Rob Harvilla

The Year In Music: Farewell, 2010

​That's it for us in 2010, thanks guys--we feel extremely lucky to have the readers we do. It's been a long month of recapping an even longer year. So before we head out the door for 2011, let's run it all back one last time. What you may have missed in the December fog: F2K10, Our Countdown ... More >>

Zach Baron's Top 10 Albums of 2010

Guess who? Photo by Rebecca Smeyne.​Alright, let's do this, before I change my mind. With apologies to The-Dream, Sleigh Bells, Ted Leo, Kylesa, Swans, Zola Jesus, Marnie Stern, and all other vestiges of my punk rock past, and especially you Nicki Minaj, who missed both of my lists this year. ... More >>

Someone Has Written A Song Called "Kill Harvilla." Here Are The Lyrics.

Rhett Miller, whose name has the misfortune of rhyming with mine​I knew this day would come. Today via mass email I learned that a piqued local musician -- aliases include CXB, Touching You, and many other charming handles deployed in emails I've been idly skimming for nearly five years -- has ... More >>

This Week's Voice: The Arcade Fire, Lilith Fair, Neu!, and More

Win Butler, serenading The Kids. Photo by Kim Erlandsen.​In this week's Village Voice, Rob Harvilla takes on the grandiose, unintentional comedy of the Arcade Fire's The Suburbs, Maura Johnston wanders around the revitalized Lilith Fair, and David Cotner breaks down the long-awaited Neu! retro ... More >>

The-Dream Sold 58,000 Copies of Love King

​The-Dream's Love King--by our own Rob Harvilla's estimation, the r&b auteur's "third-straight deliriously triumphant solo album"--debuts at #4 on the Billboard charts this week, selling 58,000 copies of a record that's about a third as good as last year's Love Vs. Money (which, whaddya know, ... More >>

This Week's Voice: The-Dream, Miley Cyrus, the Great Dancehall Freeze Out, Jazz Consumer Guide, and More

Courtesy Def-Jam Records In this week's Village Voice, Rob Harvilla marvels at the brilliant stupidity of r&b lothario The-Dream. Theon Weber examines the calculated rebellion of Miley Cyrus. Jesse Serwer reports on the Great Dancehall Freeze-Out of 2010, during which many of Jamaica's biggest act ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Summer Jam 2010, Christina Aguilera, Against Me!, Bret Easton Ellis, and More

Nicki Minaj, in one of many "invincible Street Fighter 2 character" outfits. Photo by Santiago Felipe​In this week's Village Voice, Rob Harvilla keeps a running diary of Summer Jam 2010, where the best highlight Hot 97 could muster was a set from DJ Khaled. What happened, New York? Elsewhere, ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Sleigh Bells, LCD Soundsystem, Nas and Damian Marley, Obies, and More

Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss, meeting her public. Photo by Santiago Felipe​In this week's Village Voice, Rob Harvilla attempts to describe the planet-obliterating joys of Sleigh Bells, Zach Baron on LCD Soundsystem's sardonically devastating This Is Happening, and Sean Fennessey explains why th ... More >>

Antibalas Headlines the Obies After-Party on May 17

Antibalas So swept up in announcing the first batch of performers for this year's Siren Festival, we neglected to mention that afrobeat collective Antibalas is playing the after-party for the Obies, the Voice's very own annual Off-Broadway Awards, on May 17 at Webster Hall. Their theater connectio ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Sam Amidon, Courtney Love, Little Brother, Harlem's Afro-Cuban Renaissance, Roky Erickson, The Human Centipede, and More

Little Brother: happy or not, it's an ending. Photo by Studio Kompleks​In this week's Village Voice, Rob Harvilla falls hard for Sam Amidon, the gentle, affable, R. Kelly-covering young folkie, while Camille Dodero applies a lifetime of Courtney Love-related knowledge to Hole's new Nobody's Da ... More >>

Rihanna Plays Hammerstein For Free Tomorrow

​She's such a fucking lady! Rob Harvilla's close reading of Rihanna's new record, Rated R, can be found here; "Hard," the song that makes whatever absurd line outside of Hammerstein tomorrow morning maybe worth it, can be heard here. The choice is yours. [MySpace]

Handicapping the Fela! Musical

​Allow us to get a bit navel-gazing here for a second and say that if you ever had any interest in Fela Kuti the man or the bizarre process by which a complicated and politically volatile biography gets turned into a Broadway show marketed (at least in part) to people from Illinois who couldn' ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Gucci Mane, Def Jam's 25th, Say Anything, Bill Simmons, Roger Corman at Anthology, and More

He's got more check than a Czechoslavian. Photo by Zacke Wolfe.​In this week's Village Voice, Rob Harvilla goes abroad with Gucci Mane's Cold War mixtape trilogy: "Funny voices aside, The Cold War isn't a particularly conceptual affair, instead favoring a breathtakingly monochromatic wash of b ... More >>

From us to you

Who’s in your top five? Harvilla’s in ours.

