Girl power! It may not be the 90s anymore, but Wild Flag definitely knows how to kick it old school, mostly because the members of this brand-new band were also members of 90s legends Sleater-Kinney, Helium, and The Minders.  But this act is no throw back: now, more than ever, Wild Flag’s touch of girly grunge is both fresh and fun.

The supergroup’s self-titled debut starts off with the energetic “Romance,” whose defined beat and relentless stride reminds me of The Knack’s “My Sharona,” minus the pedophilia and plus some serious attitude.  By the time the hand claps break in, “Romance” has spanned every genre from grunge to keyboard-driven pop to girl-group harmonies and vintage vibes.  Check out The Best Show host Tom Scharpling’s video for the single after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

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In preparation for their sixth album, their first real-live studio record, San Francisco psych-rockers Wooden Shjips have released a video for their new song, “Black Smoke Rise.”

The band’s new album, West, sounds like a journey not only through the desert, but through the mind.  Backed by more than the traditional guitar, the Shjips include Nash Whalen on organ, who adds a ghoulish tremble to “Black Smoke Rise.”  Out of the layered feedback and distortion, singer Ripley Johnson’s voice barely makes it through, echoing from a distance in an extremely inviting and mystical manner.  Check out the black-and-white video after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

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Frusciante Rages Against Recycling in RHCP's "Can't Stop"

John Frusciante’s name is on the tip of every music critic’s tongue in the wake of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ latest release, I’m With You.  The band’s twelfth album has been given almost across-the-board lukewarm (or dead cold) reviews, and an increasing number of critics have been assigning the blame to the former guitarist’s absence.

Not even a founding member, Frusciante has left the Chili Peppers before, in 1992, amidst the angst of new fame post-Blood Sugar Sex Magik and a serious heroin habit.  But John Frusciante has been involved in all of the Chili Peppers’ most successful albums, including Californication, By the Way, and the band’s 2006 double album, Stadium Arcadium, in addition to Blood Sugar Sex Magik.  Missed not only for his fantastic guitar playing, Frusciante may have been one of the hardest working members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as evidenced by his already prolific solo career. Read the rest of this entry »

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Hide your bottles, The Wine Thieves are crashing your party with their Hot Hor D’oeuvres EP, now available on YouTube.  Heavy on the confidence and slick in its production, Hot Hor D’oeuvres is sample-ridden stoner hip-hop interspersed with audio clips reminiscent of Wu-Tang’s 36 Chambers.  Its unusual layered beats sometimes sound like a chopped and screwed bongo player going crazy at a poetry reading, and each track draws your attention with its humor, flow, and unexpected sonic pairings.  With The Wine Thieves, it’s impossible to anticipate where the next three minutes will take you.

Producer/beat master Party.picasso and rapper Emcee Hype met at William Paterson University in 2003.  “There seemed to be an instant musical connection between the two of us,” Party.picasso told emcBlue in a recent interview.  “The minute we found out we both freestyled and had a love for hip-hop, that was the end of it.” Emcee Hype adds, “I don’t think we spoke in prose for years. Everything was a freestyled rhyme. Read the rest of this entry »

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Rachel Fuller is the long time, significant other, heterosexual life partner of Pete Townshend from the legendary rock band The Who.  Several years ago, she released an album that was not as well received, critically and commercially, as she had hoped and was looking for a way to connect to a wider audience.  Thus “In the Attic” was born. 

It started with a web cam in the home studio (always a risky proposition) with her and some folks talking about music and occasionally playing some tunes.  In 2006-2007 when The Who decided to tour again (Exactly how many farewell tours have they pulled off?), Rachel got the idea to take a traveling studio to the various festivals The Who played and invite other artists, who played the festivals, to come in and chat, perform a song or two and stream it over the miracle of the World Wide Web.  This worked well for the European leg of the tour and had gained quite a following.  As The Who made plans to tour North America, a new plan was needed as the logistics and expense of shipping and traveling in the studio were apparently prohibitive.  Read the rest of this entry »

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The camera pans across the unyielding desert.  Nothing stirs.  The wind barely blows as every grain of sand seems glued to the earth’s floor.  Majestic shapes of impossible rock rise above the landscape, cutting into the bleached sky with unimaginable silhouettes.  As the scene begins, the hint of a song kicks up, a song that could only exist here.  But what is it?

It may be the plaintive whistle of a classic Ennio Morricone tune or a thick, dark beat from The Doors, musicians who drew inspiration from and came to define the West.  Or it could be one of Spindrift’s scores.  Inspired by the likes of Morricone and Morrison, Spindrift has emerged from the LA scene as the psychedelic spaghetti western pioneers of the modern age, crafting soundtrack music that skews the rules of time, sending new pictures back into the desert depths of westerns gone by.  Their latest release, Classic Soundtracks Vol. 1, compiles the band’s best soundtrack work, a unique collection that celebrates Spindrift’s colorful collaborations.

