REVIEW: P.O.S – WE DON’T EVEN LIVE HERE (2012)
In 2011, the Midwest took over Mohawk for one night at SXSW. It’s tough competition down there, but when you have Gayngs spearheaded by Justin Vernon and Ryan Olson doing a (at the time) rare performance outside of the Twin Cities, there was no excuse not to be there. Stefon Alexander wa
Review: Icona Pop – Iconic EP (2012)
Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo have already established themselves as the go-to dance pop duo in Sweden since 2009. They’ve enticed American shores before, teasing with a quick concert through Neon Gold in 2010 before disappearing back to Europe where they shored up with Patrik Berger, the man behin
REVIEW: OLD EARTH – A LOW PLACE AT THE OLD PLACE (2012)
Despite the musical vibe of some of our more high-profile, bearded singer-songwriters, Wisconsin isn’t just a bleak and lonely land of secluded log cabins. We can be a happy, interactive bunch— a beer, a brat and a Packers win can remedy a lot around here. But when you record a
REVIEW: O’BROTHER – BASEMENT WINDOW (2012)
O’Brother may be one of the most underrated bands on the touring circuit today. The five-piece is known for performing a combination of post-rock and post-hardcore. They come across as intense in recorded form, but exponentially moreso in their live performances. After the release of two EPs, near
REVIEW: BAD BOOKS – II (2012)
Since Bad Books released their debut album two years ago, the folks that make up the supergroup have been incredibly busy. Kevin Devine released his sixth album, Between the Concrete and Clouds and Manchester Orchestra released their third album, Simple Math. With Kevin De
REVIEW: MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS – THE HEIST (2012)
Macklemore is a prime example of what it is to be a musician nowadays. Patient and fan-focused, but not in the sense you’re focusing your efforts to appease but appreciate. Fan appreciation pizza party? How could you not like an artist that does that? Blueprint has honed this humbleness as we
REVIEW: FRANKA DE MILLE – BRIDGE THE ROADS (2012)
When the pizzicato arpeggios of the cello are accentuated by neoclassical piano and a lilting, reedy accordian melody on Track 4 (“Gare Du Nord”) of Franka De Mille’s album, “Bridge the Roads,” it’s pleasantly hard to breathe. The two opening tracks, “Come On” and “Fallen”
Review: Mumford & Sons – Babel (2012)
Earlier this year, a documentary was released allowing viewers to ride the rails along a journey of Old Crow Medicine Show, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Mumford & Sons on their tour in an old American train. A ingenious idea hearkening back to the heyday of
REVIEW: ALT-J – AN AWESOME WAVE (2012)
I’m all for shortcuts, be it that they make life much easier. Once you get them down, you can tear through complicated things in no time at all. Isn’t it ironic that one shortcut is making the music world grind to a halt to bask in its spacious, calculated scores? Alt-J, or ∆ as it is [&helli