Archive: 2023

In its sustained ebb and flow through a stream-of-consciousness song cycle, there is nothing quite like Astral Weeks (released 11/29/68) in Van Morrison’s entire discography.  In the previous work of the native Irish band Them, only “Mystic Eyes” and the engrossing rendition of Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” hint at the deceptively improvisational, poetic […]

The Gaviota Coast is a beachside Shangri-La just west of Santa Barbara, California. Here, eucalyptus groves pepper the views of the jade and navy water; offshore winds carry the smell of sage from the hills; and rare SoCal wildlife like bobcats, quail, boar, and roadrunners roam freely. Since he was a kid, Scott “Scojo” Claassen […]

Singer/songwriter Ira Wolf released her fourth album Rock Bottom, her first in several years, via Nettwerk in October. Through the gradual roll out of singles from the album, and along with her openness with her audience on social media, Wolf made it clear that the album documents a period of intense emotion and introspection that […]

In the latest Wannabe, artist Chris Prunckle offers his illustrated commentary on Thank God We Left The Garden, the new album from folk artist Jeffrey Martin, in his signature six-panel comic strip form. Click on the image for full resolution (best viewed on desktop):

Diddley, Sly Stone, Tower of Power, Gold Blood, Etta James, Billy Preston, Santana, Paul Butterfield, Mickey Hart, Babatunde Olatunji, Kitaro, Lee Oskar, and Zigaboo, not to mention blockbuster film scores and several other musical giants).  That’s not bad for a Chinese/Puerto Rican/Mexican/French musician who grew up in a Black neighborhood in mostly white San Francisco. […]

You may recognize Cody Dickinson for leading the formidable and unforgettable North Mississippi Allstars and now, it is time for him to step into a spotlight of his own. After signing to Petaluma Records, Dickinson released his debut solo single for the label with a cover of Junior Kimbrough’s bluesy classic “All Night Long”. His […]

2024 is already shaping up to be a fantastic year in music with albums being announced left and right over the last few weeks. To add to it, Atlanta’s Shaky Knees festival has announced its 2024 line-up and it is a sight to behold. Foo Fighters, Noah Kahan, and Weezer will headline the 2024 edition […]

Merge Records has been independently releasing some of the most exciting 1989 and they are already looking to start 2024 off with a bang. Today (November 28), the label has announced they are reissuing two of M. Ward’s most celebrated releases. His classic solo debut, 1999’s Duet for Guitars #2, and 2003’s Transfiguration of Vincent […]

The multi-talented Jon Batiste has been on one hell of a run. His World Music Radio LP, released earlier this year, gained him critical acclaim around the world and scored him some Grammy nominations as well. This journey will be detailed in the new documentary film American Symphony, which follows Batiste through a year of […]

Lukas Nelson and his longtime band POTR have confirmed a long list of tour dates for 2024. Coming off the release of their critically acclaimed LP Sticks and Stones, Nelson and the crew are looking to bring these songs to life on the road.  Tickets for the new dates will be available for pre-sale starting […]

Music has always been at the center of communities and Fandiem looks to build that community even stronger. The charitable fundraising platform has announced its lineup for Giving SZN ‘23 and it includes the likes of Metallica, My Morning Jacket, The National, Pearl Jam, and many more. Fans will be able to donate to Fandiem […]

Breaking an 8-year hiatus, Sean O’Hagan’s project The High Llamas returns with “Hey Panda”, the title track from their upcoming LP set to be released on March 29. The album comes to us via Drag City Records and marks the first new release from The High Llamas since 2016. The single is accompanied by an […]

Seattle psych band Forest Ray began as a recording project in 2015, combining guitar-driven psych rock with elements of brit-pop, folk rock, and organ-laden pop. Following in the footsteps of Pacific Northwest greats from The Sonics to The Kingsmen, the songs regularly explore diverse instrumentation, which have become staples of the group’s brand of rock […]

Hey You is a new Glide column where we touch base with artists out of the “spotlight” from their “prominent” prior bands. Seeing how an artist’s creativity adapts to different mediums is one of the most fascinating occurrences in the art world. Some artists are able to seamlessly implement their message into any format they desire, such is […]

Step into the twangy and high-energy alt-country world of “Aloneness” from Kansas-based, The Roseline. A simple and forward-facing approach, The Roseline brings a breath of fresh air to the over-occupied Americana space with a tasteful musical touch and concise lyrical wordplay. “Aloneness” is clever, captivating, and fun all at once, a blanket of warm tone and interpersonal lyrical longing.  “Aloneness” is my […]

Jak Lizard has spent his time working in studios with some of his favorite producers and artists while working to define his own sound. After collaborating with GRAMMY-winner Brasstracks for his debut EP, Shine to Rise, Lizard is back in the studio working both solo and collaborating with artists and producers such as Lawrence, Alexander […]

Just days before his anticipated new album, the legendary Peter Gabriel releases “Live and Let Live”. This single will be the last before his expansive new LP, i/o releases this Friday, December 1. The 12-track album will feature two different mixes, “Bright-Side Mix” and “Dark-Side Mix” with the latter being handled by Tchad Blake and […]

2023 might best be remembered musically for the fact that most genre-pushing artists have still remained in the indie status quo- despite any effort. Mikaela Davis (pictured above) proved a true shapeshifter as a harpist, while Butcher Brown further enlivened the jazz converging on hip hop possibilities. Cory Hanson made the guitar album of the […]