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UPDATED: Jan. 24, 2012
Tracing the path of Neil Young's 'Helpless'
In VOICES: Nick Tavares takes a look at Neil Young's "Helpless," and how the song has remained a constant in Young's rollercoaster career and the writer's own life. STORY
THE BEST OF 2011
The Black Keys, once again, own the year with 'El Camino'
The Black Keys, again, topped Nick Tavares' list for the best of 2011, but there was more to the year than the Akron duo, including amazing debuts, great releases from veteran artists and an epic film score.
STORY
REVIEWS
The Black Keys conquer genres, again, on 'El Camino'
The Black Keys, retro to the full tilt, never seem to stop recording or redefining their sound. All the while, they nail every genre along the way, and the results are thrilling.
STORY
Noel Gallagher flies high on his own
Free from Oasis, Noel Gallagher followed his vision in full on his first solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, and the results are excellent. Nick Tavares explains.
STORY
The curiosity of 'Lulu'
On paper, the combination of Lou Reed, as eclectic an artist as rock as seen, and Metallica, thrash metal icons, was intriguing. But the results are really just baffling.
STORY
Tom Waits at his morbid, bizarre best on 'Bad as Me'
Tom Waits is as brilliantly unpredicatble as ever on Bad as Me, a new LP that contains as twisted, funny and blaring a take on losing everything in war as you'll ever hear.
STORY
Ryan Adams writes another beautifully sad chapter
With a sound reminiscent of his great early records, Ryan Adams returns with Ashes & Fire, 11 new songs that serve his reputation and heartbreaking muse well.
STORY
The Grateful Dead whip up a worthy successor to 'Europe '72'
Following up on a classic 40 years later, the Grateful Dead hit the road again on Europe '72, Vol. 2, offering a rewarding companion to a longtime fan favorite.
STORY
Wild Flag debuts with greatness
Combining raw grit and fantastic songwriting, Wild Flag crafts an amazing, roaring debut that immediately assumes its place as one of the best records of the year.
STORY
Wilco resumes the search for sound on 'The Whole Love'
While Wilco has delivered solid, steady records in the past five years, the reach and scope of their latest, The Whole Love, is a beacon to their experimental best.
STORY
Cameron Crowe delivers the ultimate Pearl Jam mix tape
The soundtrack companion to Cameron Crowe's documentary, Pearl Jam Twenty plays like a gift to the fans, the compilation so many have tried to make in their bedrooms over the past 20 years.
STORY
VOICES
Ticket stub memories: sorted, filed and treasured
An early Christmas present gave Nick Tavares the opportunity to gather, sort and relive more than a decade of concerts, through his scattered ticket stubs.
STORY
Revisiting the mechanical world of cassettes
What began as an experiment in the wake of a dead iPod turned into a love rekindled with a gloriously imperfect format and a dusty, outdated music player.
STORY
The perfect couple are no more?
The news that Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon were separating hit Nick Tavares hard, and not only because the band might break up.
STORY
Pearl Jam's 'Olé' another sign of descent
Pearl Jam's latest song, the throwaway "Olé," is not a good sign for an aging band. Do the Rolling Stones hint at Pearl Jam's ultimate direction? Nick Tavares thinks so.
STORY
Random Notes: Live sides and revamped classics
There are plenty of live memories and regrets when Matt Berry lets his iTunes do the walking in another edition of our running Random Notes feature.
STORY
CONCERT REPORTS
Ryan Adams works his magic in a rough setting
Ryan Adams, stripped down to his voice and a guitar, was in fantastic voice in Boston's Orpheum Theatre. Unfortunately, so was the crowd, according to Nick Tavares.
STORY
Robert Plant hosts a Boston hootenanny
Robert Plant has avoided committing to a Led Zeppelin reunion for years. One glimpse of him on stage these days with his Band of Joy, and it's obvious why.
STORY
Say goodnight to the bad guys
The Black Crowes are winding across the country one more time before going back on hiatus, and Nick Tavares took the time to say goodbye in Boston and Waterbury, Conn.
STORY
In the moment, Pearl Jam thrives
For Nick Tavares, mixed emotions led up to Pearl Jam's show in Hartford, Conn. But the enthusiasm was there early, and one song pulled the entire night into perspective.
STORY