Articles by Rob Bolton

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  Umbrellas

  Illuminare

  PUBLISHED Aug 1, 2006

  Primarily the brainchild of Scott Windsor, this sophomore release from Oklahoma’s Umbrellas proves that beautiful pop music can come from j...

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  Submarines

  Declare a New State

  PUBLISHED Jul 1, 2006

  There are plenty of break-up albums out there, but for the duo of John Dragonetti (aka Jack Drag) and Blake Hazard, their debut as the Subm...

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  Mojave 3

  Puzzles like You

  PUBLISHED Jul 1, 2006

  Having now made five albums with Mojave 3 (and three in a former life as Slowdive), Neil Halstead has definitely settled into his skin as o...

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  Pet Shop Boys

  Fundamental

  PUBLISHED Jun 1, 2006

  The good thing about a new album from the Pet Shop Boys is that you generally know what you’re in for, and it’s usually good — barring a fe...

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  Erasure

  Union Street

  PUBLISHED Jun 1, 2006

  Along with Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop Boys, Erasure are one of those rare electronic pop bands whose careers launched in the ’80s, yet m...

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  Innocence Mission

  Birds of My Neighborhood

  PUBLISHED Jun 1, 2006

  After enjoying some moderate success in the early ’90s, Lancaster, PA’s Innocence Mission were left to their own indie devices after major...

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  303s

  Lines of Parallel Minds

  PUBLISHED May 1, 2006

  Right out of the gate, the 303s’ debut album sounds like another attempt to flog the electroclash scene, with its shout-y monotone vocals a...

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  Charlatans

  Simpatico

  PUBLISHED May 1, 2006

  You’ve got to hand it to the Charlatans — most Manchester bands from the late ’80s/early ’90s heyday of the "Madchester” scene seem content...