"Rock journalism is people who can't write
interviewing people who can't talk
for people who can't read."
(Frank Zappa)

Stars (pt 2): In the right time — and in their right space

Stars (pt 2): In the right time — and in their right space

Having always envisioned big — nay, huge — things for themselves, Stars went from being a breezy Belle & Sebastian-inspired quartet to a full-fledged five-piece colorfully playing outside the lines of formulaic indie rock. From their first serendipitous meeting and early recording sessions, through their short-lived rock star period and the...
Julian Koster: Some other lovely reality intruding into ours

Julian Koster: Some other lovely reality intruding into ours

Julian Koster — member of Neutral Milk Hotel, The Music Tapes, and contributor to The Olivia Tremor Control and Elephant 6 — reminds me a little at times of Ralphie from A Christmas Story (even though he’s exponentially sweeter, incapable of manipulation and clearly, neither tortured nor neurotic). When he talks...
Sebadoh: Welcome back Barlow

Sebadoh: Welcome back Barlow

Risen from the dust of an early Dinosaur Jr, Lou Barlow, with Eric Gaffney and Jason Loewenstein became Sebadoh in 1986. Not seeking approval and unwilling to withhold, they let loose their simultaneously furious/disinterested lo-fi rock with a series of wonderfully weed-induced records: The Freed Man, Weed Forestin’, The Freed...
Courtney Taylor-Taylor: 43 minutes with one singular Dandy Warhol

Courtney Taylor-Taylor: 43 minutes with one singular Dandy Warhol

My preparation for an artist interview typically involves a ton of Google-ing, much Rdio-ing, and the composing of a series of questions that will help me to tell a story – be it about struggle, the satisfying result of hard work, or a romantic quest to create something of permanence....
James: Still in it for the madness

James: Still in it for the madness

40-somethings everywhere hold British band James close to their hearts, having joyfully (and often drunkenly) sang along to their anthemic classics, Come Home, Sit Down, Born of Frustration, Laid, Say Something and She’s a Star during the 80s and 90s. Formed by Mancunian friends Jim Glennie (bass), Paul Gilbertson (guitar),...
Latest entries
Hear Thao & The Get Down Stay Down's 'We The Common'

Hear Thao & The Get Down Stay Down’s ‘We The Common’

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down’sWe The Common (For Valerie Bolden), the first single from the forthcoming album of the same name, features warm, laid-bare vocals over a rolicking backdrop that makes us want to happily kick our heels up and sing along even though we don’t quite yet know all the words.  Also...
While you were sleeping: Morrissey played Letterman

While you were sleeping: Morrissey played Letterman

While you might have already been dozing on your favorite spot on the couch after a long day at the office and an even longer evening wrangling a toddler into her bed, Morrissey performed his not-technically-new but not officially-released single Action Is My Middle Name on David Letterman’s late show stage last night (January 9th)....
Because GALPALS make us want to act silly and giggle our heads off

Because GALPALS make us want to act silly and giggle our heads off

Taking a just slightly softer and cuter cue from We’ve Got a Fuzzbox and We’re Going To Use It, Austin duo GALPALS serve up the sassiest little slice of fuzzed-out garage pop we’ve heard in recent memory with For Our Sake (video below). The forthcoming For Our Sake 7-inch marks Howling Owl Records‘ first international release...
Bowie releases first new song in a decade: 'Where Are We Now?'

Bowie releases first new song in a decade: ‘Where Are We Now?’

To mark his 66th birthday, rock legend David Bowie has released his first new song in nearly a full decade, entitled, Where Are We Now? Taken from his forthcoming LP, The Next Day, the reflective, narrative-based track is beautifully reminiscent of late 70s Bowie without a hint of parody — and what a very wonderful...
Blood Red Shoes debut 'Red River'

Blood Red Shoes debut ‘Red River’

From the soon-to-be released Water EP comes Blood Red Shoes newest video for the brief but insistent Red River Water can be pre-ordered in advance of its January 21st release date over at iTunes. The clip below is filmed and directed by Mark Wyss, following up last August’s darkly delicious In Time To Voices video...
Watch Jack White's 'Austin City Limits' session in full

Watch Jack White’s ‘Austin City Limits’ session in full

Original air date: January 5, 2013 | See more from Austin City Limits.  
Hear Rachel Zeffira's orchestral-pop piece, 'Here on In'

Hear Rachel Zeffira’s orchestral-pop piece, ‘Here on In’

Opera singer and classically trained multi-instrumentalist turned indie crooner, Rachel Zeffira (a cohort in Cat’s Eyes with Horrors frontman Faris Badwan)  debuts her first North American single, Here on In, via Paper Bag Records tomorrow, January 8th — but you can hear it now by pressing play below. Her LP, The Deserters — already released...
Youth Lagoon announces sophomore LP, 'Wondrous Bughouse'

Youth Lagoon announces sophomore LP, ‘Wondrous Bughouse’

“I’m not a gifted speaker, so explaining things is difficult for me. But music always makes sense.” Trevor Powers, aka Youth Lagoon, has described his writing process as “my mind communicating with me, not the other way around…it can take me to scary places but I’ve realized those bizarre thoughts I have don’t define me.”...
Because we're suckers for choirs and covers

Because we’re suckers for choirs and covers

(…And we’re totally in denial that the holidays are over, so even though it’s a touch tardy, allow us to throw out just one last holiday-inspired goodie before we delve headlong into the new year, k?) All-female Belgian rock choir Scala & Kolacny Brothers present December, an LP that explores a selection of non-traditional holiday...
UA-29359505-1