Mr. Big : Ten

At the end of my freshman year of high school the supergroup Mr. Big dropped their debut, self-titled album. Supergroup you say? Well, if you were a 15-year old fledgling guitarist that worshipped at the alter of Vai, Satriani, and Gilbert then yes, they were a supergroup. The band consisted of David Lee Roth’s former […]

Chris Cohen : Paint A Room

Chris Cohen is one of those musicians/songwriters that seems to ride a completely different wavelength than the rest of the world. As a collaborator he’s worked with everyone from Deerhoof to Ariel Pink to Cass McCombs to Weyes Blood. But as a solo artist is where his magic truly lies. His solo work feels aged […]

Fir Cone Children Return With Tenth Album ‘Jig Of Glee’, Out 7/12; Listen To Single “Malin”

Alexander Donat is a man creatively in bloom. With so many musical ideas he needs to spread them out amongst many different projects; Vlimmer, Fir Cone Children, Assassun, Feverdreamt, as well as music released under his own name all build a discography rich in sound, mood, intent, and with a through line that is Donat’s […]

Eels : EELS TIME!

Mark Oliver Everett has quietly amassed an impressive discography over the last 30 years, first with two albums under the moniker ‘E’ and then in 1996 debuting EELS. Despite the shift from singer/songwriter pop-inflected songs to a more gruff, alternative vibe both iterations of Everett’s curmudgeon poet laureate remained steadfast. Sad and melancholy but with […]

Strand Of Oaks : Miracle Focus

Timothy Showalter has been kicking around as Strand of Oaks since his 2009 debut Leave Ruin. Starting out with a folksy, singer/songwriter vibe he shifted focus into more synth and pop touches on the project’s breakthrough record Pope Killdragon. His Neil Young affectations were replaced by Tangerine Dream and Kate Bush as influences on his […]

Lenny Kravitz : Blue Electric Light

Lenny Kravitz has had a long, successful career. 35 years to be exact. While never creating something truly original or singular, he’s successfully built a decades-spanning discography on the shoulders of innovators like Sly and the Family Stone, John Lennon, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and the list goes on. His take on 60s free love, 70s […]

Of Montreal : Lady On The Cusp

Kevin Barnes has been making music as Of Montreal since 1998. Coming out of Georgia’s Elephant 6 collective, he began as a twee folk pop/rock band. But quickly Of Montreal became Barnes’ Funhouse where he could lean into any direction the Muse would take him. From the distinct album art(done by brother David) to the […]

St. Vincent : All Born Screaming

If ever there was a proper heir to the throne of our beloved David Bowie it would be Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent. From the Texas native’s beginnings as a member of the Polyphonic Spree to a stint in Sufjan Steven’s band to her debut album Marry Me in 2007, Clark has shown a need […]

Cloud Nothings : Final Summer

Cloud Nothings arrived seemingly fully formed in 2011. The punk rock swagger, post-punk indifference, and songwriting prowess of singer/guitarist/songwriter Dylan Baldi was already in place. His bedroom solo project became an actual rock trio, and after releasing two albums written and performed by Baldi the trio recorded Attack On Memory with Steve Albini at Electrical […]

Vampire Weekend : Only God Was Above Us

Vampire Weekend are one of those bands that you either love or loathe. They have charm about them, but also a preciousness that turns off curmudgeonly old hipsters that don’t think they’re actually hipsters. On the other hand the band has songwriting chops and intellectually inviting lyrics thanks to singer/songwriter Ezra Koenig. Koenig can make […]