Marky-Mark Kozelek is back and looking to follow-up to his 2010 release, Admiral fell Promises behind his alter-ego Sun Kil Moon.  Among the Leaves drops May 29th.  Two tracks have been released so far, both are right down the line for Mark.  Take a listen below:      

  As if Damon Albarn wasn’t already busy enough with his multiple projects and kicking Blur back into gear, he’s also found time to record a new solo album, Dr. Dee, that dropped yesterday. In fitting Albarn style given his more recent concept-driven projects, Dr. Dee is, err, a concept-driven project: an album inspired by the life and times [...]

  “Take a Walk” is Passion Pit’s first single since 2009′s “Little Secrets.” Did the switch to a major label (Columbia Records) distort their sound? The casual listener would only notice a slight change in singer Michael Angelakos’ vocal delivery. His signature, high-pitched approach has been discarded and replaced with a more inviting register. After [...]

I’m going to tell you a little story about this kid we all know: You know… the kid down the street who finishes his Masters Degree in “Librarian Information Science” and then goes back home, to start his life in the exciting field of folding shirts at Urban Outfitters– or whatever. He’s bright eyed, and [...]

Or because it’s so flipping adorable. Don’t like it all! OKAY?! Geez. We GET IT. You’re SOOO OVER hipsterism art, and this was made like, what–two years ago? I know. I need to get with the hologrammic now. Another reason not to like this video (clear at the bottom of the post-if you must skip [...]

With three of the most amazing singles released in 2011 (Belispeak, Lofticries, Ungirthed), Purity Ring left skeptics asking whether or not the band had the chops to make a full length release.  Well, come July we’ll see as the band is slated to release their debut album “Shrines”.  From the sound of this first single from the [...]

  First and foremost, this U.K. collective should be handed an award for “worst band name.” Three attempts later, Google provides a review from the Guardian about the Birmingham band. Luckily, the forgivable four-piece group redeems themselves with a familiar and unforgettable atmospheric rock sound. They only formed last Autumn, but have already supported Tame [...]

Too many observers confuse Eef Barzelay‘s sincerity for irony. Maybe it’s the pop-culture references he employs, or the dry sarcasm he exudes in interviews, or even the name of his band, Clem Snide. But he’s as misunderstood and underrated as just about any working songwriter. He’s capable of utterly breathtaking love songs — like “Find Love,” which [...]

Yes, I know that by even watching this video, it’s a cataclysmic collision of both terrorism and masochism. But I love this song. It’s my new ringtone. (My phone happens to always be on vibrate–but whatever.) Finally, someone out there has the courage to address this important issue: being hot. Finally, someone who understands real [...]

Alexander Ebert has been a busy man.  Immediately following the critical success of Edward Sharpe’s Up From Below,  he hit the ground running, returning to his original gig fronting Ima Robot, releasing Another Man’s Treasure. . . then turned around a fantastic self-titled album a few months later (Alexander).  You’d think after turning a hat-trick [...]

I’ve been looking for my new “band.” You know, the one I stumble upon without hearing about them through anyone, any website, any Facebook post, any magazine “Hear It Now” article. The kind of band that makes my entire season. The kind of band that will forever mark a specific time in my life. Enter: [...]

From his first album as a solo artist, Duncan paints a vivid portrait of Lincoln Duncan’s life on a night when he’s kept awake in his motel room by the couple in the room next to him “trying to win a prize. . . going at it all night long”.   I don’t think there’s ever [...]

Chromatics formed in the Pacific Northwest as a rickety no-wave band more than a decade ago, but re-emerged in the mid-2000s with a revamped lineup and a new sound that nicely coincided with a resurgence of interest in the slow, dreamy, not-always-Italian dance-pop subgenre known as Italo disco. As with other acts on New Jersey-based Italians Do It [...]

Victoria LeGrand.  Nothing else needs to be said.  New song from their upcoming album, Bloom, dropping May, 15.  

In his review of Shlohmo’s latest Vacation EP, Andrew Ryce (of Pitchfork) addresses the EP’s 2nd track Wen Uuu, writing: “The meek and plaintive “wen uuu” further ratchets up the percussion, but this time it’s a bumpy zig-zag of makeshift drums leaving just enough room for a different kind of vocal sampling. Chopping up vocal syllables into [...]