Sound of the City Needs Clubs/DJ/Dance/Nightlife Writers

​Attention, journalistic-minded denizens of P.S.1, Santos' Party House, wherever everyone goes now that they finally shut down Studio B, etc. etc.: SOTC is looking for reporter/critics in the nightlife vein. A freelance gig with around three posts a week, it'd involve both quickly filed report ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Ciara and Chrisette Michelle, Bob Dylan, Outrage, Ben Greenman's Please Step Back, Stephin Merritt's Coraline, and More

In this week's Village Voice Music Section, Rob Harvilla takes a trip to the r&b salt mines with Ciara and Chrisette Michelle. Edd Hurt on Bob Dylan's Together Through Life, during most of which Dylan apparently carries a gun. Justin Farrar laments the end of USA Is a Monster. Brad Cohan anticipa ... More >>

Letters

This Week's Voice: Superdrag, Rap Beef, Juan MacLean, State of Play, Guy Maddin, 'Younger Than Jesus', and More

In this week's Village Voice Music Section, Rob Harvilla on Superdrag's snarling, ferocious comeback, spiritual awakening notwithstanding. Erik Parker on rap battles, circa 2009, starring 50 Cent and Rick Ross. Plus Ben Detrick comes through with a particularly formidable catalog of spectacular rap ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Rock of Ages, Anvil! The Story of Anvil, Bat for Lashes, Battle of the Country Hunks, and More

David Sherry In this week's Village Voice Music Section, Rob Harvilla on '80s musical Rock of Ages' evolution from so-bad-it's-good to good, period. Adrienne Day mourns lost love and a lost vision of New York with Bat for Lashes. Chuck Eddy: Battle of the Country Hunks! In Film, J. Hoberman basi ... More >>

Letters

Tuesday's Headlines: Obama tries to block AIG bonuses

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]Your Tuesday New York headlines...Obama urges Geithner to block AIG bonuses any way he can.Sagging economy means fewer boob jobs!East River bridge tolls die in the state senate. MTA rescue compromise still being worked out."I looked down and there was an a ... More >>

Thursday's Headlines: Catholic Church fights Albany to protect Pedo-Priests

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]Your Thursday New York headlines...Legislature wants to life statute of limitations on child sex abuse lawsuits: Catholic Church objects, saying bill intended to bankrupt it.Daily News shows odd bit of sympathy for monster Madoff: may have spent "his last ... More >>

This Week's Voice: U2, The-Dream, the Pogues, Private Century, Kat Long's New Book, and More

Courtesy Def Jam In this week's Music Section, Rob Harvilla takes U2's new No Line on the Horizon, force quits, and moves to trash. Restart and reboot yourself. Clover Hope on The-Dream's sublime new Love vs. Money. Tad Hendrickson rolls triumphantly forward with The Pogues, eyes as glassed over ... More >>

Wednesday's Headlines: Madoff swindle as much as $65 billion; faces 150 years in prison

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]Your Wednesday New York headlines...Madoff theft total up to $65 billion; faces up to 150 years in prison when he pleads guilty tomorrow....and his wife is now target of probe for her role.Paterson may compromise on Rockefeller drug law revision; throwing ... More >>

Tuesday's Headlines: Supreme Court blows away Bloomie's gun lawsuit

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]Your Tuesday New York headlines...Supreme Court sides with gunmakers by not hearing NY suit that claimed makers were liable for flood of illicit firearms.Daily News: Carrión's house renovation done by architect who needed the borough president's approval ... More >>

Sunday's Headlines: Obama tells the Times he wants outreach with Taliban

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]Your Sunday New York headlines...Times interview with Obama: He considers reaching out to the Taliban.That little 14-year old mini-Limbaugh from Atlanta is even more annoying than you thought."Mob cops" finally put away for good, but they leave the city $1 ... More >>

Friday's Headlines: Paterson enrages enviros with state backtrack on power plant emissions

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]Your Friday New York headlines...Paterson enrages enviros by going back on NY promise to crack down on power plant emissions.After hubbub, Gandhi items sell for $1.8 million in auction.Landmark law giving mayor control of schools coming up for renewal; cha ... More >>

Thursday's Headlines: Assembly knocks down Rockefeller drug laws, Senate next

[HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart Asset]Your Thursday New York headlines...State Assembly finally sweeps away Rockefeller drug laws; now it's the Senate's turn.With Manhattan rents falling, could Wal-Mart be far behind? The retailer looks at Union Square, Chelsea.Prosecutor begins taking apart t ... More >>

This Week's Voice: David Byrne, Revenge of the Nerds, Watchmen, Rip Torn, Tokyo!, and More

Daniel S. Neuner In this week's Music Section, Rob Harvilla remains in the light with David Byrne as the once-Talking Head indulges old neuroses and gorgeous new hymns at Radio City. Andy Beta on the joys of DIY disco, courtesy of Revenge of the Nerds. Jesse Jarnow goes up against the anarchic to ... More >>

Saturday's Headlines: 'So I killed someone. That makes me a bad guy?'

