Although Buxter Hoot’n is now based in San Francisco, I don’t think of sunny California when I listen to their music. It’s much too grounded, too declarative in nature; when they sing “We’re miles and miles outside the line, traveling outside our minds,” I think of open-all-night truck stops and lonesome, cracked highways, the kind … Read more
Photo by Nate Burrell Speakers Rating: 90/100 It doesn’t take long to gather from the album art of the latest Old Lights EP, Like Strangers, that we’re treading into some disturbing territory here. Oh yes, love is a many splendored/splintered thing, and the six-song collection from the Saint Louis foursome isn’t afraid to delve into … Read more
Monday morning after a steamy and successful Pitchfork Music Fest… I’m sun kissed and tired, feeling the burn of three days of dancing and moseying around the fields of Union Park in Chicago. What better way to inject a little energy into the morning than a new track from Toro y Moi (Chaz Bundick was … Read more
Coming off 2010’s well-received debut, One For Each of Us, the Saint Louis-ish based foursome, Jailbox, boasts a new collection of songs. Today’s Jam of the Day is “I Hate It,” one of the tracks on the recent Empty Rooms EP. Despite the uptempo beat and the slightly antipathetic title, “I Hate It” manages to … Read more
Disco-pop quintet Twin Sister has been on the musical map since late 2008 when they released the first of their two notable EPs, Vampires With Dreaming Kids. The group dropped the Color Your Life EP in 2010, to rave reviews, and many began to wonder when the Long Island based crew would muster up more … Read more
Photo by Shawn Brackbrill As the glossiness of summer’s novel sheen becomes dirtied with the oppressive heat that only the Midwest can offer, we need pop songs that reflect the melancholy of being trapped inside all day with only artificial cooling to keep us from melting into little puddles on the sidewalks. Don’t worry, Real … Read more
Back in April, we first espoused the musical virtues of Air Review when the engaging, rustic, and immeasurably listenable, “America’s Son” was our Pajammy Jam of the Day. Since then, these Texans have been quite busy, as they have been recording, rationing, and releasing the America’s Son EP, one track at a time. Check out … Read more
But you always knew my plans were larger Than the biggest back yard we could ever have had Austin-based singer-songwriter Lex Land seems like a “let’s leave the door open” kind of gal. I mean, the relationship she’s describing in today’s JOTD must have ended poorly, if I had to guess. Still, Land is forward-thinking; … Read more
The members of Copenhagen’s Iceage are but mere teenagers, presently between 18 or 19 years of age (and in most cases, that would be the big story for a band who just released its debut LP to a music scene already eagerly awaiting its arrival.) However, the story we should be telling is how … Read more
The first time I saw Josh Oliver play live, he was a multi-instrumentalist for the everybodyfields, the now-defunct group from Tennessee that featured Jill Andrews and Sam Quinn. I remember him picking up his electric guitar and blasting my ears during “Aeroplane,” adding that extra amount of energy that makes that particular song fly. These … Read more
Blitzen Trapper is back! The Portland quintet just recently confirmed that its sixth studio album, American Goldwing, will be released on September 12th – the third release for the ever-brilliant Sub Pop Records. Full of the introspective and striking storytelling that countless critics have fallen in love with, Blitzen Trapper considers subjects ranging from falling … Read more
We know, we know. 2011 is only half empty. Or, half full, as we optimistic bloggers at Speakers in Code like to think. But the midway point of the year is always a good point to pause, gather our thoughts, make some lists, revisit early favorites, and tell you about all the songs and albums … Read more
HOLY LOUFEST RE-MIX! Brooklyn hip-hop prankstas Das Racist have always had an affinity for mixing badass beats with obscure pop culture references, nods to rap’s old school elite, and jokes upon jokes. Now, they’ve taken a former Jam of the Day, “Caffeinated Consciousness,” by TV on the Radio and added in their own funky elements … Read more
Union Tree Review If you’ve got a big toe halfway dipped into the pool of Saint Louis music, you know that Saturday is one heck of a big night. Yes, folks, it’s the double album release party for both Union Tree Review and Bo and the Locomotive, two fantastic bands ’round these parts that tend … Read more
Photo courtesy of Expunged Records Back in June, we were first introduced to Portland’s Priory, and we instantly made the single, “Lady of Late” our Jam of the Day. The band’s self-titled debut album is spending a lot of time in our speakers, and so we were very excited to talk with Greg Harpel, lead … Read more
