Neon Indian
Neon Indian is the brainchild of Alan Palomo, who’s 2009 debut record Psychic Chasms not only earned the 20 year-old a spot on numerous year-end lists, but assisted the forming of a genre that, though known by a few names now (hypnagogic pop, glo-fi, chillwave), summoned a very unique and specific electro-mangled sound. Pitchfork, Rolling… [Read More]
On An On
On a cloudy night in Austin, TX during the annual SXSW festival, the three members of ON AN ON were waiting in line to see Miike Snow; they were a bit sweaty, undeniably hungry, and, well, kind of drunk. The Chicago & Minneapolis-based musicians – Nate Eiesland, Alissa Ricci, and Ryne Estwing — that comprise the band… [Read More]
The Belle Brigade
Like many siblings, Barbara and Ethan Gruska had their ups and downs over their years growing up together in Los Angeles. “Oh, we hated each other as kids,” Barbara says with a laugh. “And by hate, I mean ‘love dearly,’ but we could never get along. We started to become friends for the first time… [Read More]
Rubblebucket
Led by the musical couple of front woman Kalmia Traver and bandleader/trumpeter Alex Toth, Rubblebucket has spent the last four years building a reputation as a band that blurs the lines between psychedelic indie rock, upbeat dance, and radiant, left-field arrangements. The Brooklyn, NY by way of Boston and Vermont band has evolved into something… [Read More]
The Trouble With Templeton
In April 2011 Thomas Calder (second from left) at age 20, gathered all the gear he could find and recorded a mini-album called “Bleeders” in his Brisbane home. It took all of 2 ½ weeks.Even the most cursory airing of Thomas Calder’s striking debut will leave the listener with no doubt: this boy is special.… [Read More]
The Head And The Heart
So many decisions in life and in the music we love can come down to a critical tug between the logic in our heads and the hot red blood beating through our hearts. Seattle’s The Head and the Heart live authentically in that crux, finding joy and beauty wedged there. Their music pulses effervescently—both… [Read More]
PRJCTS
PRJCTS beats and lines move at driving speed, navigate genres like neighborhoods, and make cityscapes of their influences. The Eastside duo asks what LA does: stay a while, ‘cause nothing ever stays the same
Jason Lytle
Jason Lytle first wandered into the public consciousness as the principal singer and songwriter for the band Grandaddy. Formed in Modesto, CA in 1992, and eventually consisting of Lytle along with Aaron Burtch, Tim Dryden, Jim Fairchild and Kevin Garcia, the band initially broke through with 1997′s Under the Western Freeway and the NME-praised single… [Read More]
Alpine
Alpine features the dual vocals of frontwomen Phoebe Baker and Lou James, Christian O’Brien on guitar, Ryan Lamb on bass, Tim Royall on keys and Phil Tucker on drums. This Australian 6-piece make bold, twinkling, sexy and sophisticated pop music. Fusing synths with honeyed harmonies, hypnotic rhythms and bright beats. Alpine appeared on the scene… [Read More]
Eyes Lips Eyes
Just months after finishing their self-recorded, mixed and distributed record Blue Red, the never complacent Eyes Lips Eyes have written a brand new set of songs and are getting ready to record for the first time outside the confines of their China Town loft / studio in Los Angeles. While shaking up their all encompassing… [Read More]
Erik Blood
Erik Blood is a Seattle-based producer, multi-instrumentalist, and singer/songwriter. His production work and collaborations with some of the Northwest’s favorite artists (TheeSatisfaction, Shabazz Palaces, Moondoggies, The Lights, The Turn-Ons among others) have garnered praise from music journalists and fans alike. In May 2009, Erik Blood released his first solo album “The Way We Live”. The… [Read More]
Various Cruelties
Various Cruelties is an mod/goth/pop incarnation formed in London, England, United Kingdom in 2010. Initially a solo project envisaged by Liam O’Donnell (vocals/guitar). O’Donnell later added Beanie Bhebhe (vocals/bass/beats), Adam Coney (guitar/vocals) and Dean Valentine (drums) forming a full band in the process. VC released their first singles as limited edition hand stamped vinyls in… [Read More]
Hayden Calnin
The ink lines that would shape young, self-produced, singer/songwriter Hayden Calnin and his budding musical career were drawn in his teen years after his father gave him a guitar at age 14. He hasn’t gone a day since without playing it. Dabbling in bands through his teen years led him to add drums and piano… [Read More]
Local Natives
Local Natives‘ self-funded debut album, Gorilla Manor, was the culmination of a friendship between songwriters Taylor Rice, Gorilla Manor, the likelihood of experiencing some serious postpartum depression once touring ended threatened to be stratospheric. Even now, as they put the finishing touches on their follow-up– due out early next year– it’s unclear whether they’ve developed proper… [Read More]
Ron Sexsmith
In a world of workaday singer-songwriters mired in vacuous self-regard, news of a new Ron Sexsmith record can only gladden the heart of those who care about deftly poetic, gently affecting songs that perfectly distil the pitfalls of being human. Especially when that record pairs him again with the producer who, for two decades, has… [Read More]
Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons
Cory Chisel is an old believer. You can hear it in his music – there’s a wisdom beyond his years in that voice. You can see it in his story – the son of a preacher, sheltered from pop music, raised on hymns and Johnny Cash. “Mom played piano and organ, my dad did the… [Read More]
POP ETC
In the midst of relocating from San Francisco to Brooklyn, slickly polished indie rock quartet the Morning Benders parted ways with bassist Tim Or and changed their name to POP ETC. This decision came after the band toured extensively and learned that the word “bender” had some homophobic slang connotations in parts of the U.K.… [Read More]
How To Dress Well
How to Dress Well is the stage name of ethereal R&B songwriter and producer Tom Krell. Krell’s burgeoning career began in 2009 when, having just moved from Brooklyn to Berlin, his songs began to emerge online via a hugely prolific string of free, digital EPs posted in anonymity on his blog. Combining a gorgeous falsetto… [Read More]
Ultraísta
Formed in London 2011, Ultraísta is a multimedia trio founded on a mutual love of Afrobeat, electronic and dance music, visual art, and tequila. Its members are vocalist/artist Laura Bettinson, and multi-instrumentalist producers Nigel Godrich and Joey Waronker (whose collective resumes read like a guide to groundbreaking and culturally influential music). Their eponymous debut album… [Read More]
Other Lives
There’s no point in trying to unearth an obvious “single” in Other Lives’ second album, Tamer Animals. Here’s a better idea instead: succumb. Let every last song wash over you like proper long players once did, from the swift strings and pulsating horns—a technique learned from old Philip Glass LPs—of “Dark Horse” to the richly… [Read More]
Featured Artist
Underworld
In these days of endless band reformations, avalanches of reissues and shamelessly repetitious ‘creativity’, too many artists are willing to sign away their soul for a little extra time on the career clock. Too many of them see artistic expression not as an end in itself, but as a shortcut to celebrity and are obsessed [...]
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