Status Quo pictures from Artist Direct

"Four on the Floor (Bonus Tracks)" by Juliette & the Licks

Despite the sort of relentless touring that would earn most upstart bands their credibility stripes, Juliette Lewis still garners skepticism due to her "actress-turned-rocker" status. That criticism rings fairly hollow, though. Four on the Floor, like its predecessor (her debut), points to Lewis being the genuine article. While she's clearly not going to be reinventing the wheel, Lewis and her band pump out smartly simple retro-garage rockers that aim for the groin, lodge in the head, and sound great with a beer. Lewis is aided by non-Lick Dave Grohl, who bashes away on the drumset with reliable glee. An especially accessible early stretch on the album—featuring "Sticky Honey" and "Purgatory Blues," among others—gets waylaid by the ragged "Death of a Whore," one of several speed bumps that strain for a rawness the band and the vocals can't quite muster. On record, the Licks also suffer from the lack of Lewis' considerable panache as a performer, which

Published: 2007-08-17 Provider: Artist Direct

Kate Nash Brings Black Kids On Tour

The unsigned status of Black Kids—and their lack of an actual album—hasn't kept the band from landing on two hype-raking tours in the UK. First up (after some one-off shows and a handful of free Vice Live dates from January 29 through February 1): a

Published: 2008-01-14 Provider: Artist Direct

Broken Social Scene Heads Overseas

The supposed hiatus of Broken Social Scene's collective status is already over. According to Pitchfork, the band's announced a two-week tour of New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and

Published: 2008-01-09 Provider: Artist Direct