REVIEW: MUMFORD & SONS – SIGH NO MORE (2010)
The 2008 British folk movement brought the two leading luminaries into the Bottom Lounge in Chicago for a half-filled show. Johnny Flynn and Laura Marling had been stirring hearts and minds, expanding into the festival circuit. Woe be thee who missed the opening act, because Marcus Mumford and compa
REVIEW ROUNDUP: GORILLAZ, COHEED, DAN BLACK, THE HEAVY, SWITCHFOOT, PAPERCUT MASSACRE
Coheed & Cambria – The BrokenClaudio Sanchez is arguably one of the best personalities to break into alternative radio in the past decade. No one else possesses his falsetto and mammoth guitar abilities in one person, nor the hair. As Coheed & Cambria supposedly winds down its ep
ON THE HORIZON: THE SOULFUL, MAJESTIC MADJO
In December, an email landed in my inbox from France with a gratuit MP3 from this unheard of singer. Free and French? Sign me up! Her voice shook me, akin more to North American songstresses of late than the likes of Camille, Charlie or Nolwenn Leroy. Madjo is an île of soul-infused
REVIEW ROUNDUP: AVRIL LAVIGNE, CHARLIE WINSTON, FLOBOTS, MUMFORD & SONS, SPOON
January is traditionally a rather desolate month in terms of fresh singles making it to the airwaves. The hot holiday season has cooled into a frigid empty tundra. But hey, there’s a couple new tracks in the snow of late! Sorry for the delay y’all, spent the last two and a half weeks reconnectin
REVIEW: DASHA – DAMNED IF WE DO (2009)
Rochester isn’t very known nationally as a music hotbed despite its advantageous location between Toronto and New York City. Hence it’s little surprising that Dasha dipped below many people’s radars last fall with Damned If We Do. The album, released via the tiny label Whaleplane, ta
RADIO STATIONS RIDING THE IPHONE’S WAVES
2009 was the year iPhone jetted atmospherically in terms of downloads and capabilities. In music, these applications predominately were promotional tools and gimmicks to hawk high-profile albums and artists. They served short-term goals and something that, odds are, was deleted without much thought.
Review Roundup: Alkaline Trio, Paramore, Metric, Chevelle, David Guetta, Dizzee Rascal, Plasticines…
The roundup this week draws back a bit, while touching base with a freshly baked single from Chicago’s Alkaline Trio. Yet not only back, but across the ocean. Expect more international singles from here on out. Alkaline Trio – This AddictionThe Chicago trifecta have been revving up for
Tops of 2009 / La Fin de l’Année
For my top albums/EPs of 2009, as well as the top 5 shows of the year take that high-speed connection towards Radio Free Chicago. For all other matters, stick around! I’ll share one more (non-exhaustive) list after this digression. I believe I won’t be the only person wishing 2009 into the
Review: Koala Fires – The Beeping In Our Hearts (2010)
As the year-end lists begin to dwindle, fresh snow continues to fall on rooftops, and those Christmas trees lie bare in your apartment silently coming to the realization their days are truly numbered as their gift boxed companions now are dispersed among family and friends, what do we have to look f