REVIEW: COEUR DE PIRATE – BLONDE (2011)
In 2009, you couldn’t avoid hearing Béatrice Martin in France. She was everywhere, and rightfully so. The tattooed piano player with a voice as sweet only Haribo or Willy Wonka could ever craft took the country as well as Canada with her pop songs firmly rooted in songwriter territory. These wasn
Interview: Tristen (Nashville)
Every single day, there’s dozens of new names and bands that come and go in a flash. It’s overwhelming, easily and near impossible to follow closely everything going on out there in music-but that’s the exciting thing. There’s always something new. But even more exciting is when one artist c
FAR EASTBOUND (AND NOT SO DOWN): A MADISON MUSICIAN PERFORMING IN ASIA
Brett Newski is a Madison musician who, upon his band The Nod ceasing operations this summer with a great show opening for Flatfoot 56, ended up on the other side of the world in Asia performing concerts and traveling with just his guitar and few belongings. You can follow his wanderings and ad
Review: Doomtree – No Kings (2011)
No Kings is not hot on the heels of F H : X V or 2008′s Doomtree. It’s in searing pursuit, hugging hairpin curves tighter, and launching a full on Mad Max auditory assault that chases you down, latches on, and refuses to let you go until nearly 47 minutes later. The Minneapol
REVIEW: YOUTH LAGOON – THE YEAR OF HIBERNATION (2011)
It was on an overnight camping trip that I first heard of the artist Youth Lagoon. I had been speaking with a friend about music tastes, and somewhere between Local Natives and Jon Foreman, Youth Lagoon came up. I recall thinking “huh, what a strange name” and mak
INTERVIEW: FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS (LOS ANGELES)
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of LA darlings, Fitz and The Tantrums. Their insanely dance-able soul/funk blend had me hooked long before I saw them in concert. But the great thing about them is you don’t need to be a fan to enjoy their live shows. The Tantrums on stage are a group [&
Review: Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials (2011)
Florence Welch is a force of nature. Firebomb hair, voice like an avalanche, hurricane of dance moves; she’s an elemental juggernaut. Over the past two years, Welch and her Machine have been on an unstoppable ride, with snapshot performances from Saturday Night Live to Letterman to
REVIEW: MINA TINDLE – MINA TINDLE EP (2011)
It could just be me, but it seems French singer/songwriters are upping their game of late. Maybe it’s because everyone’s been doing Erasmus the past decade, breaking out of their comfort zones and spending times around off-campus parties in college towns in America soaking in the culture while r
Review: Surfer Blood – Tarot Classics EP (2011)
What comes to mind when you read the name “Surfer Blood?” Contrast comes to mine. Surfing evokes carefree pleasantries in my mind, while blood implies passion and life with a sense of brooding. This might give you an idea of what to expect when listening to the alternative punk