Music history buffs don’t agree on much, but the one thing that they’ll nod their heads in agreement is that The Velvet Underground & Nico is one of the most influential albums on many, many levels. Produced by the ubiquitous Andy Warhol (at least that’s what it says on the album’s iconic cover), the album
Ultraísta may be a brand new band, but its members are far from amateurs. The London-based trio comprises Grammy-winning producer Nigel Godrich (better known as Radiohead’s fifth member), journeyman drummer Joey Waronker and Goldsmiths College alum, vocalist Laura Bettinson. The three-piece admits that it came together through a mutual love for Afrobeat, electronic and dance
Ah, tell me about it, the goodness of a live album – a sacred medium containing the pleasure of experiencing live music in the comfort of your own home or iPod – and not within a venue where you have to fight with a hundreds of sweaty people trying to push you aside for those
I’m sad and slightly ashamed to admit that Matt Bauer hasn’t been on my musical radar in the past few years. Despite his release of two well-received albums (The Island Moved In The Storm and The Jessamine County Book Of The Living), I was never privy to the unique brand of orchestral pop Bauer has
The sophomore full-length from London guitar band The Vaccines is a baffling back-step from the irony and cool distance of their exceptional 2011 debut. Gone is much of the playful humor of their earlier work, replaced by a sullen through line of self-conscience doubt. The clear influence here is still The Strokes. And, while that
Mumford & Sons are a powerful live band. They could turn a packed venue – arena sized or clubs- into a folk revivalist party; turning doubters to believers. Combine incredibly talented and handsome-looking multi-instrumentalists Brits in their ‘30s inspired attire with the energy of thousands-over strong crowd singing along to the rollicking-goodness of crowd favorites
A breathy, rhythmic voice starts chanting, “I gotta be above it” with chugging drums following suit. Vocals introduce the melody; sounding like a life-changing revelation has just taken place. Grandiose synths interject, creating the feeling of lifting off into the air. This is all a call to get on the psychedelic rock train. All aboard,
It’s easy for a band or artist to find inspiration from a certain style of music, but how about creating an entirely new genre? That’s what Dorian Duvall did. Under the moniker Onuinu (pronounced on-you-in-you), the Portland-based multi-instrumentalist refers to his music as “disco-hop,” and it’s an accurate description of his sound. Duvall admits that
What do you get when two people, who each on their own have many followers who believe they can do no wrong, collaborate to create a new entity? David Byrne & St. Vincent’s recently released album is a prime example of what that kind of collaboration makes possible. Fittingly, the project was inspired by another
Menomena, in its old incarnation, was by no means a new band. The Portland-based three-piece released four full-length albums (and a number of EPs) over the span of ten years, and all was going well for the trio until band leader Brent Knopf decided to call it quits and focus on his other project, Ramona