I recently got the chance to chat with Kirpatrick Thomas, the man behind Spindrift’s sound and scoring, about Classic Soundtracks Vol. 1, the legend of the West, and the origins of Spindrift. Read the rest of this entry »

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Cowboy and Indian at SXSW, Plemons far right

Jesse Plemons may have killed a man on NBC as Landry Clarke, the nerdy comic relief-turned-murderer in Friday Night Lights‘ worst plot twist, but he’s since risen from his roots on the now-defunct (though excellent) TV show to play a different role: folk singer.  Plemons is part of a folk crew, called Cowboy and Indian, whose outfits are something to shake an eyebrow at and whose gorgeous vocal harmonies and down-south fever are enough to start you square dancing.

And no, Friday Night Lights fans, Cowboy and Indian don’t sound anything like Landry’s fictional Christian thrash band, Crucifictorious. Read the rest of this entry »

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Hair Rocket's Punishment Cookie and The Great Afternoon's Self-Titled EP

Now on consignment at the Princeton Record Exchange are two exciting new projects from local bands, Hair Rocket and The Great Afternoon.  Hair Rocket, from Lumberville, Pennsylvania, recently released their first full-length album, the upbeat, edgy Punishment Cookie, and Lambertville’s The Great Afternoon just released their first official, and extremely folksy, self-titled EP.

First, let’s start off with Hair Rocket, whose Punishment Cookie is surprisingly rewarding.  Pop-punk in the best possible way, Hair Rocket shoot through their first full-length with a witty, high-energy, yet irreverent sound, playing rough and fast while managing to pull off the polish. Read the rest of this entry »

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Members of Peter Kernel

Swiss-Canadian noise pop trio Peter Kernel recently released the first single off of their upcoming sophomore album, White Death & Black Heart.  With a video to match, the single marches along with an anti-this, anti-that, pro-easy living punk attitude.

A mix of sunshine, anarchy, and edgy vocals, “Anthem of Hearts” starts off with a shock to the system care of singer and bass player Barbara Lehnhoff, but soon melts into a lovey-dovey soothing vocal, reaching for “a place to live and dream.”  Check out the new song by these misanthropic romantics after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

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Kofi Anteneng and Jim Wilson

In the digital age, it’s not a rare occurrence for a musician in one country to be inspired by an artist in another.  But perhaps now more than ever, it’s unusual for the two to meet.  And when one unknown musician travels hundreds of miles to see and record with another equally unknown musician, each with hardly any money to fund such a far-away friendship, it is a rare and special musical journey.

Jim Wilson is on such a journey, and he needs our help.  Wilson is a musician living and working in Athens, Georgia, involved with a number of local bands.  In 2008, Wilson took his first trip to Accra, Ghana where he met multi-instrumentalist Kofi Anteneng, a man who until that moment was a stranger to Jim.  Kofi and his band, The Warriors, instantly struck Wilson with their skill and style.  Together, Kofi and Jim began a project that will become Taxicab Verses. Read the rest of this entry »

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I had a dream we were here three times before. Except in my dream things constantly changed, people that were here aren’t, things that happened that definitely will not. The days light slowly hides away from us like a large toy chest closing and we are on the inside, we keep moving mile marker one after the other. Its all a blur and the stars hide out on the outskirts of the horizon, the highway is no place for stargazing and no place for two crazy souls seeking rhythms and healing undulations. We can only find adventure in our hearts and when we seek it we will always find the adventure that is meant entirely for us. This adventure has the meaning that only two sets of eyes can see yours and mine. This year we drive endlessly into the dark once again to the valley, till we reach our destination Indio, California where the Coachella Music Festival reinvigorates our souls, our hearts and reminds us why we are still here, still smiling. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Jayhawks are the harmonizing alt/country, rootsy, rock, with a touch of pop/folk band that emerged from Minneapolis, Minnesota in the mid 80’s.  Considered by many to be one of the forefathers of the then bourgeoning alt/country scene.

Formed in 1985 and co-helmed by Gary Louris and Mark Olson, The Jayhawks released their self titled debut on the indie label Bunkhouse Records.  In an attempt to snag a major label deal, the band recorded a set of demos, and then due to tragic and unforeseen circumstances, Gary temporarily left the band.  Upon his return, the collection of demos was fashioned into their sophomore release Blue Earth. Read the rest of this entry »

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Master musician Jack White and redheaded model Karen Elson recently announced their impending divorce with an unusual “Divorce Party” on June 10th.  While the couple, who have been together for six years and have two children, Scarlett and Henry Lee, celebrate their disturbing separation, we shall revel in the fantastic music their union created.

