Here are the 10 best albums of 2012 as rated by yours truly. I feel strongly that a year-end best list shouldn't be dictated by the most buzz or the heaviest promotions. I listened to almost 100 albums in 2012 and these 10 stood out to me. I hope you find at least one you like in my list. 10. Nada Surf - The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy. Power-pop bliss. This is a great comeback album for these guys, who have been making music since the early '90s. Stars , [...]

(photo by cubagallery ) We're quickly approaching the end of 2012 and/or the world depending on your interpretation of Mayan prophecy, and that can only mean it's time to reflect on the best albums of the year. For me, one record stood head and shoulders above the rest in 2012, so album of the year was an easy decision, but there was much deliberation for the other 24 positions (plus, honorable mentions). This was one of the most diverse years of music in recent memory, with pop, guitar-oriented rock, folk music, indie-pop and electronica all being represented [...]

WLFY favorites, Deerhoof, announce new album, Breakup Song, out 9/4 on Polyvinyl. ( LINK ) Sebadoh releases their first new music in twelve years...and it's great. ( LINK ) Pinback announces their first new album since 2007. ( LINK ) Consequence Of Sound breaks down Olympic theme songs. ( LINK ) BEST OF THE WEEK [...]
It's Friday, and we're back with another installment of our regular roundup of downloadable MP3 goodness from around the web. This week, we get very excited about a taste of the new Swans album, even if it's only a truncated edit of a truly epic-sounding track. There's also a non-album Dirty Projectors track, Thurston Moore's new band, new work from Crystal Castles and The Mountain Goats, suitably whacked-out hip hop from Flying Lotus and Raekwon, and a suite of Scott Walker remixes. In other words, there's plenty of interesting sounds awaiting you after the jump, and since they won't cost [...]

"You are the music while the music lasts." -T.S. Eliot The Babies - "Moonlight Mile" Bold move, copping a song title from the Rolling Stones, but The Babies get away with it, as “Moonlight Mile” is the strongest—and most focused—song yet from the side-project of Vivian Girls’ Cassie Ramone and Woods’ Kevin Morby. Ramone’s fuzzed-out guitars quiver while Morby takes lead vocals, warning listeners to “watch your step, out on the moonlight mile.” The vibrant production, organ flourishes, and wall of guitars are a far cry from the half-baked ditties [...]
Great week for new music!! Check out the complete track list below! Try to catch a live broadcast sometime! Thursdays, 9pm EST on Plaza Midwood Community Radio. You can catch the stream on UStream or go direct to the station site: www.pmcradio.org Track List: 1) Dirty Projectors White Label Tour 7" Buckle Up 2) Moon King Obsession I Only Child 3) Lord Huron Lonesome Dreams Time to Run [...]

Emily Berger While it's true that Toronto's days of having a BIG annual music festival out on the islands appear to be over - the locally-grown, Wavelength -affiliated ALL CAPS fest has been more then happy to step in for those needing to combine a ferry crossing with live music to make their Summer worthwhile. Since their inaugural edition in 2009, they've put together bills that have showcased a lot of local and a little bit of imported talent, combined with art and film components [...]

If there's one thing the Internet is good for (do not say pornography), it's making judgments on stuff and endlessly categorizing and organizing bands into genres. Oh, and arguing about it— the Internet's good for that as well. So, without introduction - okay, much introduction - we've neatly organized this year's Sasquatch! lineup for you in terms of musical "genres," after the jump. Don't like reading? Fine, we'll just tell you the basics: it's taking place from May 29 - 31 at the Gorge Ampitheatre in George, WA, and Pavement is playing. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!?!?! [...]
Some things are just perfect. If you're a fan of indie music, then the 2010 lineup for the Sasquatch! Music Festival probably deserves this classification. After all, basically everyone who's anyone from the genre will be appearing at the pristine Gorge Amphitheatre this Memorial Day Weekend (May 29-31). For one, joining the previously announced Pavement as the 2010 headliners will be My Morning Jacket and Massive Attack, both of which will likely be making their 2010 summer festival debut at Sasquatch. Other heavyweights confirmed to take part include Ween, Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem, Band of Horses, [...]

2009 was a great year for music. Much too good to be limited to only 10 songs. Here are 20 of the best, and my favorite, songs from the last year. 1. Grizzly Bear "Southern Point" / Download No doubt at the top of most lists this year, Grizzly Bear really came into their own. Every track on this album is beautiful, complex and (finally) approachable. This song is the most stunning, skillful piece on the album and my favorite song of the year. [...]

(Separate Columbus list further down. Though, if the lists were combined, some of the local releases would unseat a few here...) 1. Larry Jon Wilson - Larry Jon Wilson I won’t lie. Talking to Larry Jon and producer Jerry DeCicca (Black Swans) about this album, learning about its origins, and visiting Wilson’s back catalog gave me a heightened appreciation for this masterpiece. So context helps, but even if you know nothing about the back story, this is a stark, beautiful album from start to finish [...]
In a few days a new decade will begin and we'll have a whole new debate about what to call the decade, but first we must reflect on the final year of the zeroes/naughties. It seems like I talk every year about how surprised I am by the amount of new artists that show up on my end of the year list, but they've really outdone themselves this year with 2/5 of the albums represented on this list being debuts. It was also a year of being blown away by bands that I was never been able to fully invest [...]

MP3: 30. Joe Purdy - Dead End Kids (from Last Clock On The Wall ) MP3: 29. Bat For Lashes - Daniel (from Two Suns ) 28. Handsome Furs - Radio Kaliningrad (from Face Control ) 27. Dirty Projectors - No Intention (from Bitte Orca ) 26. The Mountain Goats - Psalms [...]
So it's a couple weeks late, and it covers some stuff we've been listening to over the last 3-4 months. But we're still counting it for October, and I'm sure you'll still like it! I swear! mp3: Dirty Projectors - Cannibal Resource mp3: Le Loup - Grow mp3: The xx - vcr mp3: The Swell Season - In These Arms [...]
The Decemberists - Photo Credit: Richard Giraldi We've already given you a preview of what's playing in Chicago on New Year's Eve . We've told you about the new club opening up Lincoln Hall and all the great acts scheduled to play there in the coming weeks. Our Daily and Weekly Diversions keep you informed of what's on the horizon. But still, we here at Loud Loop Press felt there were just too many great shows coming up in this fair city of ours that we didn't want you [...]