Well, if this isn’t DIY, I don’t know what is. The sirens, the hushed and hurt voice, the simple lyrics that tell a story. You get what you see with Jacob Golden. I adore songwriters who take their time but also know when a song is supposed to end. On “Zero Integrity,” off Revenge Songs, … Read more
Photo credit: Pamela Littky With the release of two EPs in 2009, Hard City and Little House, last year was a big year for L.A. singer-songwriter Annie Stela. I had heard about Stela’s music from a friend, who, after hearing “Heart,” simply told me, “This girl’s got the goods.” Well, my friend was right – … Read more
Photo credit: Shawn Brackbill How Aloha’s “Moonless March” manages to combine ethereal lyrics of moons and stars with an existential point of view, I’ll never know. But, this track off the upcoming Home Acres album is at once hopeful (“And every sundown, we will pour a drink in celebration of this moonless march…”) and world-weary … Read more
Photo credit: Autumn de Wilde The November 2009 release of Norah Jones’s The Fall proclaimed a departure from her signature mellow/jazz/fun for the whole family sound. Instead, she tapped into her inner supply of rock ‘n’ roll, grabbed a new bunch of collaborators including Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse), Will Sheff (Okkervil River), … Read more
In a developing story, Franz Nicolay has decided to leave The Hold Steady, according to a post on his website. We’ll let his post do the talking: “You should know: I’ve left The Hold Steady. I told the band I’d be leaving in early September, played my last show with them in Minneapolis around Thanksgiving, … Read more
The much loved Local Natives debuted the video for “Airplanes” today. Local Natives | MySpace Music Videos On top of that goodness, Broken Bells (the collabo between Danger Mouse and The Shins‘ frontman, James Mercer) debuted its video for “The High Road.” Broken Bells | MySpace Music Videos To complete the trifecta, we bring you … Read more
Ahhhh, Jason Collett. We go way back. He’s a member of Toronto’s Broken Social Scene, but Collett’s most notable work is his catalog of solo efforts. The acclaimed Idols of Exile is chock full of twangy, backyard sleepers and is perhaps one of my favorite albums of…well, ever. Here’s to Being Here features two of … Read more
Winter has never really been that good to me. For the past seven days, I have been content to stay indoors and only acknowledge the snow, the cold, the blanket of grey through my balcony window. Winter and I are not friends. However, I don’t always mind the inevitable disposition-altering effects that this season has … Read more
“And I have been so fuckin’ alone…” Ok, so the chorus may seem cheesy to some, but I love it when Lucinda Williams gets a little fiesty, and on this tune, she’s definitely pissed at someone. There were rumors that some of the songs on World Without Tears, where you can find this song, were … Read more
I’ve been to West Palm Beach. And let me just say that my impression of West Palm Beach is diametrically opposed to anything having to do with indie rock. Maybe that’s because I was hanging out with my parents the entire time I was there. Regardless, I was surprised to find out that a) there’s … Read more
Ah, the art of changing one’s mind. For Brendan Benson, the ex-Raconteur, he may like to do it a little too much. But then again, if it gives us a great song, who am I to complain? Wait, did I just change my mind? Blah. “A Whole Lot Better” is the lead track on Benson’s … Read more
April 6th will bring us a new solo album from Jakob Dylan, who last released Seeing Things in 2008. 2010’s Women and Country finds Dylan teaming up with Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, who provide back-up vocals to 8 of the album’s 11 tracks. And whenever that happens, you’ve got our attention, not to mention … Read more
“I want the dream that we never had.” Matthew Ryan does the “sad bastard” songwriting thing pretty well. Ok, he does it extremely well. But you know what? The artist from Chester, Pennsylvania, can also rock, and on his latest album, Dear Lover, he takes a few electric chances that shake the surrounding trees of … Read more
So, we launch our blog, and Wilco announces more 2010 tour dates. Sometimes, it just works that way…although the boys are staying east and south, so don’t get too worked up if you’re living in L.A. The press release we received promises the concerts are to be presented as “An Evening with Wilco” and will … Read more
After a very busy 2009 that included lending vocals to The Decemberists’ Hazards of Love, releasing a tribute EP of George Harrison covers, and folking out with supergroup, Monsters of Folk, J/Yim J/Yames of My Morning Jacket has joined forces with his cousin (and former MMJ guitarist), Johnny Quaid, to launch Removador Recordings and Solutions, … Read more
