The end of the below video is fucking awesome. Watch it. “Almost Blue” is one of those perfect Joseph Arthur songs. Poppy and sentimental at the same time, it’s immediately hummable, but also, like all of his songs, it makes you listen to every word that leaves his mouth. Melodic undertones highlight lyrics that could be … Read more
Talk about songs that surprise the hell out of you! WATERS, the new project from former Port O’Brien front man Van Pierszalowski, has revealed a brand new track, “O Holy Break of Day,” from his forthcoming album Out in the Light, and Jesus H. Christ, it freaking rules. Mixing fuzzy, pealing guitars and crashing drums … Read more
Ask anyone who operates a music blog about the experience, and they will tell you it’s a taxing and tedious job. There are the obvious job hazards like carpel tunnel syndrome, dry and irritated eyes, and headphone headaches. It’s hard goddamn work. But the real, and secret danger in music blogging is opening an email, … Read more
Photo by Danny Cinch I love Bruce Springsteen. And I’m not going to lie – at one time I thought I loathed him. Growing up a product of the MTV generation, I had him tagged as a dude who had some hits I kind of knew from the ’70s, but for me, he was the … Read more
“Bring it on/ Bring on the weekend…” I always write my weekly Jam of the Day on Wednesdays. And, not gonna lie, sometimes it’s really hard to resist the tunnel vision temptation of gearing my selection toward my inevitable Hump Day Blues. But, with today’s JOTD, Class Actress’ “Weekend,” a synthy anthem hopelessly devoted to … Read more
Give one listen to our Jam of the Day, “Carburetor,” by Brooklyn’s The Sweet Ones, and you’ll totally understand why they have dubbed their unique sound “Junk Rock.” That’s not to say it sounds bad, or messy, or even like they’re particularly smelly – but it does sound like a DIY, fend-for-yourself, experimental mash-up of … Read more
And I’d rather argue with you than to be right all by myself ‘Cause I can’t have a fight all by myself No, I can’t have a fight all by myself He was an asshole. He was a douchebag. Those are his words, not mine. Well, sort of. I think there has come a time … Read more
I’m guessing we’ve all seen that episode of Friends where Phoebe and Rachel go running for the first time together, and hilarity ensues as Phoebe begins running much like a small child in a field of daises. Well, I’m pretty sure I caught myself doing something similar yesterday while listening to a running mix I … Read more
Cymbals Eat Guitars released its debut album Why There Are Mountains in 2009, receiving a response that far exceeded the expectations of most. Two years have gone by since that early hype cycle began, and a lot has changed in those twenty-four months, including more than half of the original lineup that recorded that first LP. … Read more
God, dontcha just love it when you hear an incredible song for the first time the old fashioned way? You know, on the radio? I know, I know, it so rarely happens these days (if it ever happens), but luckily for me, I live in Saint Louis, home of the best damn independent radio station that … Read more
Raise your hand if you have an affinity for old-school Nintendo. More than likely that took care of the the dudes in the crowd. Now – raise your hand if you like music that makes you want to shake your ass. That’s exactly what I thought. You ladies are are so predictable. Now you may … Read more
For everyone who has seen Purple Rain, there is a scene where Prince walks into First Avenue, sees Morris Day & The Time on stage and is blown away by what’s going down. It’s one of those iconic movie moments that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of a musical movement in its infancy. I literally lived … Read more
I’m going to level with everyone. The Hopscotch Music Festival kicked off last night in Raleigh, North Carolina – and at least one blogger I know, ahem, acted like he was twenty-one again. Drinking his way through seven bands until the wee hours of the morning. Was it fun? Hell yes. Did he just get out … Read more
When I listen to “Nine Equals Nine,” I feel chaos. I’m in a car, speeding down the freeway. It’s pouring, I can’t see what’s in front of me, but I can feel everything. The trees are swaying in the wind, there are sirens, I can sense I’m somewhere I’ve never been. My heart is racing; … Read more
Photo by Tod Seelie Dark Dark Dark is one of many bands out there right now parlaying orchestral instruments – somehow, someway – into a contemporary sound. When I try to wrap my head around how exactly this is possible, I come up empty. With a “psychedelic” mix of influences (yes, classical but also Middle … Read more
Scare away the shadows in my head still growin’ Only you and I can bring them down Jill Andrews picked a good one to open her first full-length studio album, The Mirror. “Sound of the Bells” is a catchy, feel-good pop/rock gem that builds into its final lyric: “Only you and I will hear the … Read more
A braid is “a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibers, wire, or human hair.” Braids is a band who makes complex musical structures or patterns by intertwining three or more elements such as guitars, vocals, drums, and synthesizers. Who would have thunk it … Read more
As I write this post, I’m sitting on a patio overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Surfers are lined up just on the other side of the breakers, talking about what surfers talk about, and the sun is just starting to make everything in its presence electric pink. I have on headphones, and I have listened to … Read more
Go see Megafaun live, and you will immediately understand what the entire Triangle has been…yeah I’m going to do it…”fawning” over in increasing fashion over the last few years. The boys, Phil & Brad Cook, and percussionist Joe Westerlund, have become local celebrities, immediately getting tables at the most popular restaurants, and roaming around with … Read more
Over the past decade, Dan Boeckner has been able to do something that many around him have not: produce amazing music consistently, while fronting more than one band. True, his “main band,” the on-indefinite-hiatus Wolf Parade got the most the fanfare and accolades, but in this blog’s opinion, the three Handsome Furs albums he’s created … Read more
L.A.’s indie pop artist AM and London’s cinematic tunesmith Shawn Lee have gone all Postal Service on our asses, forging a fortuitous long distance relationship that is bearing some pretty sexy fruit! The concept here is the same, with Lee sending AM drum and percussion beats from London. Then, in Los Angeles, AM wrote and … Read more
“Where did I fail you, my love?” That’s the central question in our Jam of the Day, brought to you by Nashville’s Colorfeels. Basically, it’s a pretty way of asking, “Just how did I eff this up?” “Pretty Walk” leisurely tries to sort out the confusion (Was it me? Was it you?) with a cadence that … Read more
I don’t know why 23-year-old Max McElligott goes by Wolf Gang. I do know that I usually pass on artists like him. But, there is something different about this cat. Something about today’s JOTD makes me wanna, I don’t know, build something up and tear it right down. And then react to the mess I’ve … 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
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
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
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
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