Now that we’ve had the weekend to absorb The King of Limbs, “Lotus Flower” has emerged as the early standout on Radiohead’s new record. While we know full well that the listening experience has the propensity to change and evolve each time through a Radiohead album, it is clear that “Lotus Flower” is the rock … Read more
For Friday’s Jam of the Day, we are going to sit back, and let a recent press release about his upcoming album do all the talking. Honestly, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves. “Alone in his room, Alex had his guitar, a Lowery organ he picked up at a St. Vincent’s thrift store … Read more
Admiral Fallow is a beeping awesome new band from the UK that is causing quite a stir in the land of the Scots. The band is fueled by young, foot-stomping and faintly maniacal singer/songwriter, Louis Abbott, who attributes his influences to the likes of Tom Waits, Elbow, Low and Mr. Springsteen himself. Our Jam of … Read more
Photo Credit: Agatha Donker Oberhofer busted up on our radar early last year when we happened across a free EP the duo posted on its website, quickly gaining the band a Jam of the Day nod, as well as a spot on our Best Songs of 2010 list. But we’re not the only ones who are keeping a … Read more
Back in February, we made Delta Maid’s “The Changes Made” our Pajammy Jam of the Day. It felt like home, we told you at the time. We still think that’s an accurate description of Maid’s music, and she proved it once again on “On My Own,” which was recently made into a video. Set a … Read more
This Saturday, the second round of the LouFest Music Festival High School Battle of the Bands will take place at Off Broadway from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. We first announced the competition back at the beginning of March, including the fact that Jason and I would be two of the three judges for both evenings of … Read more
Seattle-based songwriter Grant Olsen knows a little bit about Robert Frost. In fact, it was Frost’s appreciation of the ephemeral beauty of nature, and one of his most famous lines “Nothing gold can stay,” that inspired Olsen to name his new solo project Gold Leaves. And while the name hearkens images of sunny autumnal days, … Read more
Speakers Rating: 88/100 New England musician Merrill Garbus is tUnE-yArDs. tUnE-yArDs is Merrill Garbus. Her second LP, w h o k i l l, was released on April 19th (4AD), and since then, Ms. Garbus has been taking the web by storm… for good reason. The songs on w h o k i l l … Read more
In the past, we’ve posted about songs that make us feel like everything from dancers to old people. The Cave Singers, however, have given us a song that makes us feel like friggin’ badasses. Don’t believe us? Just start playing it below while you read the rest of this. Go ahead. Really. We’ll wait… Good … Read more
I’m want to live Like a free-roamin’ soul On the highway of our love Happy Memorial Day, everybody! Sometimes you have to look back to look forward. Here’s a song taken from the best concert I’ve ever been to: “Looking Forward” from Neil Young’s solo acoustic performance at The Fox Theater on April 14, 1999. … Read more
Canadian singer-songwriter Lindi Ortega isn’t a country artist, but she’s a got a little Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, and Waylon Jennings in her. Of course, Emmylou swears she isn’t even country these days, so I’m obviously digging myself a hole here. Or, maybe I just don’t know how to categorize artists like Ortega these days. … Read more
Photo by Jim Flynn When Brandi Carlile and her band made their way through the thick, sold-out crowd at Gruene Hall minutes before they took the stage, it signaled something rather obvious: this show was going to be a little different. Never had I seen an artist as “big” as Carlile have to fight through … Read more
Referring friends to check out your favorite music blog on Facebook can come with some serious effing perks. Take for example this, our Jam of the Day, hand selected by uber-fan Britt Holzmacher, featuring a little up-and-coming band known wittily as “The Beatles.” It just so happens to be her favorite song in the world, … Read more
Twangfest is back in its fifteenth year on June 8th – 11th (click here for tickets), and once again, the lineup is exceptional with musicians like Hayes Carll, Jill Andrews, Cassie Morgan and the Lonely Pine, Robbie Fulks with Nora O’Connor, and The Baseball Project. All of the action will be taking place at The … Read more
The Swedish band Junip, fronted by Argentinian-born Jose Gonzalez, released an eclectic, electronic folk album last year that resulted in, at most, a moderate blip on the indie rock radar. Fields should have been all over the place, buzzing like Gonzalez’s other albums of intimate guitar and vocal work. But for some reason, it never quite … Read more
