screenshot from Consequence of Sound There is no end to the incessant, bizzarre, and wonderful sonic/visual spectacular that is The Flaming Lips . Last night on Jimmy Fallon the band played a version of Bowie's "Heroes" wearing capes, hoods, and -- in Wayne's case -- hardly anything at all, except for a loincloth and a full-stage rat's nest of shimmering electric light tubes. The band also played "Try To Explain" from this year's album The Terror . Check out the clips below, and head over to Consequence of [...]
Can you believe it's been over a year since our last David Sylvian post? My, how time flies. Back in 2012 , we looked at his 1986 album, Gone to Earth , so it seems only fitting to move forward in time by another year and see how KCMU reacted to its followup, 19872s Secrets of the Beehive , his last strictly solo album until 19992s Dead Bees on a Cake (which I guess you'll be reading about here in a dozen years or so?). This effort seems to be somewhat less divisive than the [...]
photo by Morgen Schuler May is Bike Month, and on Friday, May 17th , KEXP will celebrate our second year participating in Bike to Work Day ! Alongside our partner Cascade Bicycle Club, we’ll present the KEXP Energizer Station. Our parking lot (at 113 Dexter Ave N) will be closed from 6 AM to 9 AM and open to bike riders! You can enjoy bike safety checks, refreshments, bike outreach and the 7:45 AM “Ride & Rally” (ride to City Hall) w/ Mayor Mike McGinn! To [...]
photo by Renata Steiner Musician, songwriter, author, actor, producer... in whatever he does, country rock living legend Steve Earle is uncompromisingly in his art and an outspoken critic of what's wrong in our country. On his many albums -- fourteen, not including his many collaborations, compilations and live releases -- Earle often embodies the voices of the disenfranchised and downtrodden. His latest, The Low Highway , was directly inspired by our current economic times and depicts what the world outside his tour bus has become in recent years, which, in Earle's own words, [...]
photo by Hyperballad Productions Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription . This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Friends + Enemies” by Freedom Fry from the 2013 self-released EP Friends + Enemies . Freedom Fry - Friends + Enemies ( MP3 ) [...]
Photo by Brittney Bollay The Dodos have announced a new album, Carrier, which will be out on August 27th, and they've shared "Confidence" from that album. Carrier follows the loss of guitarist Christopher Reimer , who joined The Dodos in 2011. Singer Meric Long revealed that Reimer was a big musical influence for him, “seeing how he could transform and shape sound with an electric guitar inspired me to explore more tones and use those tones to begin writing a song.” [ Pitchfork ] [...]
Mistaken For Strangers Directed by Tom Berninger (USA, 2013, 92 minutes) Festival Screenings: Monday, May 20, 7 PM at The Egyptian Tuesday, May 21, 4 PM at The Egyptian “You get mistaken for strangers by your own friends,” goes the lyric in The Nationals’ song “Mistaken For Strangers.” The first verse of the track from their sublime 2008 album, Boxer , also contains these lines: “you don't mind seeing yourself in a picture / as long as you look faraway, as long as you look [...]
photo by Bebe Besch Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription . This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured song, selected by Morning Show host John Richards, is “Sterile” by youryoungbody from the 2013 self-released EP Kurokabi . youryoungbody – Sterile ( MP3 ) Known for eerie [...]
photo by Dave Lichterman Holy Ghost! have shared the lead single off their upcoming album, Dynamics . "Dumb Disco Ideas" is a snappy dance number, but the video features their instruments, an eight minute light show, and little else. If you can't wait to hear more from these guys, the synthpop duo are performing at Sasquatch! this month. [ Pitchfork ] To promote their successful album, Hummingbird [...]
While we're all waiting for the warm weather to officially take hold (we've been given an enticingly cruel taste of it here in Northwest), Vampire Weekend has created the perfect summer album to fuel your anticipation. At times wistfully nostalgic, percolatingly peppy and even fiercely energetic, Modern Vampires of the City is undoubtedly one of the best albums of the year so far. KEXP Music Director, Don Yates, calls the NYC band's third album their "most mature and musically adventurous release to date" with its "impressive variety of beautifully crafted, intricately detailed songs with imaginative arrangements [...]
