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
Yesterday, the an interactive music video for the song, “We Used to Wait,” and it’s it’s just about the coolest damn thing I have ever seen. At the beginning of the experience, you’ll be asked to enter the house where you were raised. Given I grew up in the sticks, I entered my college address, and it … Read more
Photo Credit: Erica Beckman Sometimes I think of how life must have been for you here What life could have been like for you here What life should have been like here with you On November 9th, 1938, Clare Burson’s grandmother, Helga Rabinowitsch, left Leipzig, Germany, for the United States. Rabinowitsch fled moments before the … Read more
Artwork credit: Alyssa Shapkoff Want more? Check out the entire list of albums here. (And don’t forget about best songs here). Delorean | Subiza (True Panther Sounds) [buy] The Spanish electro-synth quartet Delorean has come a long way from its early punk rock roots. 2009 brought about this punk-to-dance transformation with the Aryton Senna EP. … Read more
Artwork credit: Alyssa Shapkoff Click here to see the entire list, from 100 – 1. 25 Sufjan Stevens – From the Mouth of Gabriel The most classic Sufjan song of the 2010 onslaught of Sufjan songs, “From the Mouth of Gabriel” is haunting and just plain beautiful. Flutes and clarinets, plucking guitars and lyrics that … Read more
Photo by JF Lalonde We’re winding down the year here at Speakers in Code, but let’s look ahead for a moment as Arcade Fire will perform at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Sunday, April 27th (Tickets: $26 – 60.50). The band from Montreal just released their latest album, Reflektor. Let’s have a listen to the title … Read more
Summer is over, but we’re not sweating autumn. No, we’ve got some fine albums to look forward to, starting tomorrow with a new dose of tunes from one of our favorite bands, Ha Ha Tonka. Let’s all celebrate falling leaves, pumpkins, candy corn, and the dozen upcoming albums listed below! Ha Ha Tonka, Lessons (9/24) HAIM, Days Are … Read more
All photos by Louis Kwok Now our lives are changing fast Now our lives are changing fast Hope that something pure can last Hope that something pure can last There was the time Arcade Fire won a Grammy for the album without a hit. The Suburbs was “Album of the Year,” in fact, and an … Read more
Photo by Louis Kwok Just a few weeks ago, we were blown away by Arcade Fire’s performance at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. One of the best shows we’ve seen in 2014 — no question. Now, we’re given a new treat: the video for “We Exist” from Reflektor, one of our favorite albums of 2013. It … Read more
A few years ago, my friend played me The National’s “Daughters of the Soho Riots” at a party, causing a few people in attendance to groan and request something “faster.” Granted, it was a party, people were drinking, probably making out in closets, but I would have none of it. I had never heard of … 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
On the morning of what many jilted lovers across the land view as the most superficial and contrived of all holidays, the music world brings us two substantial, significant, and genuine news gifts. Photo Credit – ET Online – Getty Images – Kevin Winter 1) Last night at the 2011 Grammy Awards, a much deserving … Read more
I don’t remember how I found Clare Burson’s music, I just know I kept listening to it when I did. I do remember the song — yes, that was “Love is Snow,” off the album Thieves. I remember it being sometime late last year, on a day when the wind howled outside. “I would give … Read more
On the last day of any music festival, night arrives before you know it. You struggle to hold on to what you’ve experienced, what’s still left, and you maybe start to think if you’ll be able to do it all again next year. Of course, there are no guarantees — you might not ever pass … Read more
Earlier this year, Abigail Washburn hit us hard with her second solo album called City of Refuge; it’s been called a “a sublime marriage of old-time and indie-pop,” and rightfully so – it was recorded with a new cast of characters, including My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel and The Decemberists’ Chris Funk. It certainly takes … Read more