The Lone Bellow is a band that we’ve already mentioned twice on Speakers in Code. They were one of our most anticipated albums of 2013 and a band that was on our radar for SXSW this year. Of all their songs, “You Can Be All Kinds Of Emotional” is my favorite. It captures the spirit … Read more
I don’t know if anyone else’s house looks like Santa went on a three day heroin bender that culminated in a drug-induced decorating party with his elf-homies — but mine certainly does. This list is endless, and includes but is not limited to: holiday rugs, towels, figurines, lights, wreaths, dog collars, decorations for lighting fixtures, table runners, table cloths, soap, garland, fire-scented … Read more
Drone metal wizards Sunn O))) blew us away during Hopscotch in 2012, but it would seem they’ve stepped up their game since then. The band just released an excerpt from a track off their new collaborative LP with Norwegian symphonic metal band Ulver, Terrestrials. The two groups have collaborated before, but with an entire album in the … Read more
I have no idea what the true definition of “symphonic rock” actually is, but if I were asked to provide an example on this particular day, I’d offer Lanterns on the Lake’s “The Buffalo Days” as exhibit A. Gorgeous and moving, it never tries too hard to achieve something massive. Guitars take precedence over strings, … Read more
Jason said this perfectly back in his October 30th Jam of the Day for the Milo Greene track “On the Fence” — Milo Greene wants to dance. More importantly, they seem to want YOU to dance as well, highlighted in grand form by today’s Jam of the Day, “Lie to Me.” Maybe it’s that I’m in Vegas … Read more
Usually, when sitting down to write my weekly Jam of the Day, I dick around for a half-hour trying to think up something witty to say. I like to keep it fresh, y’all — the blog world is vast and most of the yahoos out there take themselves way too seriously. But I’m going to change … Read more
Music videos range in quality from steaming piles of shit, to better than 99% of what Hollywood poops out onto that once-silver-screen (yep, two feces references in the same sentence…boom.) Luckily for us, the below video falls into the latter of the two categories mentioned above, framing the track perfectly, and elevating it into a stratosphere … Read more
I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t sit in a quiet room without going slowly insane. In fact, let’s take that one step further — in my hell, everything is on mute, speakers don’t exist, and everyone, both male and female, has the face and body type of Chris Christie. Good god — shudder to … Read more
A few years back, I trademarked the term “The Musical Delorean,” which was my attempt to be witty, while explaining that many songs have time-transient properties much like those found in the flux capacitor. The term never really took off, mainly because it’s stupid and no one will ever create a sub-genre that references a failed GMC experiment. Can’t blame a … Read more
The world is circular y’all, and I’m not talking about the whole spherical nature of the earth and universe that Neil deGrasse Tyson spits about on the daily. No — I’m talking about the fact that I can hear a song, streamed to Durham, NC via the internets from Seattle, WA. This audio emanating from … Read more
Remove the synths. Slow that bass line down. Distill this song down to its essence, and what you’re left with is the hook of the best damn “beach music” song never written. And while you may not be familiar with Chairmen of the Board, The Platters or even The Coasters, the music of that sub-genre of … Read more
Photo by Renata Raksha Since I’ve never really understood St. Vincent’s music and/or the lure of her exceptional guitar talents, which I’m sure are out of this world — I’ve just never witnessed them live, it makes total sense that I might be finally on board with today’s Jam of the Day which relies on beats. … Read more
I first posted about NO all the way back in 2010, when they graciously gave us all access to their much-better-than-giving-it-away-for-free-suggests EP, Don’t Worry, You’ll Be Here Forever. I described our Jam of the Day from that record as “subtle, addictive and satisfying as hell.” Beautiful, and eloquently stated 2010 version of me. Really…you’ve got one hell … Read more
We could all use a little help imagining a warmer, more hospital environment for human life to thrive today, on this, the coldest day the nation has seen since the late 1800’s. And if the flutes don’t do it for you, maybe the thought of making love outside in the fertile dirt will warm your soul today. … Read more
Very few songs score a 100% on my 5-point-song inspection test examination. LVLS, however, have managed to pull off this hardest-of-hard-feat with ease. Check it out below, and for reference, I’ve copied the results of their inspection below. Oh, and keep an eye on these cats — they’re just now getting off the ground, and … Read more
