Imagine our unbridled joy when we heard that three of our favorite groups, Dom, Cults, and Passion Pit (well, just synth master Ayad Al Adhamy) got together and made a song – a great song – and decided to give it away for $FREE.99. Zero dolla dolla billz, y’all. Click HERE to grab the Aislyn … Read more
Rose Melberg’s musical journey began in 1992 with the formation of Tiger Trap in the distant land of Sacramento, California. She specialized in immaculate crash-pop that was as influenced by English C86/indie-pop as it was by the U.S. underground. Tiger Trap released a string of great records on the estimable K label which became the … Read more
We first told you all about Cults back in November when “Go Outside” was our JOTD, and again in December when the dreamy track also made our Best Songs of the Year list. In 2010, however, precious little was known about this NYC duo. The mysteries of Cults (apparently named individually, Brian Oblivion and Madeline … Read more
Photo credit: Santiago Felipe/Village Voice “And every chorus was written for us to recite/ Beautiful melodies of devotion every night…” Those lines, lyrics taken from the Ms. Lauryn Hill’s rap on “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” (a “duet” with the late Bob Marley) carry new meaning today, after seeing her performance last night at The … Read more
I’m assuming you got my messageOn your machineI’m assuming you love meAnd you know what that means Well, this is a surprise. A beautiful surprise. If I wasn’t convinced that Grace Potter could sing just about anything, I sure am now. Have a look/listen before you head to bed!
Speakers Rating: 92/100 When Nicole Atkins was 14, she broke her nose at a Meatpuppets/Blind Melon show. Someone’s boot crashed down on her face, and since she had snuck out to see the show, her parents didn’t fix the damn thing. And while I don’t know Atkins personally, I’m guessing she is pretty tough. Her … Read more
A couple of weeks ago, we introduced you to Irish born singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow and his impeccable single, “If I Had a Boat.” McMorrow’s debut record, Early in the Morning, will be released here in the U.S. tomorrow on Vagrant Records. We were able to catch up with James as he prepares for a … Read more
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Margo Timmins a few times, but there was one conversation that really stood out. It was a few years ago, at The Sheldon in Saint Louis. She and the Cowboy Junkies had just finished their sold-out show. They had played most of Trinity Session, and even covered Neil Young’s … Read more
You may know Dan Bejar best as a one of the vocalists of Canadian indie rock troupe The New Pornographers. Bejar, however, is also the founder/primary member of Destroyer, and he has been absolutely killing it with consistently awesome records since the release of 2000’s Thief. Bejar’s music is skillfully poetic, but often lyrically cryptic … Read more
It looks like rain And that’s fine with me It’s like we’ve been living On the sun lately If I had to pick one artist that always seems to get to the heart of the matter with his or her lyrics, that artist would probably be Matthew Ryan. The last time we heard from Ryan, … Read more
Buzzing Scottish band Admiral Fallow just took a huge leap of faith. They have agreed to make their second show in the United States (ever!) the first show (ever!) promoted by our little music blog! The show goes down in Durham at Fullsteam Brewery on March 19th as the band stops in the Triangle after … Read more
“Lord have mercy on my rough and rowdy ways…” The Seattle six-piece The Head and the Heart has absolutely floored me with its endless wallops of poignant lyrical punches in one single five minute song. “Down in the Valley” is perfectly reminiscent of that Northwestern indie-folk sound that’s been well harvested over the past five years … Read more
When I listen to today’s JOTD, a couple things become evident to me (besides, say, making me want to dance around the house in a pair of boxers). One, Karin Bergquist keeps evolving as a singer, so much that I’m pretty sure she could sing anything these days and make it sound unique. On “The … Read more
Sometimes a little back story can make a world of difference when approaching new music, and said knowledge just awarded this music blogger a “Eureka” moment! So apparently, Deepak Mantena, the creative force behind the rising experimental pop-project Junk Culture, concocted his trademark vibe from a lifetime collection of sounds he’s captured on a handheld … Read more
Photo Credit: Chicago Magazine A couple of months back, we gave you a little taste of an up and coming Chicago rock outfit known as Smith Westerns. This buzzing dream/garage-y band of youths have lived up to the hype with noteworthy sets at SXSW and the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2010. As a result, Smith … Read more
