Music
Essays, blog posts, playlists, and more focused broadly on music. For more playlists visit my Spotify profile.
- Greg Saunier (of Deerhoof) Interview ()
Deerhoof is expected to play in front of one of its largest Minneapolis crowds when the band returns to the city tomorrow, playing the main stage at First Avenue. In preparation for the show Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine caught up with the band’s Greg Saunier to discuss the band’s new album Offend Maggie, Henry Rollins […]
- Eric Bachmann (of Crooked Fingers) Interview ()
Crooked Fingers, led by former Archers of Loaf lead singer Eric Bachmann, are in the midst of a nation-wide tour in support of the band’s recently released album Forfeit/Fortune. And while on tour, Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine was able to ask a few quick questions on Bachmann – touching on his decision to release Forfeit/Fortune […]
- AC/DC “Black Ice” Review ()
With Black Ice, AC/DC returns with a release full of typically straightforward songs about fighting, women and rock ‘n roll; the band’s fourth record since 1990 and its fifth in a row to kick off with the album’s lead single. Not being one to break out of the mold that it’s created for itself the […]
- Mike Conte (of Early Man) Interview ()
Early Man just released the grinding four-song Beware the Circling Fin EP, and have a full length album still in the works with their new label The End. Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine got in touch with lead singer/guitarist Mike Conte to ask him about the transition away from the indie rock-centric Matador Records, finding new […]
- Local Natives “Airplanes” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. Here Local Natives’ vocalist and songwriter Kelcey Ayer peels away the layers from “Airplanes,” a track to be released on the band’s forthcoming […]
- Benjamin Curtis (of School of Seven Bells) Interview ()
Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine recently caught up with one-time Secret Machines member Benjamin Curtis to discuss his mainstay for the past two years – School of Seven Bells. In the discussion Curtis touched on the band’s curious shoegaze categorization, the relationship between the group’s set of twins and adopting the band’s music for a live […]
- 10 Biggest Anti-Bush Songs ()
In the eight years he’s been in charge of the nation, George W. Bush’s approval ratings have hit all-time lows. That sentiment has, of course, been manifest into song, as well. To help us prepare to say goodbye to eight of the most disheartening years in the country’s history, here are 10 of the biggest […]
- Shawn Hewitt “Keep Them At Bay” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. This edition spotlights Canadian vocalist Shawn Hewitt and the process of creating his “Keep Them At Bay.” Politically inspired, Hewitt tracks the song’s […]
- DJ Snuggles, Big Zach & The Histronic Interview ()
The Cabooze will be hosting a fantastic bill tonight featuring Toki Wright, DJ Snuggles, the Histronic and Big Zach. In preparation for the show Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine caught up with Snuggles, Big Zach and the Histronic’s Paul Marshall. Previewing the event, the artists described a tendency towards improv throughout their performances as well as […]
- Brent Amaker and the Rodeo Interview ()
Brent Amaker and the Rodeo appear as style-conscious cowboys, but there is nothing fashionable about the band’s traditional brand of country. Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine recently knocked around a few ideas with Brent Amaker, discussing country punk, the pussification of Nashville, short songs and why the band dresses head to toe in black. The band […]
- Jonathan Visger (of Mason Proper) Interview ()
This past Tuesday marked the release of Mason Proper’s second full length record, Olly Oxen Free. With the album in mind, lead singer Jonathan Visger and Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine recently discussed the refinement of the band’s personal sound, the internet’s influence on the group’s fan base and where Mason Proper might be some five […]
- Kings of Leon “Only by the Night” Review ()
Not to say that it would be right to be expecting Only By The Night to sound like a string of “Molly’s Chambers” or “King Of the Rodeo”-sounding songs, but if you were – it may be helpful to brace yourself ahead of time. The album is far glossier than anything heard from the band […]
- Nobot Interview ()
Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine recently connected with both Adam Tucker and Kyle Vande Slunt from the local electronic act Nobot. In preparation for their upcoming show at the Uptown Bar with Estate on the 27th the duo discussed media exposure, forthcoming collaborations and the camaraderie of brosefs on tour. The theme behind Nobot’s latest track, […]
- TV on the Radio “Dear Science” Review ()
It seemed that whenever I was talking to a fan of TV on the Radio about Return to Cookie Mountain, they would always revert to “I liked (either) Young Liars (or) Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes better.” I, on the other hand, felt that the album was amazing — truly one of the year’s best […]
- Hipsterdom: It Affects Us All… But Not Really ()