Scottish band Admiral Fallow came to Fullsteam Brewery in North Carolina this March, played a little show promoted by yours truly, broke everyone’s hearts, and flew out of town in fewer than 24 hours, leaving a void in the lives of more than a handful that saw them that night. We’re now offering up a … Read more
I am not a musician, but I cannot begin to imagine how frustrating it must be to hear a music fan or critic say these words: It all sounds the same. Of course, there are many other damning words that can be said to describe music that doesn’t leave a favorable impression, but when it … Read more
English quintet The Horrors have morphed quite a bit musically since their hard rocking debut, 2007’s Strange House. 2009’s Primary Colours dialed back the horror and channeled a softer (but still somewhat grim) new wavey 80’s sound with elements of synth-driven dance music. The Horrors’ new LP Skying, the band’s third record, is already out … Read more
But I know there is light Even in the shadows Wherever the sun goes I will follow, too Last year, I got divorced. Never thought it would happen to me, but things change, and people change. Mostly, everything changes when you’re married, whether you like it or not. And it all happens so damn fast. … Read more
If someone drew a visual representation illustrating the ways in which all indie bands are interconnected, the four musicians who make up Wild Flag would be in the same, tiny, intricately woven sphere of love. They have crossed paths countless times, eventually figuring out it can apparently be exciting to join musical forces and deliver … Read more
If there was a way I could bottle up the quiet energy and intimacy of a living room concert, and perhaps show it to you in a three-minute video, I would gladly do that. But, I can’t. A video, or even any words I could write wouldn’t do a living room concert justice. It’s a … Read more
All photos by Aggie Donkar/Brand New Kind of Photography Indie rock royalty, and the “elder statesmen of Triangle rock,” did what they do best Saturday night at the Cat’s Cradle: rocking peoples faces off. And we had a lady on the scene to document the way it all went down. Check out some of the … Read more
Speakers Rating: 79/100 Back when The Strokes released “Under Cover of Darkness,” the lead single from their new LP Angles, we wrote about how excited we were about a return to form, a deportation from the overworked anthems and somewhat indulgent compositions of First Impressions of Earth, and about a reunion with the sonic buzz … Read more
All Photos by Aggie Donkar/Brand New Kind of Photography It’s no secret that we here at Speakers in Code love Oberhofer. Hell, we’ve featured the band three times now, giving it a coveted spot on our Best Songs of 2010 list, sitting down with Brad and Pete for an interview over mediocre appetizers, and now … Read more
Of all the bands that played SXSW earlier this month, Boy & Bear have been voted most likely to succeed by more than a few in attendance. They seem completely poised to pop, with comparisons to everyone from Fleet Foxes, to Midlake, to those oh-so popular Mumford boys. Their catchiest song to date, “Rabbit Song,” is … Read more
Eddie Vedder and his magical uke are back at it once again, and this time it’s with some strings to accompany! He will release a new solo album, Ukulele Songs, on Tuesday, May 31st through Pearl Jam’s Monkeywrench Records. Just another exciting piece to help us celebrate his other project’s 20th anniversary. Ukulele Songs is … Read more
Fergus & Geronimo is Denton, Texas’s Jason Kelly and Andrew Savage. These are two talented guys that bonded over a mutual love of music, which ultimately led to the creation of their band, awesomely named after rival child gang leaders from the 1994 film, War of the Buttons. The band’s debut LP, Unlearn, is an … Read more
With just over a week until they play this blog’s very own little show at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, NC – Scotland’s Admiral Fallow has released a video for the first single from their debut album, Boots Met My Face. Check out the video for former Jam of the Day, “Squealing Pigs,” below and if … Read more
Back in September of 2010, we made Union Tree Review’s “Let Me Be” the Pajammy Jam of the Day (as in a slow, made for bedtime kinda song). We wrote that “Let Me Be” is a chugging, acoustic train, reminiscent of Ryan Adams: brilliant lyricism, piano in all the right places, plenty o’ references to booze … Read more
All Photos by Aggie Donkar/Brand New Kind of Photography After a string of packed-house dates supporting Merge brethren Jonny, Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack, otherwise known as Wye Oak, brought their show to Local 506 in Chapel Hill Saturday night, firmly filling the house to capacity. Thankfully, our pretty picture lady captured the moment for … Read more