Music
Essays, blog posts, playlists, and more focused broadly on music. For more playlists visit my Spotify profile.
- Lupe Fiasco “Lasers” Review ()
It has been over two and a half years since Lupe Fiasco wrapped on the first tracks for what would become his new album, Lasers. To call what followed “drama” might be an understatement: Atlantic rejected the tracks, froze Lupe’s production budget, and the emcee requested to be let go. Atlantic refused to either drop […]
- Guante “The Hero” (Influenza) ()
Conscious is Not Enough 2011 by Guante CB’s Influenza series looks to help dissect the influences that breathe life into music, and in the case of the latest release from Twin Cities-based MC Guante, he not only wears his influences on his sleeve, but has firmly affixed them to a flag which he proudly waves […]
- Avril Lavigne “Goodbye Lullaby” Review ()
While Avril Lavigne‘s 2007 album, The Best Damn Thing, has become an unquestionable success—certified platinum in the US within a few months, it has since gone on to sell over six million copies worldwide—the years that followed its release offered some unique obstacles for the young vocalist. Plagiarism claims persisted and by 2009 the bottom […]
- Dropkick Murphys: Video Retrospective ()
While it’s not as though the Dropkick Murphys were ever really an underground band—existing on some subterranean level of Keeping It Real that only truly exists to self-righteous fundamentalist punks—in recent years it has been a treat to watch the group find a level of success that might have previously been thought of as unattainable. Thanks to a few […]
- Radiohead’s 10 Best Music Videos ()
In the past week Radiohead fans have been given plenty of reason to celebrate—if unexpected new Radiohead isn’t enough reason love life, I don’t know what is—but it’s what accompanied the release of The King of Limbs that has given the entire populace of the Internet reason to celebrate: a new meme. The dark, minimalist music video for Radiohead’s […]
- Radiohead “The King of Limbs” Review ()
As a band, Radiohead have been able to capture something very few artists have been able to: The band retains an aura of integrity while maintaining an impossible level of success. They’re the biggest “indie” band in the world, universally acclaimed for producing music that might not otherwise demand mainstream attention; “weird” music that doesn’t […]
- Resident Scout “Heal Me” (Influenza) ()
Each new generation of musician is left to build off of the work already put forward by artists from decades gone by. And as widespread as it is to come across modern musicians who grew up long after their particular genre of focus has peaked, it’s still interesting to dive into their music and see […]
- Blastoids “Since Forever” EP ()
In the couple of years that Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Blastoids have been doing their thing they’ve made it pretty goddamn difficult not to compare their sound to Animal Collective; even with their new five-track EP the tendency is to make the easy connection. But before getting all genre-fixated, there’s a bit more to the group than […]
- TRMRS “Hello Self” (Influenza) ()
Finding inventive ways to keep garage punk vibrant isn’t really as necessary in the genre as simply being good; or “feeling it”; or simply having fun. And when you start adding up all of those factors, it becomes natural start making the comparisons: “Not comparing TRMRS to the Black Lips would just be weird” (Stuck […]
- The AK “Kaby’s Day Out” ()
Largely recorded last year, the AK is out to make waves with his latest offering: the Kaby’s Day Out mixtape. “I have associated Kaby with the more playful/mischievous/satirical side of myself,” explained the MC recently in discussing the collection via email. But don’t be mistaken, by going lighter the Nashville MC is in no way […]
- Bright Eyes “The People’s Key” Review ()
Conor Oberst has been anything but unproductive since dropping the last Bright Eyes release nearly four years ago. Recording a pair of alt-country albums with the Mystic Valley Band in addition to dropping the not-so-folky debut album from Monsters of Folk with Jim James, M. Ward & Mike Mogis, Oberst has clearly demonstrated an interest […]
- Classic Williams Interview ()
Having just recently dropped his #SMH mixtape last month, Nashville’s Classic Williams is now inching his way closer to the release of his full length debut, Epic Win. Serving as an introduction to the MC, #SMH includes a wide range of genres reaching all the way from club-focused dance to no fuss hip hop. It’s […]
- Nicole Atkins “Mondo Amore” Review ()
Nicole Atkins‘ Mondo Amore is the culmination of an immense change in the vocalist’s life; “Got a new band, wrote a new album, got a new apartment, new life, getting a new label, and yeah, basically changing everything,” she explained in an interview last year. Recording some 18 songs with her new band before eventually […]
- Cut Copy “Zonoscope” Review ()
While standing as a definite high point, Cut Copy‘s 2008 breakthrough In Ghost Colours was anything but the pinnacle of an overnight success for the Melbourne-based group. The album peaked on the Australian charts and was lifted to a respectable position on the Billboard 200, fueled in part by singles “Lights & Music” and “Hearts […]
- Lykke Li “Untitled” Video ()
A juxtaposition between beauty and violence, Lykke Li‘s new video for “Untitled” offers many more questions than it does answers. Dawning stilettos, a (faux?) fur and leather jacket and a fashionably revealing top, the Swedish vocalist eventually kneels as she thrusts herself into stabbing the sand that surrounds her. From there she seductively maneuvers a […]
