the amateurish directing is at fault in Angelina Jolie's debut as a writer/director: it borders on competent. But her atrocious script and misguided approach to the subject matter render In the Land of Blood and Honey odious.
DVD Reviews
Some Girls Live In Texas 1978 Blu-ray/DVD
Studio: Eagle Vision
Jan 20, 2012 Web Exclusive
Live in Texas 1978 is a wonderful complement to the recent deluxe reissue of Some Girls, finding the Stones stripped down to its essential elements in a concert that featured seven songs from that album. Don't be fooled by the disco song. This is rock and roll at its most vital.
Television Reviews
I Hate My Teenage Daughter
(Fox, Wednesdays 9:30/8:30 Central)
Nov 30, 2011
This mid-season sitcom is executive produced by the same individuals who created Seinfeld and Friends, plus it stars Emmy Award winner Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl) and Tony Award winner Katie Finneran (Wonderfalls).