It’s our first birthday here at Speakers in Code, but we’d still prefer to think of you. Because, after all, our readers are the ones who keep us grinding away. So, we’re gonna celebrate by giving away two tickets to see Langhorne Slim, Bobby Bare Jr., & Samantha Crain at Off Broadway on January 29th. … Read more
Photo Credit: Chris Lay Waiting for Grace Potter isn’t all that bad. For some artists, that isn’t the case. In 2001, I waited a good 90 minutes for Lucinda Williams to show up at The Pageant, and the same album — Cowboy Junkies’ Open — played over the PA twice. A great, dark album, but … Read more
Swedish pop-rock-tart Lykke Li impressed critics and enthralled listeners with her infectious 2008 debut Youth Novels. Wounded Rhymes, Lykke’s second LP, will be released on March 1st in the U.S. (on her own LL records). A couple of months ago, she offered up the sexy “Get Some” as a tasty morsel to hold fans over … Read more
Starting at 12:30 CST at the live feed below, Nicole Atkins will be performing selections from her upcoming album, Mondo Amore, due February 8th. She’ll also be answering your questions, so get those creative minds thinking. Atkins is about to embark on a North American tour. She’ll be hitting The Firebird in St. Louis with … Read more
Ruby Coast consists of three small town friends, Justice McLellan, Keith Bradford, and Corey Marshall, who are just a few Ontario residents who got together in 2006 to make music. The band’s sold out debut EP, Projectable Collections, was produced by Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club, who fittingly took them throughout North America performing with … Read more
A couple weeks ago, we gave you a list of our 25 most anticipated albums of 2011. Lurking at the bottom of that list was Jill Andrews, you know, that sweet lil’ gal who wrote “Lonely Anywhere” as a member of the everybodyfields, and “Worth Keeping” for her first EP in 2009. 2011 is a … Read more
Welp, it’s 2011. And today, we’re proud to say, we’re celebrating our first birthday. It’s been a very fun year for us at Speakers in Code, but we’re extremely excited about what’s in store – musically, especially – for 2011. Here are the 25 upcoming albums we’re, like, totally psyched about, coming your way in … Read more
We know people everywhere (us included) are flipping their shit for the upcoming TENNIS album, but slow down, folks. Let’s not forget about La Sera, Katy Goodman’s (Vivian Girls) new band. With that same ’50s pop influence couple with ethereal choral vocals and a clear sense of humor (see above picture), La Sera is going … Read more
Lead singer Nate Eiesland wrote the new Scattered Trees album in memory of his father. Just look at the titles of the two songs we offer you today. It’s clear that Sympathy is a meditation on the gut wrenching feelings of love and loss, but it’s equally therapeutic. “A Conversation About Death on New Years … Read more
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors find themselves in the midst of a surprising revival of popular music in Nashville, where artists like Kings of Leon, Jack White, Mat Kearney, and a legion of other national acts have reinvented the reputation of the city as a hotbed of music beyond the realm of typical and formulaic … Read more
Chicago’s California Wives (nope, not actually from California) has been on our radar since the band played this year’s PLAY:stl fest back in September. They wowed us with the first single, “Blood Red Youth,” off the debut, five-song EP, Affair. The band’s dreamy pop landscapes landed the track on our 100 Best Songs of 2010 list, … Read more
L.A. electro-dance-pop foursome Foster the People grooved their way into our hearts with the tip-top summer jam “Pumped Up Kicks” a few months back in 2010. With no EP or LP rumblings and grumblings attached to the track or the band (formed in 2009), we were left to wonder, who are these guys and when … Read more
At this point, we really don’t know much about Australia’s Young Magic except it’s the stage name for some dude named Isaac, he’s the newest addition to the beeping hot as hell Carpark family, he’s currently residing somewhere in NYC, and he made the record with some friends. We’ve also been told the songs were … Read more
not all of them just the ones who turn love into fear and hatred “It’s considered by some to be a controversial song. But, in my opinion, I think the message is positive and moving,” says Kat Maslich-Bode of today’s PJOTD, “J.P.M.F.Y.F.” When Tim Easton wrote this song and released it on his 2006 album, … Read more
A few months back, we gave Dreamers of the Ghetto’s, “Tether,” Jam of the Day honors for a simple reason: the song freaking kills. Then, we stood front row at the Hopscotch Music Festival as they did the impossible by more-than-holding their own as one of the opening slots for the mind-fuck that is a … Read more