Here’s one to warm up your Monday, wherever you are. If you haven’t discovered Matthew Mayfield yet (read our interview with him here), he released a beautiful album called Now You’re Free earlier this year, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite of ours. The video below features one of its best songs, “Missed Me;” it’s … Read more
There is something about the spring in Wilmington, North Carolina that is filled with energy. Yet, it’s peaceful in a way that draws your mind back once winter’s final breath is complete. The days are warm, sunny, and breezy – typical for a coastal southern town. But as the sun dips below the horizon, the … Read more
Photo Credit: Chris Lay When trying to come up with a mission statement for Over the Rhine, songwriter Linford Dertweiler joked that the band kicked around a few ideas. “We make sad people happy,” Detweiler said from stage at The Old Rock House, “and happy people sad.” “We skipped the Prozac and went straight for … Read more
If you have yet to hear of twenty-year-old rapper Tyler, the Creator, a member of the crazy rap collective Odd Future (Wolf Gang Kill Them All), you’re more than likely not paying too much attention to indie music. This has been their year thus far, successfully reaching blowing-the-fuck-up status by killing every appearance they’ve made. … Read more
Music, for most, is something that is categorized internally. And while you may keep your record collection in alphabetical order, the virtual playlist in your head tells you exactly where songs, bands, even albums fall — and when exactly you should play them. There are the inevitable falling asleep albums, like Sigur Ros’ ( ). … Read more
Like a fishing bobber off the coast of their native Queensland, The Middle East have been submerging and resurfacing for quite some time now. The band made its initial splash at SXSW way back in 2010. Following that, The Middle East released a highly anticipated EP, Recordings of The Middle East, which met stellar reviews … Read more
When I first interviewed Brooke Fraser in 2008, talking to her was a joy. She was polite (almost too polite) and she gave thoughtful responses, two things that are far from sure things during interviews. But, as I soon learned, Fraser, the person and the musician, is a different, eloquent breed among her peers. In … Read more
You gave up a long time agoBut I’m searchin’ nowNot findingA better part of me‘Cause I want it backI want it back Jill Andrews is back on June 7th with her first full-length, The Mirror, which follows her 2009 debut self-titled EP. Recently, while playing live, she recorded a video with Live & Breathing for … Read more
“I don’t see myself as a singer that plays piano,” says Danish singer-songwriter Agnes Obel. “It always feels weird when people refer to me as a singer, because to me being a singer is secondary to the music. The songs and the melodies are the most important to me. But I’m not sure what you … Read more
When we asked Australian singer-songwriter Lenka to be part of our 10 to Spin series, we were pretty sure she would want to boogie. After all, her new latest album, Two, is filled with beats that will make you want to shake it in every way possible, and its first single, “Heart Skips a Beat,” … Read more
April was the last time I think I saw you You were carrying lightning The way you walked into the room, If I was a flower I would’ve opened up and bloomed I say I don’t care, but I’m a liar Look how easy a heart can catch on fire … Those are the lyrics … Read more
Chicago’s Hey Champ lambasted us last summer with glossy electro-pop via their LP Star, a solid tutorial and exercise in ’80s inspired dance rock. After a tour that took these Midwesterners (and their dynamic live shows) as far as South America, the trio has recently been toiling away in the studio, crafting tunes that will … Read more
Junior Boys‘ new record, It’s All True, is set for release on June 14th (Domino), and the Ontario, Canada electro-pop duo have themselves an epic lead single in the deliciously titled “Banana Ripple.” A nine minute rhythm and blues synth-groove behemoth, “Banana Ripple” will have your head bopping and your body poppin’ and lockin’. The … Read more
Seriously, how in the world has it been over a year since I first wrote about the yummy goodness that is GIVERS? “Up Up Up,” from the band’s self-released EP, was my first introduction to Louisiana quintet’s unique blend of funk, afro-pop, and island flavors. And, I loved it instantly. Needless to say, the looooong … Read more
On Friday, Ben Sollee and his band (and his cello) will be back in St. Louis performing at The Old Rock House, and we’ve got two free tickets to giveaway! As you may know, Sollee is on tour supporting his new album, Inclusions, which was released on May 10th. Here’s the video for one of … Read more