On Saturday Jay Smooth laid down his latest in a long string of increasingly thoughtful commentaries via his video blog, Ill Doctrine. This time around he reviewed the subject of “Hipster Rap,” citing acts such as The Cool Kids, The Kidz in the Hall and Kid Sister as few examples of the burgeoning sub-genre. One of the issues he mentions, apart […]
- Metallica “Death Magnetic” Review ()
As Death Magnetic slowly begins, an interesting similarity arises between the introduction of “That Was Just Your Life” and that of Slayer’s “South of Heaven,” the first song from the second of the band’s albums produced by Rick Rubin. Both songs build slowly before commencing with an album’s worth of commercial thrash — a slower […]
- Mystery Palace Interview ()
Prior to this Summer’s Midwest tour Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine discussed a number of topics with James Buckley of the local act Mystery Palace. Contrasting the band with his own trio, aptly named the James Buckley Trio, the discussion in this edition of Five Questions drifted towards various subjects ranging from the formation of Mystery […]
- Alltruisms “Clusterbombs Laos/Me Mix” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. Here in the final episode featuring Chicago’s Alltruisms the emcee discusses the powerful inspiration behind “Clustbombs Laos.” His travels overseas brought him new […]
- Black Blondie Interview ()
Attracting attention both locally and nationally, the critically acclaimed Black Blondie continue to compel audiences with their tireless live schedule. Leading up to the band’s forthcoming First Avenue performance with Muja Messiah, M.anifest and Maria Isa the group took aim at a few questions about the upcoming show, critical obsession with labeling their sound and […]
- Alltruisms “Blindfolded” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. Here in the second episode featuring Chicago’s Alltruisms the emcee remarks on the rush of excitement he gets when completing a solid rhyme; […]
- Bodies of Water Interview ()
Los Angeles quartet Bodies of Water has attracted an abundance of online support, much of late has been aimed at the band’s forthcoming release A Certain Feeling( scheduled to hit stores July 22nd). Preparing for a twenty one date tour that hits both Canada and The United States, singer and guitarist David Metcalf answered some […]
- Metermaids “Nightlife” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. In the second of two editions featuring New York City’s Metermaids, Sentence breaks down and divides the title track from the duo’s recently […]
- Metermaids “Feel Alive” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. In the first of two editions featuring New York City’s Metermaids, one of the group’s two emcees Swell explains the basis for his […]
- N*E*R*D “Seeing Sounds” Review ()
Seeing as how Fly or Die was what it was (a fairly poor album) Seeing Sounds should be considered a triumphant return for NERD…but…in reality it’s not too distant from its predecessor. Sporadic, over-reaching and inconsistent – Seeing Sounds is exactly what NERD should be distancing itself from. There are songs that make sense on […]
- A Night in the Box “Write A Letter” Review ()
Having singer Clayton Hagen previously decried a savior in sake of his hate on “The Hustle” (from The Hustle, The Prayer, The Thief) there is a tremendous weight on A Night in the Box to follow up its debut album with something as equally thoughtful and compelling. With Write a Letter the band has done […]
- Coldplay “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends” Review ()
Long live life proclaims the title of Coldplay’s recently released album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. The album was recently released using the same repetitious iTunes marketing campaign that helped propel Bob Dylan’s Modern Times to platinum status, and while it too will eventually reach that level of commercial popularity, it […]
- Girl Talk “Feed the Animals” Review ()
Attempting to explain Girl Talk‘s Feed the Animals and identify what succeeds or fails with the set can’t be done on the level of an album in its entirety, it’s hard to even approach each track on an individual basis considering what they are. Mashups aren’t anything new, nor is Gregg Gillis’ mix-heavy approach, but […]
- Lil Wayne “Tha Carter III” Review ()
Granted, some of the bangers on Tha Carter III have been out there for a while; “A Milli” dropped on Da Drought is Over 5, “Lollipop” has for weeks been on heavy rotation on just about every pop-based radio station, “Mr. Carter” leaked a few weeks back, etc. – but there is still an unequivocal […]
- Hercules and Love Affair “Hercules and Love Affair” Review ()
That little part of my heart that still has a soft spot for Slayer inevitably gawks at the idea of even remotely enjoying an album like Hercules and Love Affair. The album’s songs, which almost continually neglect any sort of climactic high, blend seamlessly into a single epic pile of retro-reaching Euro-trash waste…but, they kind […]
- High on Stress “Cop Light Parade” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. In this edition Nick Leet, from the Minneapolis-based quartet High on Stress, describes the evolution of “Cop Light Parade.” Written by Leet and […]