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
Singer-songwriter Hannah Miller grabbed my attention the other day. See, I’m a sucker for a gal, a voice, and a guitar, and her song “At My Best” sure did the trick. I like simplicity in music; I like the cold truth. Give me something that is real any day over what has been manufactured, or … Read more
When Orenda Fink released Ask the Night in October of 2009, it was an album that took me a few listens to get comfortable with its words and sounds. I’ll admit right now that my brain always hears Maria Taylor’s voice when I hear Fink’s. If you didn’t already know, Taylor and Fink made up … Read more
I first stumbled upon Local Natives when that fantastic video of the guys covering Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia” went buzzing around the Interwebs. Even doing someone else’s (very famous) stuff, the band adds its own unique spin and is easy to love. Since that first glimpse of the Silverlake, California five-piece, I’ve been eagerly anticipating … 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