You know what I like about CMJ? It lets me talk about bands I’ve missed and should have written about in the past. One of those bands is LA’s Races, whom I saw the final night of CMJ before Hands (who rocked, by the way). Races had charisma and chemistry on stage, and their psychedelic,… Continue reading Races
[Abby’s Road] Mephisto’s Wearing Figure Skates
Ok. So I might have said I’d sell my soul to the devil…or pay any amount of money for tickets and/or flight from the US to the UK for the event I am about to go all crazypants about. Now that it is happening (and I am actually living in Western Europe) I am quaking… Continue reading [Abby’s Road] Mephisto’s Wearing Figure Skates
Future Islands use sounds of 25 years ago for On The Water
On the Water, the latest album from Baltimore’s Future Islands, is the most interesting indie-dance record released this year. Wait, it’s not really a dance record, maybe I meant indie-rock record. Well, it’s not really rock either. Is it chill-wave? I’m thinking not. Honestly, On the Water doesn’t deserve to be shoved into any one… Continue reading Future Islands use sounds of 25 years ago for On The Water
Lyndsay Holm
Oh, to be young and melancholic. And so raw that it’s just right. Lyndsay Holm – “Weeping Willow” [MP3] Holm is a musician and photographer based outside of Chicago.
Mixery for exfm at Cantora Labs’ CMJ Smartlounge
It’s not my typical mixery, but it’ll do. No random songs this time – they’re actually of my choosing! I know, crazy concept. Let’s get to the point. I was recently asked, along with a few esteemed music blogs and KR friends, to curate a little playlist for exfm at Cantora Labs’ Smartlounge at CMJ. So,… Continue reading Mixery for exfm at Cantora Labs’ CMJ Smartlounge
[Hype Hype Hooray] My Annual Defense of Liars’ ‘They Were Wrong So We Drowned’
Every [two weeks?] Jamie Hale takes a long, hard look at the music industry and the blog scene that feeds it. Here, he releases those findings and makes snarky, sarcastic remarks. Admittedly, both Jamie and Knox Road are a part of this scene. So sue us. You might be familiar with Liars, the three-piece experimental… Continue reading [Hype Hype Hooray] My Annual Defense of Liars’ ‘They Were Wrong So We Drowned’
It is rain in my face’s Wishbone EP
One of my favorite aspects of listening to new music is the ability to discover new approaches to established sounds or genres. On more than one occasion I’ve been treated to an artist who explores a genre that isn’t one of my favorites and takes it in a direction that is unexpected and appealing. Listening… Continue reading It is rain in my face’s Wishbone EP
[soundscape] the sum of its parts
photo: ‘things without name’ song: the mekons – “where were you” [stream only] (buy) [audio:http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15567770/Where%20Were%20You%201.mp3] “we are all alone, born alone, die alone, and — in spite of True Romance magazines — we shall all someday look back on our lives and see that, in spite of our company, we were alone the whole way.… Continue reading [soundscape] the sum of its parts
[MP3] Hands: “Warm Night Home”
Are you serious, Lee? Another Hands tune is available for download?? Mere days before several CMJ shows (one with our good blogging friends over at I Guess I’m Floating)??? I could keep going, but that would require way more question marks than I’m comfortable with, so I won’t. But Geoff Halliday and co. are gracing… Continue reading [MP3] Hands: “Warm Night Home”
[Abby’s Road] Crisis Devices
You know how life creeps up and slaps us around once in a while? Just when we think all is going along swimmingly; nothing monumental happening, nothing precariously bad or particularly good, everything just humming along status quo? Whether it’s good or bad, I am at my most comfortable at these moments. Then, like an… Continue reading [Abby’s Road] Crisis Devices