"If Nowheresville is where these sounds are from, it's also where you can't help but think The Ting Tings are going..." The Ting Tings | Sounds From Nowheresville It was 2008 when The Ting Tings – long-time friends Katie White and Jules De Martino – broke through the buzz barrier and reached number one in both the album and singles chart with their debut effort We Started Nothing , supplemented by the radio-hogging singles That's Not My Name , Great DJ and Shut Up & Let Me Go . [...]
Brooklyn's Spanish Prisoners have released a new song, "Downtown Chicago" for a "name your price" that you can download below. WXPN Welcomes the band to Kung Fu Necktie on Wednesday, March 7th. The band recently launched their "Vantasy" Kickstarter campaign. Downtown Chicagoland by Spanish Prisoners
Alex Yaker is one of those way-busy Philadelphia musicians. Most recently, you've probably seen him rock his bass-playing swagger in Summer Fiction. In the past he's performed with Grammar Debate, The Yaker Bros and done a bit of production with Surreal Sound Studios. With everything going on, it's not unsurprising that his own project, Roomtone , only makes periodic appearances, but whenever it emerges, it's worth the wait. This weekend, the band Yaker also refers to as "The Official Indie BossaNova Goosebump Machine" plays its first show in over a year and a half at Johnny Brenda's, [...]
Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg make up the haunting duo that is First Aid Kit. Their sophomore album, The Lion's Roar is layered with light and airy tunes that are driven by vocals. The fact that they are sisters is evident on the album; their vocals complement each other, and harmonize so well that at times, it's hard to tell which sister is singing. What makes The Lion's Roar a beautiful album though, is it's perfect curation. The songs aren't too repetitive, there is a nice variety, despite a few of the lyrics sounding a [...]
To celebrate Valentine's Day this year, XPN mid-day host Helen Leicht has curated a collection of 14 songs recorded by local bands. This year's collection of Philly Sings In The Key Of Love includes songs by Tom Moon, The Bailey Hounds, Dave Hause, John Flynn, Brian Seymour, Pete Donnelly, Behn Wolfe and others. Yesterday we offered a free download of the song "Sweet Thing" by Lizanne Knott and Kuf Knotz than you can download here . Today we offer another song from the collection to download for free; "Where We Started" by singer-songwriter Dana Alexandra . [...]
To celebrate Valentine's Day this year, XPN mid-day host Helen Leicht has curated a collection of 14 songs recorded by local bands. This year's collection of Philly Sings In The Key Of Love includes songs by Tom Moon, The Bailey Hounds, Dave Hause, John Flynn, Brian Seymour, Pete Donnelly and others. Lizanne Knott and Kuf Knotz have contributed a new song, "Sweet Thing," that will be on Lizanne's forthcoming album called Marionette coming out in April. Lizanne is performing on Valentine's Day - next Tuesday, February 14th - at Burlap And [...]
When I originally discovered the music from the solo project of Paris songwriter Stéphane Milochevitch I described Thousand (his musical nom de guerre ) by stating that his music exhibits all of the qualities of a glass of fine red wine: it is bold, smooth, and a little spicy. I'd add that like a good red wine, his music also demonstrates a subtle complexity of flavor that makes it particularly satisfying. Milochevitch's baritone is woodsy and cedar-infused and the songs he composes are blended together with the thoughtfulness of a master vinter to reveal the mystery of [...]
Photo by Eric Schuman For this month's Key Studio Video Session, we profiled Arrah and the Ferns , the country-tinged four piece that self-released its latest EP, Soldier Ghost , in fall of 2011. In our interview, singer-guitarist Arrah Fisher talks about coming to Philadelphia from Muncie, Indiana; finding her voice as a songwriter; and the affinity for old country music she discovered after moving to a new city. Watch the video and download the Key Studio Session below, and catch the band in concert on March 2 when it plays Milkboy Philly [...]
In addition to Dr. Dog releasing their new album Be The Void today, we'd be remiss if we didn't say "happy record release day" to Gracie who last Friday played the Philadelphia Bandcamp Hunter showcase at Johnny Brenda's. Gracie's debut EP is out today on Small Plates Records . Listen to it and purchase it below.
Today, XPN Artist To Watch Sharon Van Etten releases her new album, Tramp . Below, download a demo version of the song "Serpents." If you're unaware of some of the goings-on surrounding Sharon, here's a quick summary of some recent news about her: 1) She plays WXPN's Free At Noon concert this Friday. RSVP here . Sharon begins her tour and plays a sold-out show at Johnny Brenda's on Friday night—so this Friday's Free At Noon is your chance to see her before she heads off on her North American and European [...]