The sky may be clear, but it’s a cold day, even in Florida. Our protagonist, Rob Van Winkle, aka Vanilla Ice, has the rag top up on his 5.0 and the floorboard heat pumping, preventing that hair from blowing. It’s a sad day on the A1A – no VIP to kick it with, because those birds are all nestled up in … Read more
Photo: Pooneh Ghana Breakfast making up in SIC HQ isn’t a task to be taken lightly, and Tuesday, which is my day to cook for the clan, I TRULY don’t fuck around. It starts with a burr-grinding some hand-washed Ethiopian coffee. After dumping it into a pre-rinsed Chemex filter, I make a large pot of pour over … Read more
A Open Letter to Beat Connection Penned by Matthew P Smith October 7, 2014 Dear Beat Connection, SHAME ON YOU GOOD SIRS! Masking lyrics that make one go “hmmmm” by creating a sunshiny and, quite frankly, addictive song to draw listeners in and get them hooked. It’s musical CRACK I SAY…and once this electronic monkey is on your … Read more
Not really much else to say here y’all. Sleater-Kinney is BACK and that’s the best news I’ve heard since they announced they were going on indefinite hiatus back on June 27th, 2006! Their new LP, No Cities to Love, is out on January 20 in the U.S. Can. Not. Wait. Let’s get to it -check out “Bury Our … Read more
I never really liked the carousel rides. Don’t get me wrong — it’s fun at first, especially if you have one of those horses that moves up and down, but if you get stuck on one of those stationary bastards, you’re totally fucked. Either way, like most things in life, after a couple spins around it gets boring … Read more
Whenever a band gets back together to record their first album in 16 years, fans are unfortunately met with that odd sensation of both instant excitement and palpable trepidation. Will it be good? Will it suck? Will I be forced to burn that t-shirt I’ve been wearing since 1994? Then…the wait begins. It’s happened multiple times for … Read more
Where Small Black is concerned, I sort of feel like an absent son — which sounds weird, but as a blogger, they kind of birthed me way back in the day when I decided to pick up this game. I’ll never forget it — the song was “Despicable Dogs” and it was back in the day when we had … Read more
Driving songs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are artifacts of Americana that make those windows roll down so the wind can blow through your hairs. Some have a beat that just won’t stop causing you to dance like a fool (LIKE A FOOL!) at stoplights. Then, there are songs like “Gooey” which, as I found out last week, … Read more
Let’s pretend that there is a perfect human being. And this person instantly brightens days when they enter a scene. They don’t come in and command a room – they operate slightly under that level, where their energy slowly filters out, unbeknownst to the people whose moods are slowly changing from grey to yellow. This song represents … Read more
Before there was punk — there was Death. When I woke up this morning, I had no idea what that sentence would possibly mean, other than it sounds like some sort of half-assed-rally-cry for suburban-kids decreeing “punk” as a concept that’s been around since the dawn of time. Fuck you mom and dad – I’m not mowing the goddam … Read more
Good things are happening in Richmond, VA people — and I’m not talking about barbeque and breweries. Somehow, the former heart of the Confederacy has morphed into a hotbed of indie-rock, producing some major favs around the SIC offices like Matthew E. White, and now, Avers. I’m not sure you’d call them a supergroup, but there … Read more
Photo | Victoria Davis Comparatively, the blogger’s ear should be placed on the same plain as a masterfully honed blade in a ninja battle. It’s as delicate as a dewdrop on the wings of a newly chrysalised butterfly. It’s as nuanced as one of Nicholas Sparks’ T.S. Eliot’s works. Basically, it’s a product that is developed over time through hard … Read more
The Rentals have officially returned, and to those of us who recognize Matt Sharp, not as the guy who left Weezer right before they became shitty, but as one of the true pioneers of what ultimately became the modern-pop-indie-movement, that’s a pretty awesome thing to type. The song, “Thought of Sound,” off their upcoming LP … Read more
Musical rabbit holes are either the shit — or terribly frustrating. This is especially true when recommendations come to you through a favorite band — especially one with which you share geographic proximity. This happened last week while listening to our homies Sylvan Esso talk about listening to music at their favorite bar in Durham (The … Read more
Sun Club achieved the impossible Thursday night at the Hopscotch Music Festival. They turned the solemn mood of a guy, who an hour before had been busted by the cops for smoking a doobie while watching De La Soul completely around. I watched this guy go from downtrodden to bouncing around like he had just found out he’d … Read more