The Other is a protracted sigh of exhaustion from a character whose creator by this point despises him.

[xrr rating=3.5/5]Here’s the pitch: We’ll raise T. Rex’s Marc Bolan from the dead and partner him up with the Cramps, then polish the act to create the perfect bubblegum pop band for a Saturday morning kids’ cartoon series. Call it “So King Tuff!” What makes the act so irresistible is that Kyle Thomas, King Tuff’s alter ego, has found an …

1. Arctic Monkeys – “Do I Wanna Know?” (Domino) With new record AM, Arctic Monkeys demonstrate an evolution of their cocksure sound. Instead of the swagger and bluster of the early days, this Sheffield foursome now display more introspection and vulnerability than appeared possible for them just a few years ago. With the anthemic “Do I Wanna Know?” this progression …

[xrr rating=3.5/5]In certain indie music circles, King Tuff’s Was Dead was almost as fabled, rare and prized as any artifact interred with the artist’s near-namesake. Released in 2008 with a handful of copies, it quickly became relegated to a cult following and online resale sites, going for a helluva pretty penny. The 2013 reissue on Burger Records, then, amounts to …

[xrr rating=4.0/5]Most critics and audiences in 2012 have come to understand that rock ‘n’ roll’s rebellious leanings are now foggy images in history’s rearview mirror. Even in 1976, critics were pointing to the stagnation of rock music; as Lester Bangs said, “It’s no lament to say that the future lies behind us.” Rock music, especially what is now considered classic …