I’m pretty judgmental when it comes to covering the classics- say, I don’t know- a Fleetwood Mac or Bruce Springsteen track. My main criteria is, if you’re bold enough to attempt the cover- you need to make it your own- because you clearly can’t sound like the classic. First that’s a fast way to
Jessie Rifkin of the Wailing Wall spent 11 years in an Orthodox Jewish school, and it shows in his music—but probably not in any way you’d expect. The Brooklyn-based musician’s songs aren’t particularly reverent or full of praise, like those of Sufjan Stevens. And unlike many of today’s spiritual-minded musicians, such as Pedro the Lion’s
Red Hunter’s music has always existed off the beaten path. He got his start in Austin playing an apocalyptic brand of lo-fi folk tunes under the name Peter and the Wolf. Soon, he assembled a ragtag crew of musicians, which he called the “Junk Orchestra,” to flesh out his minimalist arrangements with strings, horns, and
Minus the Bear’s fourth studio album, Omni, is a groovy trek into synth-pop that packs a powerful electronic punch with a deadly rhythm section headed by Corey Murchy (bass) and Erin Tate (drums). Frontman/guitarist Jake Snyder lays down his signature mellow croon (with pristine production via Grammy-Award winning producer, Joe Chiccarelli) while Dave Knudson (lead
Not to sound conceited or anything, but Best Coast picked the right side of the country to name their band after. There’s nothing like a hot California summer, and Best Coast’s debut LP Crazy for You harnesses the mood of the sizzling sand and cool blue waves that we love so dearly during these months.
With an album cover that has a on-coming shark about to attack an office building, Black Mountain is saying you better be ready for its next album, which is slated to be released on September 14. The Canadian quartet’s third release, released on Jagjaguwar, is different than it’s earlier material and like the album’s cover,
The Blue Scholars have been a respected hip-hop duo in Seattle for around four years, after receiving top honors in the hip-hop category of Seattle Weekly’s 2006 Music Awards Poll. The group is known for their socially and politically conscious lyrics and playfully melodic beats. Their 2007 release Bayani exemplified these compelling aspects and led
Call me a nerd, but I’ve been monitoring Chromeo’s Twitter feed all day, waiting for them to announce the cover art for their newest album, Business Casual. Finally, the link is live to Spin’s exclusive on the big unveil. I guess if you’re dropping exclusives in Spin, playing Lollapalooza and appearing at the Hollywood Bowl,
Last summer I was working in the receiving room of Barnes and Noble with my boss, Kyle, when we received a new guy to help us out. He was soft-spoken, with a gentle, good-natured demeanor. He was also shy. So shy that we found it difficult to get him to talk much. After a few
1. You ask a friend to recommend some music to you. He tells you about Harlem. You promise to “check them out,” with little intention of actually doing it.2. You get on a plane for Austin, Texas (you’re undecided about moving so you’re visiting).3. You read a favorable review of Harlem’s debut album with Matador