M. Ward – A Wasteland Companion

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A master collaborator as of late (Monsters of Folk, She & Him), M. Ward has finally come back to his solo roots with A Wasteland Companion. A bleak title hangs over this album, but Ward is in relative high spirits. Perhaps it’s the influence from his sticky-sweet She & Him partner Zooey Deschanel, but M. Ward certainly embraces his pop side on his eighth solo album. Some of its elements… continue reading

Communion Tour: Austin to Boston @ Cafe 939, 3.31.12

As evidenced by the tour name, Boston was the last stop for a group of artists from Communion Records, a U.K. label co-founded by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. The tour started with a showcase at South by Southwest, then continued north by northeast in a caravan of Volkswagen camper vans. The show was packed full of eager listeners, with most waiting to see headliner Ben Howard. The audience… continue reading

Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is An Animal

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Album of the year.  Hands down.  Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men’s debut album My Head Is An Animal has finally dropped stateside and it has been on repeat on my iPod, Spotify and iTunes all week long.  Am I sick of it yet?  Nope.  With every listen, I only love the album even more.  Of Monsters and Men have an Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros-esque style to their songs, especially  in “Little Talks.” … continue reading

Of Monsters and Men w/ Lay Low @ House of Blues, 4.7.12

Yellow stage lights illuminated hands waving Icelandic flags in a packed House of Blues on Saturday. Some college students may not have heard of the Icelandic group Of Monsters and Men, but those who have constitute a loyal following. These fans supported the sextet – and an accompanying trumpeter – when they played in Boston, following stops in Philadelphia and New York City. The show began at 7 p.m. with… continue reading

Wild Flag @The Paradise 3.31.12

Wild Flag is the favorite band that you thought you were born a generation too late to find. What many are claiming to be a super group (with members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium, Quasi, and The Minders) always prove their own with one anthem after another. This time around, the band offered some solid hope of a new album. Four new songs were ripped through, including “Winter Pair” and “Nothing”, but… continue reading

The Mars Volta – Noctourniquet

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The Mars Volta is my favorite band. I say that I have a lot of favorite bands, but when it really comes down to it, the Texas progressive rock factory run by songwriter Omar Rodriguez Lopez and lyricist Cedric Bixler-Zavala always finds its way comfortably ahead of the rest. No other band has consistently reinvented itself on each release and still managed to produce enjoyable music, even if said enjoyment… continue reading

Zammuto: a Q & A Preview

In the eternal wisdom of Del Paxton, “Ain’t no way to keep a band together. Bands come and go. You got to keep on playin’, no matter with who….” Yes, I just quoted That Thing You Do. Nick Zammuto’s sound-collage collaboration, The Books, broke up last year. He considered quitting music all together but friends and family convinced him to get back in to it right away. We’re all glad he… continue reading

Grimes – Visions

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In an interview with New York Times Magazine, Claire Boucher, the 24-year-old behind Grimes, described her music as “post-Internet.” The term doesn’t refer so much to a time in the absence of the Internet, as it does to the time after its advent. In other words, Grimes grew up in the modern world, where everything is available with a click of the mouse. Inevitably, her music does draw from many different influences…. continue reading

Q&A With: Brad Oberhofer

With both a new album and a Coachella debut in view, Brad Oberhofer was able to have a quick phone chat with us and based on the conversation he seems both relaxed and excited about the wild year ahead of him. The 21-year old frontman of the four-man band, Oberhofer, has mastered the art of new wave rock combined with dreamy pop and his music makes it nearly impossible to… continue reading

White Rabbits – Milk Famous

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Upon first listen to White Rabbits’ debut album, Fort Nightly, it is easy to be drawn to their infectious rhythms and unique style. Tracks such as “Kid On My Shoulders” and “Navy Wives” seemed to channel the music of older generations, and that sensation was particularly captivating. Anticipating a similar style in the later albums, I was a bit disappointed with how the band has progressed. When White Rabbits recruited… continue reading

Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself

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It seems that anything Andrew Bird does musically works for him. The man can do no wrong. His sixth solo studio album, Break It Yourself, is an amalgamation of elements: whistling interludes reminiscent of the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack, crickets, and a violin rift suitable for a jig. It’s so wild it’s peaceful. The album title comes from “Eyeoneye,” in which Bird sings, “You’ve done the impossible now / Took yourself… continue reading