Kirill Makarenko
Former Assistant Leisure Editor
Critical Voices: Dierks Bentley, Home
Amid Dierks Bentley’s newest tracks, the country star’s daughter makes an unexpected yet heartwarming appearance on his latest album, Home. Taken from a voicemail left by his three-year-old daughter for her touring father, the clip features her singing a verse of “Thinking of You” along with an acoustic guitar. Well known for his party songs, Bentley’s inclusion of his daughter in this album points to a turn toward family life in the artist’s career.
By Kirill Makarenko February 9, 2012
Critical Voices: Lana Del Rey, Born to Die
While Lana Del Rey has been incessantly assaulted by a hailstorm of criticism since the release of her single “Video Games,” most of the insults have had little to do with the quality of the rising pop star’s music. Despite being accurately described as spoiled, contrived, and dead inside—or perhaps as a direct result of these qualities—Del Rey has released an album that is far more refined than her debut LP, A.K.A. Lizzy Grant, and more enjoyable than her critics are willing to admit.
By Kirill Makarenko February 2, 2012
Critical Voices: Emotional Traffic, Tim McGraw
After a 19-year relationship, Tim McGraw and Curb Records are finally parting ways. The record label recently lost its bitter two-year legal battle with the country star, leaving Emotional Traffic the last McGraw album it will release. Unfortunately, the LP falls slightly short of the success that most fans expected.
By Kirill Makarenko January 26, 2012
Critial Voices: Trey Songz, Inevitable
When Trey Songz rocketed to mass popularity in 2010 with hit singles “Say Aah” and “Bottoms Up,” he set a high standard for his music. With the internet buzzing with speculation about Chapter 5, his upcoming 2012 studio album, the five-track EP Inevitable provides a clear preview of Songz’s newest work. Unfortunately, Inevitable without question misses the high mark of his 2010 singles, and what remains is a steaming pile of rap that leaves former fans praying that the inevitable transformation of the EP into Chapter 5 never comes.
By Kirill Makarenko December 1, 2011
Critical Voices: Lou Reed and Metallica, Lulu
On the first of November of the 2,011th anniversary of the alleged birth of Christ, Lou Reed and Metallica, henceforth malevolently referred to as Loutallica, released the collaborative double album Lulu, proudly proclaiming that, in no uncertain terms, “Rock is dead. We killed it.” Though this unholy union did not shout this proclamation from the rooftops, the 87 minutes of pure rubbish do all the talking (literally—most of the album is spoken word). All puns aside, Lulu is by far the worst album in rock history.
By Kirill Makarenko November 3, 2011
Critical Voices: M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
When Anthony Gonzalez, also known as M83, promised to release an album that he described as “very, very, very epic” earlier this year, he was setting the bar especially high. After all, critics had used the term to describe all five of M83’s previous albums’ glorious electro dream pop. But Gonzalez manages to deliver on his promise, making Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming the best M83 album to date, and a huge one at that, clocking in at 22 tracks on two separate discs.
By Kirill Makarenko October 19, 2011
M Street Treats
Save room for your stomach this weekend: it’s that time of the year again. The 18th annual Taste of Georgetown kicks off this Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
By Kirill Makarenko October 13, 2011
What’s with this waffle?
Anyone hoping for a classic American waffle floating in sweet syrup and topped with a glistening pat of butter will leave Wicked Waffle disappointed. “No Butter, No Syrup” reads the tag line for the new restaurant near Farragut Square. Instead, Wicked Waffle claims to represent centuries of European culinary tradition with its waffle sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts—an ironic assertion, considering the shop is designed for the busy American on the go.
By Kirill Makarenko October 6, 2011
Critical Voices: Rodney Atkins, Take a Back Road
Since his debut album Honesty in 2003, Rodney Atkins has been steadily gaining popularity, with several of his singles topping the Billboard Country charts. Like many country singers coming out of Nashville in the early 2000s, Atkins fell victim to the transition of country music into a more mainstream genre manufactured for a wider range of audiences. His new album Take a Back Road, as its title implies, veers away from this trend and recklessly hurtles into the backwoods of home-grown traditional country laced with a hint of rock ‘n’ roll.
By Kirill Makarenko October 6, 2011
Critical Voices: Blink-182, Neighborhoods
After eight long years of uncertainty and chaos, Blink-182 has returned with Neighborhoods, the group’s first full-length album since 2003. Though numerous botched attempts at a comeback seemed to signal the band’s dying moments, Neighborhoods explodes from the ashes of heated arguments and broken friendships to proudly declare, as vocalist Mark Hoppus did at the 51st Grammy Awards, “Blink-182 is back!”
By Kirill Makarenko September 29, 2011