Scene Night & Day editor Michael Gallucci, more commonly known as the Greatest Music Critic in the History of the World�, continues his What I Listened to Last Night series, a chance for readers to hear the voice of God — or perhaps a lesser saint — on all matters music.
The Dears — Gang of Losers: The Montreal mope-rockers ease up a bit on the Morrissey influences this time around, but they’re still pretty low in the self-esteem department (one song is called “You and I Are a Gang of Losers”). Still, plugging in and rocking out does wonders for their confidence. Making the mix: “Ticket to Immortality.”
Evanescence — The Open Door: Our favorite pop-goth band returns with a second album of introspection by Amy Lee, who — for all intents and purposes — is Evanescence. Since the 2003 debut, Lee has withstood a romantic breakup, a band shakeup, and a nasty legal battle with her ex-manager. You get to hear all about it on these songs. Too bad the ballads all sound the same, though. Making the mix: “Call Me When You’re Sober.”
The Killers — Sam’s Town: “When You Were Young,” the first single from the Killers’ second album, is our second-favorite everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-plus-glockenspiels song on our iPod right now (My Chemical Romance’s gloriously over-the-top “Welcome to the Black Parade” is No. 1). The rest of Sam’s Town is a grandiloquent trip through the heartland of America, with Vegas as its gaudy pulse. Making the mix: “When You Were Young.”
This article appears in Oct 4-10, 2006.