Word on the street is that Jason Boesel is the real deal. A former drummer for such indie heavyweights as Bright Eyes and Rilo Kiley for fifteen years, only recently has Boesel begun investigating his own songwriting skills. Encouraged by Conor Oberst to find his unique voice, Boesel recruited a jaw-dropping list of artists like … Read more
I first stumbled upon Local Natives when that fantastic video of the guys covering Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia” went buzzing around the Interwebs. Even doing someone else’s (very famous) stuff, the band adds its own unique spin and is easy to love. Since that first glimpse of the Silverlake, California five-piece, I’ve been eagerly anticipating … Read more
Photo credit: Autumn de Wilde If you remotely fancy yourself an indie rock fan, then you know that a new Spoon release makes for a triumphant day. Lead singer, Britt Daniel, has penned some of the most memorable tunes of the last decade, songs that continuously fill my iPod speakers despite their age. For example, “I … Read more
Yesterday, we posted that Spoon had announced a string of North American tour dates. All around the Interwebs, fans buzzed about the more-bang-for-your-buck addition of Deerhunter to the lineup. Well, get ready for an even better bargain: the Austin six-piece, The Strange Boys, will start the show off real nice like with their signature “timeless … Read more
Fyfe Dangerfield has one of the coolest names I’ve ever heard, and he’s not even a professional baseball player. The Guillemots frontman is getting all kinds of love in the U.K. for his awesome solo debut, Fly Yellow Moon, and it’s time that our American asses start showering him with adoration, as well. This album … Read more
It’s been a while since Wincing the Night Away scratched at our souls. Remember that album? Yeah, what was that, three years ago? Man, I loved “Turn on Me.” Well, according to a new interview James Mercer did with MTV, there could be a new Shins record on tap for 2011. Until then, we’ll have … Read more
“I can’t tell how you’ve changed me/ And I am grateful/ But I am angry.” Damn that Jill Andrews. She probably wrote that line in five minutes. I’ve been searching for those exact words for five years. Simple, I know. But simple usually wins in my world. Jill Andrews’ world has been turned around in … Read more
I double dog dare you to not like this song. It is too damn catchy to resist, at the very least, tapping your toes, or if you’re like me, having a full blown one-woman dance party in the kitchen. It’s got a Bourbon Street feel that makes me long for next month’s Mardi Gras celebrations … Read more
That’s right, this is your chance to chat with singer-songwriter Dar Williams. She’ll be doing a live streaming session with Q&A starting at 12:30 EST. Just click “chat” below to ask your question. Dar is currently on tour supporting her new album, Many Great Companions. Have a listen to “If I Wrote You” (with Gary … Read more
Photo credit: Miles Kerr Last January, we reported that Franz Nicolay, one of the founding members of Brooklyn’s The Hold Steady, had left the band. So, perhaps a lyric from the brand new track, “Have Mercy” is very fitting: “It’s who you leave behind, it’s not who you save / That you’ll be judged by.” … Read more
Happy Monday to all! It’s definitely not every day we receive new music compliments of Greg Dulli and his band The Twilight Singers – so put those hands in the air and waive them bitches like you don’t care! I hope you all take the time to enjoy this free download of the spankin’ new … Read more
What began as a just-for-fun split-45 by a couple of seasoned songwriters, quickly evolved into something that’s pretty damn exciting to hear. The Parting Gifts, whose core consists of Greg Cartwright of North Carolina’s Reigning Sound and CoCo Hames of The Ettes, have given us a little Monday mornin’ present, and it’s the kind that … Read more
Photo credit: Nashville Scene Daniel Pujol is a young up and comer in the Nashville music scene…the punk scene. Not too much is known about Mr. Pujol, other than he has played with Nashville bands such as MEEMAW and Denny and The Jets, and he has a certain mount of disdain for musical packaging. What … Read more
Early last week, we were psyched to announce a new EP project for Saint Louis local bands, brought to you by creative thinker and general cool kid, Ryan Albritton of R&R Music Labs. Since that intial report, area music blogs have been leaking tidbits about the effort in a mysterious, scavenger hunt sorta way. Today, … Read more
In August, I wrote about Hayley Taylor’s “No More Wishing,” and how I admired her for defining her idea of a true love. I’m also quite fond of her latest release, One Foot in Front of the Other; Taylor’s given us an album full of honest tunes that play well to her strengths: thoughtful songwriting, … Read more
