To counter the latest absurdity from the Russian Government in the ongoing human rights issue that is the feminis t punk collective Pussy Riot, unofficial spokeswoman Maria Alyokhina has gone on hunger strike. According to The Guardian : In a recent letter to Radio Svoboda, Alyokhina wrote: "Soon I'll appear before the parole commission which, of course, will decide that it's impossible to let such a dangerous person as myself out into society. This is all boring and predictable." Alyokhina, 24, [...]
Sub Pop's recent signing Rose Windows has something of a culty feel about them. Less Jim Jones and more Joe Byrd and the Field Hippies . "Wartime Lovers" commences with a flurry of keys before the whistle-able riff locks in, but what makes this track is the blast of yawning vocals which sound like someone had locked Sam Cooke in the basement only to have him return to Seattle after listening to a ton of traditional Andean folk music. Rose Windows is the brainchild of songwriter Chris Cheveyo, though you'd hardly guess from hearing [...]
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories Release Date - May 21, 2013 Record Label - Columbia Records Today is a pretty fucking stellar day. The new Daft Punk comes out today. Think about it like this: the first time that you spin that record, or stream it, or pop the tape in (have to make one yourself), you're probably doing the coolest thing in the world. Yeah. You. It's one of those awesome things that music can do--one minute you're chowing [...]
I've always had a problem writing about bands that are just undoubtedly great. With Cowboy Indian Bear , we have a four piece of talented musicians who craft poppy, but smart rock tunes. A few weeks ago I caught Cowboy Indian Bear live and immediately knew I would have a problem communicating what just seemed to be inherent about this band...they're a solid group. It's a cop out I know, it's my job to fill your head with imagery, context, use the word "jangly" and "sun soaked", but sometimes a band does all the work for [...]
If Leonard Cohen is the man with the golden voice, Daughn Gibson is the man with evil stuck in his throat. His deep crooning vocals drip with a restrained passion that causes every syllable to swirl around with darkness and contemplation. Gibson's music is always a force striking your speakers, a sentiment echoed by his live performance where he drives the microphone stand into the ground over and over, beating the melody home. Now we have two new offerings as a preview of Gibson's first LP release on Sub Pop records. Both new tracks are dynamic [...]
HOW TO HATE A BAND It used to be easier. Before the social media boom, groups of friends would sit around and share their thoughts on albums or bands and develop a sense of their own taste by defending what they enjoyed. The only time your hate for a band or album wasn't a face-to-face endeavor was the occasional agreeing nod or angry scoff at a published review written by someone you could never interact with. But things are different now. Everyone has [...]
Do you know who have sneakily become one of the better record labels? Take a bunch of guesses, but I'll bet none of them include Williams Street . That’s right, the weird and twisted people behind Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim line of programming have come on as something of masterful curators in the music field. From proper album releases (like Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music ) to terrific remix mixtapes ( ATL RMX ) to yearly MP3 single series, Williams Street Records have hit a hot streak. Even if you disagree with some of their more nontraditional methods - [...]
California's Carousel Beach have crafted one of those rare albums that perfectly mixes fun without sacrificing any ounce of intelligence. On first spin, this collection of eleven songs plays as support for the upcoming summer weather, driving around with the windows down and the album blasting. Digging a little deeper, the listener is rewarded with a swirling mixture of sounds that smartly shift track to track. A lazy writer would listen to the first single "Ayahuasca" and call the track a Fleet Foxes meets Animal Collective clone. But when listening to the track in the context [...]
Houndmouth "On The Road" From The Hills Below The City Label: Rough Trade Release Date: June 3rd, 2013 PURCHASE
Jack Tatum's brand of revitalized dream pop continues to be some of the most impressive and innovative music out there. Last year's sophomore album Nocturne was a delicate blend of heartfelt lyrics (see "Only Heather") and homespun ballad (see "Shadow"). It was an excessively pleasant album, and now Tatum is prepping a brand new EP. Empty Estate collects seven tracks that help bridge the gap between Nocturne and whatever is next. And if "Dancing Shell" is any indication, Tatum has been listening to a lot of mid-80's pop. Leaning heavily into the synthesizer patterns [...]
When I sat down at the end of 2012 to make a list of my favorite music related things of the year , I quickly started by putting #1=Hopscotch Festival. My first experience with the Raleigh, NC music festival was a perfect three day capsule of exactly what I'm looking for in a music festival. The genius of Hopscotch is the blending of a great city with spectacular venues and a lineup of music that was perfectly curated from the big name headliners to the unknowns that surprised act after act. [...]
As the blogging world has erupted around the collab between Janelle Monáe's fantastic new single "Q.U.E.E.N." featuring Erykah Badu, this track seemed to jump out at me. Now, obviously, we could just put up the link to that track, but look, it's already been all over the place and (gee) now it's up there, too. So, rather than rehash, let's work with some memory. Today's track is an oldie (from back in 2010) collaboration between Sharon Van Etten and Marie-Claire Balabanian of Speck Mountain. The track is [...]
Phosphorescent - Muchacho Record Label - Dead Oceans Release Date - March 19, 2013 There are certain bands you just miss. Two come up immediately for me -- The Walkmen and Modest Mouse. With The Walkmen, Bows + Arrows just never struck me and I was left holding the bag before being brought on the wagon with the wonderfully emotive Lisbon. And, I can't tell you how many Modest Mouse records got handed to me in college. [...]
The biggest addition to Downtown Records reissue of Port St. Willow's masterpiece of ambient psychedelia, Holiday , is the 25 minute "Soft Light Rush" which gets a slow, out of focus video treatment here. This could be the longer cousin of one of my favorite finds on YouTube (remember back when it was still novel?) Syd Barrett's acid trip , which a friend once described to me as the perfect metaphor for not being on acid when other people are -- "you can tell they're having fun, but it's just boring to you." [...]
Record Store Day 2013 is tomorrow and if everything goes to plan, these pieces of wax will be on my turntable. 7" Small Faces - "Green Circles" Limited 7" Single on Green Vinyl featuring Mono & Stereo Versions [...]
It looks like Ranier might be the first full length and last from Baltimore's Secret Mountains (at least as we know them). On the band's site, the following was posted today: It's a buzz kill to say the least. Rainer has been one of the most rewarding listens of the year, and as I mentioned in my review , much of it has to do with the chemistry of the band. I'll take much of the blame as I was gabbing, last [...]
"I heard that what we think exists and that's what keeps me thinking this" (from "ETHYLENE") Imagine walking down a road with no name. All of your surroundings are familiar, yet indistinct: shapes, colors, and blobs of unlabeled items all around. Now explain to a fellow traveler where you've been and what you've seen. It's a difficult task, and frustratingly enough, the best [...]
The Whigs "Staying Alive" Music Video From Enjoy The Company Label: New West Records PURCHASE
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Arctic Monkeys | Do I Wanna Know? (Official Video)