The Indigo Girls' Amy Ray is releasing a new solo album on February 28th called Lung Of Love . Brandi Carlile and Jim James are featured on the album. Listen to the song "Glow" from the album here . Amy rolls into Philly at World Cafe Live on Tuesday, April 17th. Go here for tickets and more information. Amy was last in Philly with Emily Saliers when the Indigo Girls performed as part of the World Cafe 20th Anniversary tribute shows. You can listen to that concert in its entirety here [...]
Yim Yames (AKA Jim James of My Morning Jacket), Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo), Will Johnson (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel), Anders Parker (Varnaline, Gob Iron) have made a record together called New Multitudes, an "interpretation" of Woody Guthrie's previously unrecorded lyrics. New Multitudes is being released on Rounder Records on February 28th. The band performs Union Transfer on Tuesday, March 13th. Go here for tickets and more information about the show. Click here to download the song "Old L.A." Set to coincide with the centennial celebration of Woody Guthrie's [...]
The folks over at Weathervane Music have just released an EP featuring songs by musical acts that have appeared in the first two seasons of Shaking Through. The six-song sampler kicks off with Sharon Van Etten's "Love More"; Van Etten, who was featured in the first episode of Shaking Through , is WXPN's Artist To Watch for February and will perform a Free At Noon concert at World Cafe Live on Friday, Feb. 10th. (You can RSVP for the FAN show here .) The other Shaking Through artists on the compilation are Twin Sister, Family [...]
For this webisode of Bling47 Breaks spent a warm summer afternoon on the east side of Detroit with one of the citys jewels. It was good to sit down with DJ Dez and talk music and local politics. He's played a big role with Slum Village and the entire Detroit music scene since day one. As a talented DJ/ Producer/ Emcee and instrumentalist it's no wonder Dez connected with Dilla and Badu on this classic track. Big shout to E. Badu, Thanks for all the great music. Salute. [...]
INTRODUCING THE FIRST WTGR MAGAZINE: A MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF THE BEST NEW MUSIC TO DOWNLOAD, CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW OR CLICK HERE
Last week, Philly psychedelic popsters Power Animal premiered the title track from their forthcoming Exorcism EP on Soundcloud. The cassette release, which drops on Feb. 21, is worth seeking out for a few reasons. One, it's a great collection of the whimsical, imaginative songwriting we've come to expect from Keith Hampson and his collaborators. Two, it also collects solid remixes by the likes of Lushlife and Golden Ages. Three, it's for a worthy cause. The EP is being released on Hampson's charitable label, Human Kindness Overflowing , and money from each purchase of the cassette [...]
Canada's Great Lake Swimmers have a new album coming out on Nettwerk Records on April 3rd called New Wild Everywhere . Guitarist and songwriter Tony Dekker fronts the band and debuted in 2003 with their self-titled album. The Swimmers play at Johnny Brenda's on Monday, May 28th. Go here for tickets and more information. Below, download the song "Easy Come, Easy Go" from the band's forthcoming album. Easy Come Easy Go by Great Lake Swimmers from New Wild Everywhere Download
100% SILK, 2012 // LP / BUY: VINYL 936 by Peaking Lights (released on the LA-based Not Not Fun Records) has been hyped to death as one of the best albums of 2011. Honestly, I'm not sure why as I find the album to be nothing special, maybe even a bit boring. Anyway. Not Not Fun sister label 100% Silk just dropped a nice 123 featuring remixes of tracks from 936 by fellow 100% Silk artists Ital, [...]
RCA, 1982 // 123 / BUY: VINYL Here's one from the vaults. Produced by Ken Leray and Geraint Hughes and released in 1982, the vocal version of "Systems Breaking Down" by the mysterious Anna is one of my all-time favorite synth-pop tracks. Proper Balearic vibes paired with Anna's spooky and tortured vocals all add up to one helluva classic track. There's also a more dubbed-out version on the B-side. The original 123 vinyl pressing will set you back quite a lot, however, this bootleg has [...]
Another list of available collectible vinyl from those crazy guys at Tryptic Records. Garage, 60`s Freakbeat, Mod, Psych, French Beat & a killer collection of U.S Garage Punk, all records are original 45`s (no Reissues) with full gradings and online sound clips are taken from the actual disc for sale. Buying cool vinyl has never been easier. Learn More And Buy
When The Gramophone Rings
The Key
The Ruckus
Turntable Kitchen
HEAR THE SOUNDS
Filter27
MOJOPHENIA
Watch: Trailer for Dave Grohl’s documentary, Sound City
Conchord On Composing Music For Muppets
Free James Blake live album given away
Hardwell Bootleg Pack 2012
