Today's post is quite lame, actually, because I've just moved back to school, and I'm going through RA training right now, which is incredibly rigorous. If my writing quality has diminished, please forgive me. It should be back to normal when I am more rested. I was thinking just now how I first got into Radiohead , consistently my favorite band so far. It's funny, cause I was actually looking for a little number by The Stone Temple Pilots called "Creep" , [...]
Well, I've posted enough about her, so it's about time I did an interview with the fantastic Ingrid Michaelson. Here it is folks, I hope you enjoy it! On your second album, "Girls and Boys" you dwell a good deal on a few central themes, including childhood, growing up, relationships, imperfection, trust, heartache, and acceptance. Universality aside,were these some of the central themes of your
There comes a time when we have to reach way back to the first few weeks of this blog's existence and mention old loves. One of my favorite instrumental acts, The Banjo Consorsium , has informed the public that he has a new project in the works with the ever talented Savery . The best way to describe TBC is "folktronic". After I first heard this guy back in January, I did some searching for other good "folktronic" acts. There really aren't many. A few you may have heard of are Tunng , The [...]
Alright, Children. It's time for a story. It may be a bit outlandish, but bear with me... Many years ago, around the time of the dawn of Rock 'N Roll, the Devil set out on a mission. He saw the potential power that music had over the lives of so many. And Good Pilgrim, believe me, he's learned very well how to wield that power. Many nights he stayed awake in his lair, calculating with [...]
W ell, I thought I'd let you all know--the rumors...they're TRUE. I'm sorry, but there's another blog in my life. Don't worry baby! You know you're my only true love! This other blog is just a temporary thing. I'm posting for a few days over at Great Body of Water while Alex is out of town. Earlier today, on GBOW , I posted about an incredible band that I have yet to share with you all, Summerbirds in the Cellar . They're affectionately known [...]
There comes a time when we have to reach way back to the first few weeks of this blog's existence and mention old loves. One of my favorite instrumental acts, The Banjo Consorium , has informed the public that he has a new project in the works with the ever talented Savery . The best way to describe TBC is "folktronic". After I first heard this guy back in January, I did some searching for other good "folktronic" acts. There really aren't many. A few you may have heard of are Tunng , The [...]
Today is a mishmash. I've been working on a special project with the Bully of Culture himself, Chris , for a while now, and I just haven't had the time to dig for that next new artist. So I thought I'd resort to something more expected, I suppose. Today I'm serving up a mini-list, with a couple of mind blowing tracks. Downloads: Herbie Hancock - [...]
One of the great things about encountering new musicians is encountering their friends, who are often also great musicians. I can't tell you how many bands I have posted about here that I have come across through links from musicians I was already enjoying. It says a lot to me when a musician that I love gives an endorsement to another musician. Such is the case with the subject of today's post: William Fitzsimmons . His musical friend Ingrid Michaelson has "long" been a favorite of mine (okay, so maybe not as long as I'd like to [...]
I don't think I've been shy about the fact that I use MySpace as a vehicle for exploring usigned and small-time bands. Often, these explorations are rewarded, as in the case of my most recent findig: Possible Selves . The Selves are really just Neal Williams , with a backing band, playing Psychedelic Folk/Country music, as it were. Now, 'Psychedelic Folk/Country' music isn't usually my cup of tea, but you gotta make that jump sometimes, you know? At any rate, I've really enjoyed what I've heard of his so far, and what kind of person [...]
Spider is the best thing to happen to folk music since Joanna Newsom , and maybe even longer than that. Spider is New York singer-songwriter Jane Herships , and whether you've heard of her or not she's been sweeping the internet's music elite with her self-released album, The Way To Bitter Lake . As I've listened to the album, I can't help but ask myself why more music doesn't sound like this. Shouldn't music always be beautiful like this? All I know is that this album is the only thing I've listened to in the past [...]
