Winning an NFL Championship (last season) and a couple Grammys (for Bon Iver) probably has a lot of those folks high on life, which could possibly also explain why they’re so unafraid to strike out in weird sonic directions. Enter Channy Leaneagh (formerly Casselle). Previously fronting Minneapolis folk ensemble Roma di Luna, her new vehicle, […]
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Steve Aoki — Wonderland
The guy’s earned some cred. However! “Wonderland” stumbles right out of the gate when Rivers Cuomo gets as banal as he does on “Earthquakey People” with the late-song climax, “Don’t be afraid to dance / Don’t be afraid to take a chance!” line. Yes, I realize that it’s been a long time since the Weezer […]
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Carter Sampson — Mockingbird Sing
The album’s 12 tunes brim with crystal-clear, country guitars celebrating all the joys of rural life — and not necessarily just the whiskey-related ones. It’s a dusty gem of an Okie-born album (Sampson’s now based in Fayetteville, Ark.), spiked with the occasional blast of organ and glimmering pedal steel from Chris Moore. Wanda Jackson and […]
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Land of the Lost
Lost Lander founder Matt Sheehy spends a lot of time alone, out in the wild. It’s his job, actually. The Alaska native is employed as a forester in his newly adopted home of Oregon, and it gives him a lot of time to think. Consequently, his music is similarly cerebral, if not also romantic, in […]
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Revolt!-ing
“Fuck, yeah, we’re garish!” Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! singer Neil Fridd shouted on the phone, from somewhere in Minnesota. If nothing else, the man’s concise. “There are a million bands I can go see. We’re gonna do the opposite of that,” he said. “It’s only garish because there’s a ton of really boring bands.” “Overt” […]
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Young restless
Since winning “Nashville Star” in 2006, Chris Young has been on a hot streak: three smash albums, high-profile tours and two American Country Awards. It’s all a far cry from his start at a certain Tex-Mex restaurant chain, competing with sizzling fajitas for the crowd’s attention. “I had a standing gig at an El Chico […]
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Silly love songs
Will Muir, Shitty/Awesome vocalist/guitarist The Smiths, “Hand in Glove” It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks when you’re in love. It’s about the proximity, protection and acceptance of the person you absolutely need to be near. Who cares if the “good people laugh”? Not me. Prince, all of “Lovesexy” It’s one long track with no […]
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Norman Music Festival headliners announced
Today, NMF confirmed via their website that the band and Hayes Carll would be closing out the festivities on the Main Stage and Jack Daniels Stage, respectively. Currently signed to Atlantic Records, Portugal. The Man is a psychedelic rock band that has released seven albums, most recently last year’s “In the Mountain in the Cloud.” […]
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Laura Gibson — La Grande
It’s called “listening to Laura Gibson’s new album,” because this eerie, simple singer from Portland is everything the plastic-lipped Hollywood pop/sadcore (note: these are tags that have been following Ms. Del Ray around every corner, but what the heck do they mean?) isn’t, and then some. For one thing, Gibson knows how to gently arrange […]
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Snow Patrol — Fallen Empires
The resulting album optimistically handles maturation and the journey from regret to embracing imperfection, only to be set back by the occasional self-indulgent, plodding love note from vocalist/songwriter Gary Lightbody. Fortunately, the incorporation of playful melodies and eccentric synths leave impression enough to warm even the coldest heart. Jacknife Lee returns for the fourth time […]