London-based group The Veils stopped by KEXP for a live session rich in gorgeous textures and thoughtful, lyrical compositions. Immediately, even before bandleader Finn Andrews' vocals begin, the joyous production strikes listeners via jaunty piano runs, bright brass melodies, and lively guitar rhythms. “Turn from the rain for all the good it's done,” sings Andrews. “Turn from the rain you might as well have gone through. I try my hand at another wall. All things must pass that stand beneath this song.” Despite their varying movements, from controlled cacophony to cobble-stone-street-grabbing sparseness, The Veils's songs ascend with such [...]
photo by Agnes Thor Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription . This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Every Friday, we feature a song by a Northwestern artis. Today’s song comes from Brooklyn electronic band Small Black . "Free At Dawn" is the lead single off their new record Limits of Desire , out today on Jagjaguwar. Small Black - [...]
photo via Pitchfork Daft Punk are shamelessly promoting the release of their upcoming record Random Access Memories in this futuristic, sci-fi teaser. The video, aptly titled "Random Access Memories Unboxed," features robotic entities unwrapping the new album and playing it on their conveniently old-school record player. Take a look, you'll even hear the first few seconds of their song "Give Life Back To Music." [ Pitchfork ] [...]
A Band Called Death Directed by Jeff Howlett (USA, 2012, 98 minutes) Festival screenings: Saturday, May 18, 3:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown Tuesday, May 28, 9:00 PM at SIFF Cinema Uptown If you’re craving a newly-rediscovered musical artist story as rocking, surprising, exciting, and heart-pouncing as last year’s Searching for Sugar Man, this SIFF you have the documentary A Band Called Death . Just like the who-the-hell-knows-what’s-go ing-to-happen-next saga of Rodriguez, the tale of this mid-70s Detroit [...]
Adult Swim has been on a roll with music lately. If you recognize the name at all, most know Adult Swim from their late night spot on Cartoon Network, giving home to cult classic TV like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sealab 2021, and Tim & Eric Awesome Show Great Job!, and also ridiculous parodies including Childrens Hospital and NTSF:SD:SUV. But last year, Adult Swim curated an excellent Singles Program , giving viewers a free compilation of 13 exclusive singles from some fantastic names on the indie scene, including Wye Oak, Wavves, Flying [...]
Daughter is among the many must-see bands this week photo by Dave Lichterman A great list of shows ahead. Highlights of the week include The Black Angels at Neptune Theatre on Monday night, along with what could prove to be a very interesting Brings Our Sonics Back rally with Geo, Nacho Picasso, Grynch, Dyme Def, Jarv Dee, Tilson, Sam Lachow & Raz Simone, Neema, DJ Nphared and Hosted by Shawn Kemp at Neumos. On Tuesday night, Of Monsters and Men return to Seattle and play the Paramount [...]
photo by Brittney Bollay Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription . This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured song, selected by Morning Show host John Richards, is "Fireflies” by Still Corners from the 2013 album Strange Pleasures on Sub Pop . Still Corners - Fireflies ( MP3 ) [...]
In the summer of 2009, if you had only one dance tune to soundtrack your adventures to day and night, you could do a lot worse than Classixx tune "I'll Get You". With a gloriously upbeat vibe and Jeppe Laursen of Junior Senior on the joyful bass-loving vocals, "I'll Get You" was a song you could put on infinite repeat and still dance to it on the 200th listen. But alas, the release was minimal, and we didn't see any new original material from the band for a while. Sure, there was [...]
photo by Renata Steiner Ever since their first show in December 2008, Fitz and the Tantrums have established themselves as one of the hardest working bands on the circuit today. In between the release of their 2010 debut Pickin' Up The Pieces and their sophomore record, More Than Just A Dream (out this week!), the Los Angeles soul sextet embarked on multiple international tours, criss-crossing North America a few times over in the process. After road testing some of the new material last year (including multiple stops in Seattle), the [...]
photo by Jim Bennett RNDM - the side project of Joseph Arthur, Richard Stuverud, and Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament - performed their song "Disappearing Acts" on Conan last night. Their performance felt like it was straight out of the 50s, complete with doowop hairstyles (wigs?) and very dapper suits. It was even filmed in black and white. It's supposed to feel vintage, message received. [ CoS ] Eric [...]
KEXP Blog
Listen to Daft Punk’s “Horizon”, the Japanese bonus track for Random Access Memories
Daft Punk – “Horizon” (Japan-Only Bonus Track)
Diplo Clarifies His Thoughts On Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’ Via Lengthy Facebook Letter
Listen: Matt Corby – Resolution