HARKAVY is now blogging at The Smart AssetYour Saturday New York headlines...Second suspect in December hate-murder of Ecuadoran immigrant arrested: "So I killed somone. That make me a bad guy?"Jimmy Fallon admits being nervous before starting his run at "Late Night." See Rob Harvilla's Voice story ... More >>

This Week's Voice: The Roots, K'Naan, Leonard Cohen, Examined Life, Best in Show, Mourning Becomes Electra, and More

Chad Griffith In this week's Music Section, Rob Harvilla profiles the new kings of late-night, the Roots, as they prepare to take Manhattan. Peter S. Scholtes on the shifting republic of K'Naan, a deft Somali rapper risking wackness in the name of peace. Kevin O'Donnell introduces the ball of exc ... More >>

This Week in the Voice

Rob Harvilla on The Roots, hip-hop's favorite live backup and Jimmy Fallon's house band. Tim Elfrink and Jesse Hyde on how Guantanamo's custodians are coping with their mission and prisoners in the infamous prison's last days. Scott Foundas calls the new Harrison Ford vehicle, Wayne Kramer's Cro ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Lily Allen, Van Morrison, Max G. Morton, Brian Evenson, Katyn, Paul Graham, and More

Joseph Pickard In this week's Village Voice Music Section, Rob Harvilla on the vicious, precocious, but oddly winsome bad-sex revenge fantasies of Lily Allen. Scott Foundas revisits Astral Weeks with Van Morrison. Cristina Black profiles self-taught learner Lissy Trullie. Tal Rosenberg visits wi ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Cat Power, Jazz Consumer Guide, Martha Cooper, Gomorrah, The International, Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America, and More

Cat Power photo by Stefano Giovannini In this week's Village Voice Music Section, Rob Harvilla does live karaoke at the Apollo with Cat Power. Tom Hull gives us 2009's first Jazz Consumer Guide. Aidan Levy on downtown jazzbo Andrew D'Angelo's fight with cancer. Annie Fischer remembers the young ... More >>

This Week's Voice: Hipster Runoff, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Great Depression Double Bills, Piero Manzoni, and More

In this week's Village Voice Music Section, Rob Harvilla gives us "Hipster Runoff Explained (Maybe)," a possibly illuminating chat with the Internet's latest mystery man. Stephen Slaybaugh investigates the sweet pop pleasure of the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Aidan Levy on the ambitious 'Searc ... More >>

This Week's Voice: The Death of the Record Industry, Kurtis Blow, Godard's Made in U.S.A., the Future of Art Criticism, and More

In this week's Village Voice Music Section, Rob Harvilla talks to Rolling Stone vet Steve Knopper about his new book, Appetite for Self-Destruction, and the bitter decline of the music industry. Ben Westhoff breaks bread with Kurtis Blow in Harlem's only hip-hop church. Ross Simonini plumbs the ... More >>

This Week's Voice: The Worst Lyrics of 2008, Fall Out Boy, and The Wrestler

This Week's Voice: Dan Deacon, the Web Sheriff, Best Books of 2008, Che, and More

This Week's Voice: Chinese Democracy, Kanye West, New Column Lit Seen, Gus Van Sant's Milk, and More

This Week's Voice: The Killers, Disco Inferno, Toni Morrison's A Mercy, Terry Winters, and More

This Week's Voice: Hamell on Trial, T-Pain, Roberto Bolaño's 2666, Quantum of Solace, and More

This Week's Voice: Chunklet, Gang Gang Dance, Changeling, Elizabeth Peyton, Crust, and More

Weekend Voice Readers Update

This Week's Voice: Hip-Hop Honors, Kind of Blue, the Streets, Body of Lies, and More

This Week's Voice: An Interview with JT LeRoy, Built to Spill, T.I., the New York Film Festival, and More

This Week's Voice: Mickey Rourke and The Wrestler, Solange Knowles, ATP, TV on the Radio, Jonathan Ames, the New York Film Festival, and More

Metallica's 'Death Magnetic': Better on 'Guitar Hero'

Ghostface on Wu Tang Situation: "It's Serious"

Letters

Icky Thump Cred Sheet: Cornelius @ Webster Hall, Sucky Wilco Tracks, and U Get Upgrade