Welcome to the inaugural post of Speakers in Code, named for that wonderfully ambiguous repeat lyric from Wilco’s 1999 single, “Can’t Stand It.” As much as I love venturing into new musical territory, one thing is for sure: all roads lead back to Wilco. Jason, my partner in blogging, feels the same. And so it … Read more
As someone with a voracious appetite for new music and a preference for being ahead of the curve versus behind, it literally pains me that a band as special as Mumford and Sons escaped me for much of 2009. Gah! Don’t you just hate being left in the dark? The London-based foursome’s brand of folk … Read more
So, thanks to MLK, it’s probably your first day at work this week. That’s why today’s JOTD is a sweet tune, aptly titled “Sweeter Than This,” by the lovely Kate Herzig. Herzig is an artist based out of Nashville who I just came across recently, and she’s got the goods to brighten your day. Herzig’s … Read more
When your band name is Backyard Tire Fire, there better be a party going down. And usually with BTF’s music, there is a hell of a throwdown. But for today’s JOTD, I’m going to kick it back just a notch with “Everybody’s Down,” because, well, people just seem to be down these days. Not to … Read more
The London-based “dark pop” outfit, Scanners, will release the album Submarine, produced by Stephen Hague (New Order), February 16, 2010 on Dim Mak. The first single, “Salvation” perfectly illustrates the band’s penchant for the eerie and mysterious. When vocalist, Sarah Daly, repeatedly sing-shouts, “I’ll take you to my grave!” I feel like I might be … Read more
As if she hasn’t conquered enough in her career as a singer-songwriter, Austin’s Patty Griffin has a new surprise for all of us: a gospel album. Griffin’s seventh solo trek, Downtown Church, will hit stores and the Interwebs on January 26th, and you can bet it’s quite the departure from 2007’s Children Running Through. There … Read more
On March 16, 2010, The White Stripes will release its first ever live album titled Under Great White Northern Lights. The effort features 16 songs recorded at a bevy of Canadian venues, all in an effort for the duo to complete the mission of performing in every province and territory in our neighbor to the … Read more
There once was a time you could find Justin Townes Earle touring with his dad, Steve, sort of hanging in the background while Earle and The Dukes did their thing. I never thought much of him ever becoming an artist with such a creative vision that he has now. Of course, I had no idea … Read more
I know that Jay Farrar teaming up with Ben Gibbard and Jack Kerouac for the One Fast Move Or I’m Gone album is all the rage these days. I get that. I do. But I’m going to throw you a Farrar curve ball on this wonderful Friday and go back to The Slaughter Rule soundtrack. … Read more
It’s been three years since the Cowboy Junkies gave us a new studio album (their last was the fabulous At the End of Paths Taken). And it appears they are going to make up for lost time in 2010 with the upcoming release of four albums worth of music, according to the band’s post on … Read more
My introduction to Cold War Kids back in 2006 left me with visions of alcoholic fathers and creepy hospital rooms dancing in my head. I was instantly hooked on the Kids’ penchant for Gothic storytelling over soulful indie rock on Robbers & Cowards. Their follow up LP, Loyalty to Loyalty followed suit; the standout track … Read more
Ashamedly, two weeks ago, I hadn’t heard of Courtney Jaye’s music. I know, I suck. However, I recently read a blurb on Pitchfork about her cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Sometimes Always” (one of my favorite songs of all time…yes, of ALL TIME) with Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell, hopped on over to her MySpace to … Read more
Jason, my blogging partner in crime, passed on this We Are Wolves song to me yesterday, knowing it would be right up my alley. I guess writing about music together for two years has paid off. He was right on the money. So, it’s pretty amazing how poignant two simple, alternating chords can be, as … Read more
The fantastical lead single from Seabear’s sophomore album, We Built a Fire, features percussion sprinkled like fairy dust amidst soaring brass and cheerful violins. Frankly, the fact that it was recorded in an Icelandic basement studio with apple carton-covered walls makes me love it even more. How can something so otherworldly, in actuality, be so … Read more
Seems like everywhere I turn, bands are giving props to the one, the only, Charles Darwin. Well, ok, I can think of two. Providence trio (now quartet with newly minted member, Mat Davidson), The Low Anthem, named their 2009 album after him. Lead singer, Ben Knox Miller, once explained to The Providence Journal that the … Read more