Blog: Max Bumps

This will probably be one of the rare times I mention bands, but things really seem to be moving forward for these guys this year. I first heard this band on my local indie station ( Indie 103.1 FM ) a couple years ago when they called themselves Colored Shadows, and I've somewhat been keeping tabs on them ever since. This LA-based band is now known as Low vs Diamond and is signed to the same UK record label as the Killers. After a couple EPs, they are set to release their self-titled debut album this [...]

Silkworm's interview with Jacob, from ZUBA, inspired me to share with you all a link to a great Algerian musician by the name of Idir . His music is all about the Berber identity from North Africa, and in particular, Kabylia ( the berber region of Algeria) where he and I are from. This very certainly falls under the World Music category and my guess is that very few of you are familiar with that culture and the music that comes from it so here's a taste of Kabylia, courtesy of Idir. Couple of notes: 1/ [...]

Hailing from Scotland but blending influences from all over the globe, the infectious rhythms of ZUBA's Bassa Beat made an instant impression on t61 listeners. Alas, Zuba - in the form that t61 listeners have come to know and love them - no longer exists. Jacob from Zuba took the time to talk to MaxBumps about thesixtyone.com, life as Zuba, and the band's direction - past and future. silkworm: What has your experience been like with thesixtyone.com so far as an artist and as a [...]

The next listener event is the Bozo Scramble on Sunday, March 23rd beginning at Noon EASTERN time (u.s.). The earlier than normal time is to allow Euro listeners and bands to participate. All Bozo Fund contributors or pledgers were invited to submit their three top underbumped favorites, and the Scramble, which will post on my wall at noon, is open to all comers. It is a chance to drop many points in a "target rich environment", and many songs have posted from the exposure in the past. There was much initial interest in the Upload Party [...]

I caught Dead to Me and Teenage Bottlerocket tonight at Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco. These are both punk pop bands that all the punker kiddies seem to dig. Actually, I was surprised that the crowd wasn't a little younger, but this punk pop sound hasn't changed much since the 80s (since the days of Husker Du and The Ramones), so maybe it suits the older crowd just fine. As soon as we walked in the door, Jason, my company's president, introduced me to Chicken from Dead to Me. Yes, [...]

I suppose I'll resume my column with another Swedish artist. Ever since her song came to t61, I know you all have had a "little bit" of Lykke Li , but there's so much more great stuff from her! [Sorry, I just had to use squeeze that in. Awful, I know.] As another listener pointed out, she sings the female vocals in Peter, Bjorn, and John's ever so popular "Young Folks," so she is among a strong core group of musicians. Actually, Bjorn Yttling produced her album, Youth Novels , which was released in January over in [...]

• Lykke Li - Breaking It Up
• Lykke Li - I'm Good. I'm Gone