- Talib Kweli Interview ()
At the age of 36 Talib Kweli is moving into an interesting stage of his career. In the wake of 2007′s Eardrum he reopened the books on Reflection Eternal with Hi-Tek, hitting the road as part of the Rock the Bells tour before eventually releasing Revolutions per Minute last year. Now once again claiming independence […]
- Katie Lee (of Braids) Interview ()
As support for Braids‘ debut release began to gain momentum last year, the group received substantial coverage from a number of key outlets ranging from Canada’s National Post to Stereogum; later mentioned in the latter’s “Most Anticipated Albums Of 2011” and “Best New Bands Of 2010” lists. And if early Native Speaker feedback is any […]
- Matt and Kim “Cameras” Video ()
Matt and Kim seem a little too used to the idea of beating the shit out of one another for this to be a one-time occurrence, don’t they? It’s almost like they need the occasional outward showing of destructive violence to balance their typically limitless levels of positivity. And maybe this is a bit presumptuous, […]
- Best Coast “Crazy For You” Video ()
The breakdown of what you’re going to see in Best Coast‘s video for “Crazy For You” comes down to two things, really: guitarist and singer Bethany Cosentino’s love for cats (like, she really really really loves cats) combined with the I Can Has Cheezburger meme-apalooza. But keeping the simplicity of the concept (and the band’s sound) […]
- Social Distortion “Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes” Review ()
The creation of Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes has been a long and trying process for Social Distortion fans; the album continually being teased since work first began on it in 2006. Even this past year, when things seemed all but locked down, Hard Times was constantly pushed back until finally being given a 2011 […]
- Mogwai “Rano Pano” Video ()
The music video for Mogwai’s “Rano Pano” takes a slightly different approach than the group’s first clip from their forthcoming Sub Pop debut. Where the Antony Crook-directed clip for “How to Be a Werewolf” documented world champion syclist James Bowthorpe as he rode through the Norwegian countryside, the Tom Scholefield-directed video for “Rano Pano” captures […]
- Dream Cop “Marooned” Video ()
As if the idea of man-cats (you might prefer “catmen,” but either way they’re at least a solid seven on the WTF-scale) wasn’t enough to creep you out on its own, director Benjamin Brewer went right ahead and brought that cosmic freakout to life with the video for “Marooned” by Tommy Davidson’s Dream Cop project. […]
- Tristen Interview ()
I really enjoy discussing the twists and turns that have led people’s lives to where they are now. Whether speaking with someone a few decades older than me or talking to people who are the same age — as is the case with Tristen Gaspadarek — it’s rare to hear an entirely uninteresting account of […]
- Heavy Cream and the Nashville Scene ()
It’s damn near impossible for me to discuss the music of Nashville’s Heavy Cream without also feeling some sort of personal connection to the quartet’s music. Wrapping up a six-month stint in Canada, I had already decided that Nashville was going to be the next stop for me when I caught the Turbo Fruits as […]
- Wanda Jackson feat. Jack White “Thunder on the Mountain” Video ()
Today marks the release of Wanda Jackson’s new video from The Party Ain’t Over, the Queen of Rockabilly’s first new album since 2006′s I Remember Elvis. Produced by Jack White and released via his Third Man Records imprint, the album boasts a wide range of contributing artists including Karen Elson, the Dead Weather’s Jack Lawrence, […]
- John Lennon “Life is What Happens” Review ()
John Borack’s John Lennon: Life is What Happensis an anthology for the internet age, vividly accenting the well documented story of Lennon’s legendary life with snippets, quotes, photos, memorabilia pictures, and personal memories. While covering the man’s entire life, the book largely focuses on Lennon’s career with the Beatles and as a solo musician, while […]
- Dirty Vegas “Electric Love” Video ()
Written and directed by James Gooding comes the new music video for “Electric Love” by Dirty Vegas; the title track from the group’s first album since 2004′s train wreck of an album, One. Starring Jena Malone (Donnie Darko, Into the Wild), the short story vaguely follows a twisted theme of obsession and the twists and […]
- Trail of Dead “Weight of the Sun” ()
Recorded at El Paso, Texas’ Sonic Ranch, the seventh studio album from Austin’s …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead will be released early next month via the band’s own Richter Scale Records imprint. Unlike the group’s last outing, 2009′s The Century of Self, Tao of the Dead finds the band trimming […]
- Josh Grier (of Tapes ‘n Tapes) Interview ()
Nearly three years after releasing the band’s last album, 2008′s Walk it Off (XL Recordings), Tapes ‘n Tapes have returned with Outside. Dropping the 12 track album on their own Ibid Records imprint, Outside retains a distinctive Tapes ‘n Tapes flavor while also exhibiting a bit of musical maturity along the way. Speaking to lead […]
- Kanye West & Jay-Z “H.A.M.” ()
Kanye West and Jay-Z just took to their Watch the Throne Facebook page to drop the album’s lead single (“H.A.M.”) as a free download. As of this writing around 35,000 people have “liked” the track after being online for just a couple of hours, which is only to say that Watch the Throne is probably […]