T here has been one band out of Chicago in recent memory that makes me a bit sad that I left Chicago some years ago. That band is Office . They have had the unique effect of appearing equally genuine and contrived at the very same time to the skeptic in me. Songs so earnest are rarely found in the "pop" vein. Call me what you will, but how could it be that these folks making pop music could really love music? I don't know, to be honest. But they are, and you [...]
I decided that it had been a while since I put up any Radiohead b-sides, remixes, demos, etc. So when I went into my iTunes to select from my catalogue I was surprised to see that I have nearly 800 songs concerning Radiohead (including popular covers, live performances, b-sides, proper remixes, and album tracks. After seeing that, I decided to just start at the beginning. So here I've got an unreleased Radiohead song, a fairly rare B-side, and 3 demos from On A Friday (What Radiohead was originally named). You'll notice that the [...]
Hey there folks. I've got a quick download for you. It's Band of Horses performing "Funeral" this evening on Letterman. I recorded it myself, but I'm a bit new to this, so it's a bit off with the bass when the songs picks up. Sorry for that. Otherwise it's very clear, though. Download: Band of Horses - Funeral (Live on Letterman 7-13-06).mp3 [...]
As a band, Now It's Overhead doesn't need much of an introduction in the world of independent music, but they've had a suprisingly small presence in press on this here intershizzle. They must be stuck in one of the "tubes" the internet is apparently made of. Now It's Overhead (NIO from here on out) is currently touring the US with Tilly and the Wall (another Saddle Creek band) and they will be stopping by Saddle Creek home base (Omaha, Nebraska) next Tuesday. I will be in [...]
With this post I decided to do something unprecedented here at Stage Hymns . I would like to present my first ever Hip-Hop artist feature! Aren't you proud of me?! I'm growing so much! But seriously, the band that warrants such an event must be a great one. I actually like the sound of bands like The Black-Eyed Peas , but I find most of their songs laughable and stupid because nobody in that group is interested in doing something mature or...well...non-sexual with music. [...]
I 'm a big fan of progressive rock. Really, I am! But there aren't many musical acts today who do it in the spirit which it began with. One group that has done an outstanding job of carrying the torch is The Mars Volta . This incredible duo knows how to make music without limits. Whether it's an 11 minute song or a sonic-assault-electro-blip solo in the middle of a song--these guys know that if it's good...people will listen. The band just threw up a new song on their [...]
French electro-ish musician, Sebastien Tellier , has been making music for several years, and has enjoyed a fair amount of success with outstanding reviews from the likes of NME and other--as well as with the appearance of his song "Fantino" in the movie Lost in Translation . I just recieved a copy of his single "La Ritournelle" remixed by the one and only Jim Noir in my mail this morning, and I simply had to share it with you. It's an instrumental version of the song, but it's [...]
W hen I was doing the rounds in the wee hours of the morning over at Cable & Tweed I stumbled across someone in The C&T Mix Tape Project, Vol. V: Atlanta Pop/Singer-Songwriter . Her name is Lindsay Rae Spurlock , and she has some talent that the world should not miss! I love the singer-songwriter genre in general--being so pleased with many recent acts [...]
O ne of the most anticipated released so far this year is My Brightest Diamond 's Bring Me The Workhorse . For those who may not know, My Brightest Diamond is mainly singer Shara Worden , although she does have a band backing her. It's sort of ambiguous who is "the band" and who is not--kind of like Bright Eyes isn't really just Conor Oberst . You may have heard Shara on background vocals for Sufjan Stevens ' Come on Feel the Illinois. Anyway, I [...]
The more of these promotional copies I get the more I realize that a year is a long time, and I think how foolish I have been to have thought that so many of the year's best albums have already been released. Have some of those "Best Of 2006ers" come out yet?...Yep. Will there be more albums released this year that will also join, and maybe top such a list?...Yep. So This Is Goodbye , the upcoming release from The Junior [...]
Stage Hymns
My Funny Valentines
Download: James Blake Live Album (Unofficial)
Lana Del Rey - Without You (Kill Paris Remix) [Dubstep]
Miike Snow - “Paddling Out” Jacques Lu Cont Remix (MP3 Stream)
Iron & Wine and Patty Griffin
