Artist in Residence for August 2010, Kathryn Ostenberg, returns for a special episode to debut a new song about falling in love.
Artists in Residence: Kathryn Ostenberg Returns to Debut a New Song
Album Review: The Albertans, “New Age”
The Albertans released their second full-length album, New Age, yesterday, and through my five back-to-back-to-back listens, I grooved and nodded and thought that these must be Sufjan Stevens‘ poppy, edgy siblings. This Canadian quintet, formed by a fateful convening of the five Albertan-bred musicians in Vancouver, brings a sound more rock than pop, but
Phineas And The Lonely Leaves Make Indie Folk Goodness
When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with making mix tapes (weren’t we all?). My best friend had one that her parents had made. The A side was titled Irretrievable Youth. It was full of fun, upbeat songs, like “Bitchin’ Camaro” by The Dead Milkmen, basically songs about living life to the fullest and
Asobi Seksu Trance Out Mercury Lounge
On the warmest night so far this year, Asobi Seksu played a sold out show at Mercury Lounge. This night’s lineup consisted of all bands representing New York, mainly Brooklyn (what up!). The opener, Elika, is an electro pop duo from Brooklyn, with a guy on knobs/laptop, and a girl on vocals. It was hard
Modern Skirts Blew My Skirt Up…And I Liked It
Modern Skirts, a four-piece from Athens, GA, sure know to groove on a sick pop hook. Gramahawk, Modern Skirts’s latest album, drops today. It’s ten tracks of clattering cymbals, soaring synth and lilting lyrics. The devil really is in the details with Modern Skirts. They manage to produce thrillingly catchy songs that unfold, little by
Madison Makes Beautiful Noise
Don’t dismiss Madison as a regurgitation of pop stars like Kesha or Lady GaGa. While her songs are quite dancey, Madison brings an original style to pop music- and a lot of sex appeal. Madison released the first installment of her four part EP series, The Noise Some People Make last Tuesday. The four-song set
Leona Laurie meets the Riot Police at Hard Fest 2009
Another treat from our recently restored archives is our highest-trafficked article of 2009: Leona Laurie’s account of the abortive Hard Fest at the LA Forum… Well, I don’t feel stupid anymore about buying tickets to San Diego’s Street Scene after already buying tickets to see Chromeo at Hard Fest/Hard Summer in LA. Why? Because Hard
The Adorable Kina Grannis Graces the El Rey in LA…Hey!
If you have a heart, you will like Kina Grannis. If you do not like Kina Grannis, you either have not heard of her or you kick puppies. This is what I learned from going to see her play her impossibly cheery live set last night. On this oddly warm night, I headed down Wilshire
Album Review: Minus the Bear’s “Omni” on Dangerbird Records
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
BackStory: The Fling’s “Devil’s Man”
In this episode, Dustin Lovelis of Long Beach, CA’s The Fling tells the story behind their song “Devil’s Man.” The Fling’s album “When the Madhouses Appear” comes out on August 31. I wrote the song, “Devil’s Man” shortly after my girlfriend left for Africa for a couple months. It’s mostly about me trying to figure