For the better part of the last decade, many Lucinda Williams fans have wondered whether her decision to ditch her native South for Los Angeles and eventually get married was adversely impacting her creative output. While records like West and Little Honey were by no means bad, they suggested... More >>

A devout message of Jesus Christ and love aren't the first things that come to mind when listening to Christian progressive death metal band Becoming the Archetype. The Atlanta natives have released four albums under Seattle's own Solid State Records—the metal and hardcore sublabel of... More >>

Say what you will about her troubled past and bad hair extensions, but thirteen years into her career, Britney Spears is still capable of making good decisions. Witness Femme Fatale, Spears’ seventh studio album—it’s both her most solid and most adventurous collection of material... More >>

To say that the new Helms Alee record, Weatherhead, is an exhausting listen is the ultimate compliment one could pay to it. Soldering together the divergent worlds of the dreamy and the screamy, Weatherhead is full of charged calls to battle floating beside moody, melodic lulls. Guitarist (and... More >>

As we know from the global financial meltdown, bad real estate deals will always be the cause of man's undoing. And Frank's, too. He's the cartoon creation of Jim Woodring, whose Congress of the Animals (Fantagraphics, $19.99) has the poor white-gloved feline fellow lose his house, rebuild one... More >>

Portland singer-songwriter Anya Marina has spent time on the stage, in the studio and behind a mic. The actress-turned-DJ-turned-musician has had several singles featured in television shows and movies, such as Grey's Anatomy and New Moon, and her new full-length album is scheduled to be out... More >>

In trying economic times, it may be hard to justify spending your hard-earned cash get boozed out of your brain. Supporting the very worthwhile Vera Project, Drink for the Kids, a citywide fundraiser which donates a portion of the proceeds of participating establishments' liquor sales, is the... More >>

In almost any extensive discussion surrounding iconic Canadian band Rush, the subject of their purported lack of female fans arises. It would be a welcome change for myself and all the other “Limelight”-loving ladies if this myth could be dissolved once and for all. Just because Geddy... More >>

Relatively fresh on the scene, first glimpses of neo-soul songstress Shaprece came by way of appearances backing local hip-hop frontrunners like Mad Rad, Fresh Espresso and State of the Artist. But the refinement and matter-of-fact beauty of her vocals belies the fact that her first recording... More >>

Arguably emerging as the leaders of Seattle hip-hop's next generation, Brothers From Another stay true to the Town's organic, laid-back vibe—and get respect for it, evidenced by contributions from veterans Vitamin D and The Physics' Justo to the duo's most recent release, Two Weeks... More >>

Earlier this year, Black Whales’ frontman Alex Robert told me that, for their forthcoming full-length, the band was leaving behind the easy pop sounds heard on their 2009 EP, Origins, and instead heading in a more complex, psychedelic direction. That album, Shangri-La Indeed, is now... More >>

Not just an idle exercise in passive patriotism, The Family Fourth at Lake Union is now very much a community event. Since Ivar Haglund and (last year) WaMu/JP Morgan Chase withdrew from sponsoring the annual shindig, it's been crowd-sourced, if you will. Accordingly, the official website... More >>

Clam chowder’s as American as apple pie, making the iconic Ivar’s Salmon House an ideal place for an Independence Day dinner. Situated on North Lake Union, it offers a picture-perfect view of the 10 p.m. fireworks show. And you've got two outdoor dining/viewing options, both featuring... More >>

Good luck making dinner reservations at a fancy waterfront restaurant on the Fourth of July if you haven’t already—you’re gonna need 'em. At Daniel’s Broiler, the tables overlooking Lake Union were all booked weeks ago. But you can save face if you already declined your... More >>

In the gutsy 1946 noir Gilda, the sultry title character (Rita Hayworth), just married to a casino's sinister owner, meets up with her old flame, Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford), now her husband's best friend. Two hours of plot twists later, they end up in each others' arms. But before that, Gilda... More >>

It’s taken a while, but word about the electrifying live show delivered by Minneapolis trio the Blind Shake is finally spreading, and with the release of their new album, Seriousness, they are now in possession of the ideal calling card. Caustic, angular post-punk act doesn’t get much... More >>

Back in 1996, Doug Pray’s raucous, lively grunge documentary Hype! won the Golden Space Needle Award at SIFF. Fifteen years later, we can appreciate that moment as a pinnacle in Seattle music history. Many of the local bands portrayed—Nirvana, Soundgarden, The Gits, 7 Year... More >>

Anyone who's seen Clint Berquist's Seattle Komedy Dokumentary could be forgiven for thinking that: (a) Seattle's comedy scene peaked five years ago, and (b) that peak really wasn't all that high. Yet if the subject of that documentary, the local comedy troupe People's Republic of Komedy, ever... More >>

Seattle Center is in upheaval. The Sonics have gone to Oklahoma, KeyArena is struggling to find new events to fill the revenue gap, Memorial Stadium is crumbling, the Fun Forest will soon close, and the ongoing Century 21 makeover plan is gonna take a whole lot of money to implement. But in... More >>

Do you love beer and dogs? Of course you do! Man’s best friend wanders freely in this watering hole, one of the few remaining liquor-free taverns in the city. No booze means Beveridge Place doesn’t have to serve food, which means your dog can hang out while you and your friends sample... More >>

Wind Cradle looks like six giant blades of grass, or the magnified cartoon facial hairs of a razor commercial. The thrill of the piece is seeing something so small and delicate rendered as a monument in stainless steel. But indestructible as it looks, fashion has conspired against Wind Cradle.... More >>

Years have passed, and the downtown library designed by Rem Koolhaas has agreeably woven itself into the urban fabric. You may not like the ramps or shelving or noise inside, but tourists love to photograph the glassy, faceted exterior, and most architectural critics agree on its modernist... More >>

When the little park designed by Murase Associates opened at the corner of Queen Anne and Roy, I was not impressed. The unloved, gravel-covered site had previously been scraped of its gas station (with pollution still beneath) and sat on a highly trafficked and confusing intersection (yes,... More >>

There is art to be found in Kent. And if you don’t believe me, you can Google map it. Installed in an old gravel pit in 1979, Untitled (Johnson Pit #30) is a fine example of bulldozer art (also called “earth art” during that decade). Robert Morris graded a series of concentric... More >>

If you thought Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar is only fit for high-school stages, think again. And go again. This production is spectacular, but with a scheduling twist. Because its two stars, Michael K. Lee and Aaron Finley, are alternating between Jesus and... More >>