Inspired by Cee Lo’s recent cover of the friggin’ gorgeous Band of Horses‘ track, “No One’s Gonna Love You,” the South Carolina boys have reciprocated with a cover of Cee Lo’s “Georgia.” And oh yeah, they got the UGA Redcoat Marching Band to back ’em up. Lead singer (and the preferred voice to the soundtrack … Read more
School of Seven Bells, the buzzworthy side-band of Benjamin Curtis from Secret Machines and Claudia and Alley Deheza of On! Air! Library! fame, is on a cross-country tour in support of its sophomore album, Disconnect from Desire. Exciting news in itself, but what’s even better is they want YOU to have a copy of the album … Read more
I lost some people I was traveling with I miss the soul and the old friendship How beautiful is this song? I thought I knew, but after watching this video of Pearl Jam performing “Walk With Me” with Neil Young at this past weekend’s Bridge School Benefit Concerts, it’s taken on a different meaning. Walk … Read more
If you are a Local Natives fan, you must give U.S. Royalty a listen. The band combines the same kind of southern, sweet tea harmonies with gobs of beautiful nature imagery a la Fleet Foxes. In fact, the vocals on the intro of “Equestrian” quite remind me of a hooting owl. And that’s a good … Read more
A few weeks ago, I swooned over the Cotton Jones Pajammy Jam of the Day, “Somehow to Keep It Going.” The track gave me “relentless chills,” and I. fell. in. love. Now the duo has put together a 10 to Spin playlist for us, offering up its favorite artists for a much-needed, Cotton Jones-scheduled, mental … Read more
To me, the best Matthew Ryan songs are the ones where you’re left feeling exposed, like he’s written something about you, something secret. Ryan is one of my favorite songwriters because of songs like “3rd of October,” “Your Museum,” and “It Could’ve Been Worse” – songs that are courageous because they tell the truth, even … Read more
Deerhunter, the ever-evolving and prolific Atlanta quartet, led by charismatic and wildly creative front-man Bradford Cox, has come a long way from 2007’s exceptional, but occasionally impenetrable, psych-space-noise debut LP Cryptograms. With each passing year, Deerhunter’s music becomes more and more accessible, without sacrificing the band’s unshakable originality. With its latest release, Halcyon Digest (released … Read more
Cowboy Junkies’ music has been a big part of my life now for almost 10 years. While some of my friends shrug them off as being a band who play simply some sad songs, I hear a lot more. Sure, there’s darkness. But there is a lot of light, too. The truth is, the words … Read more
Photo Credit: Valerie Phillips There’s an internal struggle that pulls my musical soul apart when I hear songs like our Jam of the Day, “Rollerblades,” by Eliza Doolittle. I’m not sure what happens – I question what I’ve always known to be my musical taste. I question what my friends would think if they saw … Read more
Last week, we brought you Deerhunter’s “Helicopter.” Well guess what? It’s back. This time, reworked and remixed by uber-talented producer Diplo (along with Lunice, a remix master and pop-lockin’ savant out of Montreal, Canada). The re-imagined “Helicopter” now has a bit of a street swagger and a synth-driven gangsta lean in the hook. It might … Read more
Savoir Adore brings something entirely unique and exciting to the table with its addictive lush slant on pop – even in a scene as vibrant as the current one in Brooklyn. In the Wooded Forest, their exuberant debut album, showcases the strengths of this exciting, young band. Soaring melodies. Infectious beats. Today’s Jam of the … Read more
Photo Credit: SF Weekly Blog If you’re looking for a fresh and freaky addition to your Halloween party playlist, a track to get the hipster ghouls and goblins swaying while they sip their PBR, look no further than “Fright Night (Nevermore)” by Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Before you even get into the tune, from the recent … Read more
Swarming guitar fuzz, bass waves, and insistent drum throbs are just a few of my favorite things on an early fall morning. And luckily they, along with some mellow-ass lyrics, are core musical components of the work of Baltimore’s Lower Dens. Sometimes known for intimate, ghost-heavy weird-fi, the band’s leader, Jana Hunter, is now writing … Read more
Following a self-imposed three year hiatus, Sunderland England’s Field Music returned in a major way earlier this year with a gluttonous new 20 track double album. And as things do when on hiatus, their sound apparently gained a few pounds while brothers and co-frontmen Peter and David Brewis took their rest. Our Jam of the … Read more
Yuck is a fledgling UK band that has been together for the really long time period of just over a year. Yeah, they’re young both in age and duration as a band, but they’ve already been picked up by red-freakin-hot Fat Possum Records and will release their debut full-length early in 2011. Not too shabby for … Read more