By Kristi Kates

Music By Kristi Kates Singer-songwriter Chris Dorman may live in Vermont, but he has roots in Northern Michigan’s musical community.
Dorman is releasing his latest album, Sita, this month on Earthwork Music. While Dorman now resides in Vermont - he and his small family, including his wife, Corie, and “inspirational” new son, Henry, purchased a 143-acre farm there last year - his Michigan roots are still in evidence via the many guest musicians on the album, which include the ubiquitous Seth Bernard and May Erlewine, Steve Leaf, and Michael Shimmin, among others. And Dorman is returning to Michigan with a brief tour this month to promote the new set.

Music By Kristi Kates Crowded House - Intriguer - Mercury
Crowded House singer/songwriter Neil Finn - a master craftsman of
songs if there ever was one - calls Intriguer what may be the best
thing the band has ever done. That’s saying a lot, from him. Produced
by Jim Scott, this set of new Crowded House songs - their first studio
effort in over a dozen years - blends Finn’s instantly identifiable
songwriting and trademark harmonies into ten near-perfect smart indie-
pop songs, executed by the rest of his skillful band. Opener “Saturday
Sun” accompanies “Either Side of the World, “Twice If You’re Lucky”
and “Even If.”

Modern Rock By Kristi Kates Athens, GA hometown boys R.E.M. have been diligently working on their
new album, which R.E.M. auxilary touring member Ken Stringfellow (The
Posies) says is very “old school R.E.M.” in its sound. The new R.E.M.
songs are also said to be “darker” in tone than previous recent
releases, again more like the R.E.M. of yore, with Byrds-like acoustic
guitar, piano, and straightforward drums. The as-yet-untitled (and
much anticipated) set is due to drop early in 2011...