If you like voices, they don’t get much better than Rachel Bearer, Ben McLain, Chris Harrison, Jessica Freedman, Paul Peglar, and Katharine Anne Hoye, the sextet who form the Los Angeles-based “supergroup” SONOS. Their recent release, December Songs, features original compositions as well as traditional holiday tunes. It’s more of a “winter” album, rather than … 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
Well, we’re nearing the Apocalypse, and Haroula Rose is here to remind us with her 10 to Spin playlist below. Thanks, Haroula. But, before we begin waiting for the end of the world (and listening to songs about its end), let’s remain positive for a short minute, because things continue to look up for Ms. … Read more
Pittsburgh trio Donora knows how to have a good time. How do I know? Well, for starters, their 10 to Spin below has a roller skating theme. And the video they released for their sophomore album, Boyfriends, Girlfriends, features hot tubs, pinatas, balloons, barbeques, karaoke, making out after fighting, and lotsa confetti. Have a look/listen. … Read more
Photo by Bobt3 As in life, the musical experience can be one long, all-encompassing journey, or it can be a few different pieces that combine to paint a complete picture for those outside the immediate perspective to consume. And, as someone who has many life experiences that revolve around the works of John Davis as … Read more
Few things this year have gotten us as excited as the unexpected news that Blake Sennett has decided to hang up his golfing shoes and come out of musical retirement to personally deliver audio goodness to us all, in order to rid the world of unhappiness. For that reason alone, we’ve already awarded “Babyface,” … Read more
We’ve heard when Phil Cook isn’t touring the world with his genre-blending folk band Megafaun, he’s on the porch of his North Carolina home, finger-picking his guitar, while his loyal dog Willie lays nearby. So it only makes sense that these intimate moments would eventually be recorded and make their way to a proper release. … Read more
On Monday (4/4), S. Carey of Bon Iver hits Off Broadway for a show with Blood Pony and local band Dots Not Feathers. As you may know, Bon Iver is set to release a new album this summer, but for now, Carey is still touring off of last year’s debut solo record, All We Grow. … Read more
It’s been a fine year for the boys in Cadillac Sky. They’ve been getting significant airplay on radio stations around the country, they have a video in regular rotation on CMT, and they’ve toured with those Mumford & Sons extensively. Maybe even more importantly that all that other fluffy crap, they earned not one but … 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
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
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
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
On Friday, Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons will be at Off Broadway in Saint Louis, along with Derek Hoke and local songwriter Tim Gebauer (purchase tickets here). Chisel’s latest album, Old Believers, is one of our favorites of 2012, and we interviewed the songwriter from Wisconsin earlier this year — you can read that … 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
Photo by Jarred Gastreich It didn’t take us long to fall in love with Dots Not Feathers. In fact, it didn’t take the city of Saint Louis long to fall in love with the indie-folksters, either. Since DNF first made waves on the local scene with the release of its first album, A Thousand Novels, … Read more
Siblings Catherine and Allison Pierce are from Alabama, but don’t let that fool you. You won’t find a hint of southern rock in The Pierces’ songs — their music is prettier, poppier, and catchier. They grew up listening to Simon & Garfunel and The Beatles, home-schooled and raised under the Southern sun by hippie parents, … Read more
As a passionate fan of music, I was delighted to find Act As If’s “There’s a Light” earlier this year — so much, that we at Speakers in Code made it a Pajammy Jam of the Day back in April. It’s a feel-good tune, with the road ahead of us viewed as a positive one … Read more
Photo by Graham Tolbert “Baby Missiles” perfectly illustrates everything I adore about musical juxtaposition. ’80s synth pop mixed with country-rock? Yes, please. I’ll have that. The War On Drugs frontman, Adam Granduciel, has a purposefully wobbly delivery on “Baby Missiles” that reminds me a little bit of Mark Knopfler on Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life.” … Read more
Who doesn’t love a good breakup album? Amy LaVere’s new offering, Stranger Me, is one of 2011’s best of that kind, and she’ll be performing these “see ya later” songs at Off Broadway Friday night (listen to the album at NPR here). The singer, songwriter, upright bass player, and actress (whew!) is quite the performer, … Read more
Nanna Øland Fabricius. That’s her real name, but she goes by Oh Land, and I’ll be honest: I’m a little smitten. Have been for months now, I just haven’t written about her. I love pop music when it’s done right, and Oh Land does just about everything right in my book. She even kicks major … Read more
It took a while for New York rockers The Postelles to release their self-titled debut album, but they’ve found ways to keep busy over the last few years. The quartet–Daniel Balk (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), David Dargahi (vocals/lead guitar), John Speyer (bass), and Billy Cadden (percussion)–has toured with Kings of Leon, Vampire Weekend, and Interpol, and … 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
Meet Kristin Dennis. AKA Née. Yeah, we had to consult a dictionary, too. née adj nā 1 : used to identify a woman by her maiden family name 2 : originally or formerly called As she recently told I Went To a Show, Dennis picked the name to represent her music because the creative process essentially allowed … Read more
Just last February, we featured a three-for-one Jam of the Day special with our favorite Ohio indie-folksters, The Lighthouse and the Whaler. Riding high on our unadulterated adrenaline rush from TLATW’s pristine take on whimsical pop ‘n’ folk, rife with head-in-the-clouds harmonies and dreamy percussion, we asked the Cleveland boys to put together a 10 … Read more
Photo by Shervin Lainez Tonight, The Spring Standards roll into town with Tim Easton for a nice double-bill at Off Broadway (7:30, $12-15). The Spring Standards are James Cleare, Heather Robb, and James Smith are based out of Brooklyn, although they grew up in Delaware, perfecting their musical trade in high school. They released a … Read more
A few weeks ago, I swooned over the Cotton Jones Pajammy Jam of the Day, “Somehow to Keep It Going.” The track gave me “relentless chills,” and I. fell. in. love. Now the duo has put together a 10 to Spin playlist for us, offering up its favorite artists for a much-needed, Cotton Jones-scheduled, mental … Read more
Behold! The Firebird’s annual Undercover Weekend (actually, Weekends, this time around) kicks off tomorrow, and local Saint Louis bands will be thronging to the stage to creatively put their spin on the likes of The Postal Service (Union Tree Review), Pavement (Sleepy Kitty), and Loretta Lynn (Tenement Ruth). We at Speakers in Code love a … Read more
If you’re any sort of devoted reader of Speakers in Code, you know that around these parts, we are pretty amped about the first annual LouFest taking place in Forest Park, Saint Louis on August 28th and 29th. We are devoted to promoting Saint Louis as a viable music city, whether that be on a … Read more
The boys who make up the New York City band, Harper Blynn, truly represent the melting pot that is the greatest city on earth. For our second installment of 10 to Spin, the band’s summer playlist does the same, melding genres, jumping decades, and crossing borders. From quirky Mexican lounge music to of-the-moment indie rock, Harper … Read more