Anna Rose may like to escape every now and then, but singing and writing songs has always been in her blood. Once the 25-year-old from Manhattan picked up the guitar, it’s always been in her life: with her on subways, used heavily in her songs she records and performs. Rose, it seems, knows what makes her … Read more
Joy Williams and John Paul White at The Pageant | Photo by Louis Kwok “How about a happy song?” John Paul White asked the sold-out Pageant audience before launching into “I’ve Got This Friend,” a stellar track off Barton Hollow. “We have one of those.” And although most of the songs played last night at … Read more
As a child of 34, I juuuuust barely remember when the genre now defined as “eighties music” was still fresh ‘n new, and playing nonstop on MTV’s actual music video stream. And then, for a few decades, that shit was passe. No one got near those sounds that Thomas Dolby, B.C. Rich and Floyd Rose … Read more
Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit is already the master of dropping F-bombs in songs (he even does it on the new “State Hospital” and “Boxing Night“), so what’s next on the list? Well, how about creating a Scottish version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”? ‘Cause that’s just what he’s done on “Wedding Gloves,” which features Aidan … 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
When I heard the new Santigold song, “Go” last week, I instantly had two responses: I wanted to boogie. And I wanted to fight someone. Being the “plugged in” gal that I am, I tweeted about my knee-jerk reactions to my small (but powerful) legion of followers, and in two seconds flat, the term “BOOGIEFIGHT” … 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
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