Archive: 2024

If there’s a subtle theme with our selections from MTV’s Spring Break glory years this week, it’s that the weirdest bands often delivered the best performances. Primus’s acid-fried jam from Manic Monday, Radiohead bumming everyone out with “Creep” on Tuesday’s Gone, and for today’s Weirdo Wednesday selection, we have a baby-faced Ween performing “Push th’ […]

On his fourth outing as a solo artist, the in-demand everyman Sam Evian is in the business of wasting no one’s time. It has only been three years since his third LP and clearly, Evian is far from done evolving. The nine tracks presented on Plunge were recorded in isolation except for a select few […]

While Heather Little might not be a household name, her songwriting has certainly allowed her to become one of the most respected names amongst her peers. With songs covered by some of the biggest names in country music, Little’s songs have garnered her two BMI awards for songwriting and the songs she’s written or co-written […]

In 2019, reeling from the pain of a long-term breakup, British alt-Americana troubadour Holly Lerski hit the road and the creative muse struck. Written in two “suites,” her fifth studio album, Sweet Decline (due out April 26th via Laundry Label), was born of that travel. Lerski embarked on a whirlwind solo road trip with a […]

Impulse! Records are getting a head start on a batch of archival releases hitting next month with its release of Alice Coltrane – The Carnegie Hall Concert, the full recording from the historic performance in 1971. That night’s bill also included Laura Nyro and The Rascals with Coltrane in the middle spot. Such were the […]

Sam Morrow is a great rock musician who filters those instincts deftly into his own interpretation of Americana. Or maybe it’s the reverse. Regardless, across five records the Texas native has managed to combine blues, roots, country, and funk into a truly inspired sound. And those sounds can be heard all over his latest effort […]

Henry Chadwick evokes a minimalist sound that falls somewhere between the worlds of Elliot Smith and Smog, yet there’s a dubious echo effect that transcends the ears and makes one take notice. 2023 saw the formation of Washateria Recordings, Chadwick’s private two-part recording studio and indie record label, which will see the release of his […]

There is a clear sonic juxtaposition that drives Winter Aid’s latest single “Silk”. Cascading synths give the whole tune a light-hearted nature while deeply personal lyrics anchor the warping arrangement to earth. Hushed melodies evoke a lo-fi warmth to round out the complexity of this single, with so many moving parts settling in without outdoing […]

The Pretenders have announced plans for a US summer headline tour, getting underway July 13 at Red Bank, NJ’s historic Count Basie Center for the Arts, and then continuing into mid-August. Presales begin Wednesday, March 20 at 10:00 am (local). All remaining tickets will be released to the general public on Friday, March 22 at 10:00 am (local). […]

The Decemberists have announced their new album, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, out on June 14th via YABB Records (Thirty Tigers). The band returns with their 9th studio album after a 6 year hiatus, with a remarkable double album produced by lead-singer Colin Meloy and Tucker Martine and featuring guest appearances […]

In October of ‘22, a recording session became a band in Arlyn Studio, Austin, Texas. Drummer Jimmy Paxson was finishing a leg of his world tour with The Chicks at Austin City Limits Festival. Jimmy was in contact with Jason Mozersky, his Grammy award-winning guitar player and bandmate from Ben Harper. Jason discussed with Kyle […]

With today being the first official day of Spring (which technically arrives tonight), our trip down MTV Spring Break memory lane continues with this iconic performance of “Creep” by Radiohead when they were practically at their infancy as a band. What’s particularly striking about this performance is just how at odds the band is with […]

It has been four years since Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker released a solo album and in those four years, it appears a lot has changed for the accomplished singer/songwriter. Not that you need to do much digging to unearth that fact, just take a look back at the deeply confessional solo material she’s created over […]

By his own volition, the days of Gary Clark Jr. as blues guitar hero are long gone, as he continues to forge an eclectic path as complex and confusing as this album title for his fourth major label release. Okay, let’s explain that before proceeding. The acronym is Jealousy, Pride, Envy, Greed…Rules, Alter Ego, Worlds. […]

Power to the People by Joe Henderson is a remarkable jazz album that showcases the legendary saxophonist’s exceptional talent and innovative approach to the genre. Released in 1969, during a period of significant social and political upheaval in the United States, the album captures the spirit of the times with its title track, which serves […]

Fifteen years into their career, upstate New York’s Driftwood seems to finally be firing on all cylinders. That’s not to say their earlier efforts were not good, but December Last Call, their latest, has an effortless charm that the band seems to have been building up to over their last few albums. The opening title […]

The Gaslight Anthem has announced HISTORY BOOKS – SHORT STORIES, a new EP arriving Friday, March 22 on their own Rich Mahogany Recordings label via Thirty Tigers. HISTORY BOOKS – SHORT STORIES collects four exclusive tracks including the band’s anthemic take on Billie Eilish’s 3x RIAA Platinum-certified breakthrough single, “Ocean Eyes,” as well as a brand new rendition of the longtime fan favorite, “Blue […]

On UglyFace’s latest single, he intertwines harsh truths with his vivid storytelling for an emotional journey through the pitfalls of relationships. “Shoot” plays more like a film than a song due to the intricate storytelling that drives this track. UglyFace deployed cutting-edge storytelling over infectious and dusty drum loops that are rounded out by cinematic […]

Formed in 2022, Glasgow-based Good Pariah combines disparate influences into both comedic and tragic musical panacea for the modern age. Twanging guitars, expansive oscillating soundscapes, and both aggressive and touching duel vocals generate a sense of wide open space and more up close and personal. They pull in the intellectual lyricism of Silver Jews, the […]