White met Elson on the set of the music video for “Blue Orchid,” the White Stripes’ first single off of Get Behind Me Satan, in 2005.  In a fantastic video for the album’s toughest song, Elson sported unbelievable ballet-style heels and made friends with a white snake (no, not that one).  But more important than this brief moment in White Stripes history is the unexpectedly beautiful solo album Karen Elson released through Jack White’s Third Man Records last year, The Ghost Who Walks. Read the rest of this entry »

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Kurt Vile smokes Camels.  I know this because the top of the package is poking out of the back pocket of his narrow jeans as he paces the small stage at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, hunching over instruments and amps, long wavy hair swinging as he makes the final adjustments before his June 11th show begins.

Now shaded blue, the stage has already sizzled with two opening acts, a Joan Baez clone by the name of Meg Baird and Purling Hiss, a vaguely psychedelic jam band from Philadelphia who Vile later referred to as friends of his.  The boys of Purling Hiss took the stage with a laid-back vibe and more instrumental breakdowns than lyrics, amping up the energy from Baird’s slow start.

Yet it’s unlikely that anyone here on this rainy, humid day came for either Baird or Purling Hiss.  Tonight is Kurt Vile’s first headlining show at the Bowery Ballroom, and it’s completely sold out. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Avett Brothers are the folksy, rocking, alt/country with a tinge of bluegrass band from North Carolina.  With such a diverse pedigree, is it any wonder the Rick Rubin took notice, signed them to his label, and produced their major label debut “I and Love and You”?

As mentioned, I and Love and You is the major label debut but actually finds The Avett Brothers in the double digits for their release total. They have released numerous albums as well as EP’s and live albums. Read the rest of this entry »

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Joe Pug is a singer/songwriter who originally hails from Maryland but began his unique musical career in Chicago.  He has toured at length since 2008, has opened for Steve Earle, M. Ward, and Josh Ritter and has also played the New Port Folk Festival and Lollapalooza.  Nothing in the short career of Joe Pug has followed the normal trajectory of a musician. 

His path to music was not as direct as other artists; he began playing guitar in grade school and formed a band in the 6^th grade.   Firmly believing the mark of a band was original writing, he began writing songs. This was coupled with early ambitions of being a playwright. He left home and attended the University of North Carolina for several years and abruptly left to continue his pursuit of music.  His ideas for a play ultimately were flushed out in his first EP “Nation of Heat”.  The songs were surreptitiously recorded in a Chicago studio with the aid of a friend who permitted him late night access to the cancelled studio sessions of other musicians. Read the rest of this entry »

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Greetings music lovers,

Today’s blog is about 25 albums you should own and has the following parameters: 

• Album must have been recorded/released prior to 1990
• No duplication of artist
• No live albums or greatest hits (kind of an all encompassing copout to include either)
• Listing of my favorite track from said album (This is not so much a parameter but a mere bonus for your reading pleasure)

Twenty Five albums you should own! (In no particular order): 

So, there you have it, another list of musical bliss.  Take your time, check them out and let me know what you think.

Great music awaits!

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Editor’s note: We are very pleased to welcome our newest blogger Kerri O’Malley.  She has submitted some excellent sample posts and we are eager to see what she brings to the table.  So, without further ado, here’s her first…

Not since “Lithium” has insanity been this celebratory.  Screws Get Loose, Those Darlin’s sophomore album, opens with a jangling cascade of guitar wails, piano keys and bells, creating a carnival at the edge of reason, temporarily assaulting the ears before ripping into the album’s title track.  Although Those Darlins — a vintage rock foursome that’s 3/4 female and grew up in Tennessee — are a far cry from Nirvana, the quartet echoes a similar unwashed-hair garage band vibe, breathing life and true ‘tude into the new vintage rock revivalism.

Taking a page out of The Ramones’ book, the girls of Those Darlins have all adopted the last name “Darlin.”  There’s lead singer Jessi Darlin, who sings with a nasally edge reminiscent of The Shangri-Las’ Mary Weiss, bassist Kelley Darlin, and lead guitarist Nikki Darlin.  Their new member, and the first to possess a Y chromosome, drummer Linwood Regensburg, has so far kept his not-so-cute last name, but his addition to the band marks a new stage in Those Darlins’ music. Read the rest of this entry »

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Audioslave is the hard rocking, metal edged super group that is ¾ Rage Against the Machine (Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, and Tim Commerford), and ¼ Soundgarden (Chris Cornell) that formed in 2001 on the heels of the breakup of the afore mentioned Rage Against the Machine.  The fortuitous paring of the band was craftily handled by none other than producer Rick Rubin who did indeed produce the first two albums for the band. Read the rest of this entry »

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