I’m pretty interested to see what public court of opinion and interest is for a sophomore effort from the folk-rock duo of John Paul White and Joy Williams (aka The Civil Wars). After taking iTunes by storm and in turn debuting in Billboard’s Top 20 with their debut Barton Hollow (2011), they seemed an overnight success story…even if it’d been two years in the making. The promotional and touring cycle included Grammy nominations for both Best Folk Album and Best Country […]
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Kings of Leon, ‘Wait For Me:” The Singles Bar Review
The boys in Kings of Leon have just released the second song from their new album Mechanical Bull, slated for release on September 24th. “Wait For Me,’ is a slow burner ballad that, for my money, is much more impressive than first single, ‘Supersoaker.’ It definitely has an arena rock ‘lighters-in-the-air,’ feel to it. It also has a middle-eastern coda reminiscent of Tom Petty’s ‘Don’t Come Around Here No More.’ It’s potential to do to adoring female fans what the first single promised […]
The Carlton Shuffle, 8/3/13
Turning the calendar to August sends my system into a bit of a shock. Partially saddened that summer is fading fast, partially energized to make its remaining weeks count. Whatever this summer weekend has in store for you, give The Carlton Shuffle a spin while you’re getting ready, and check out what the Popblerd staff has been digging this week!
Blerd Radio 2013 | Episode 14: Blerd Radio Revisits The ’90s
Seriously, Mark McGrath. You are one of us.
Blue October, “Bleed Out:” The Singles Bar Review
Blue October return next month with their seventh proper studio album entitled, Sway. The first outlet of catharsis this time around is entitled (aptly), ‘Bleed Out.’ Don’t get me wrong, Justin Furstenfeld and Co. basically wrote the playbook on creating a fan relationship so strong that it assists in the costs associated with creating new music and making a living doing what they love. Aside from my awe of them on the business side of things, the music critic in me […]
Bon Iver, “Come Talk To Me:” The Singles Bar Review
So back in 2010, Peter Gabriel tackled versions of songs by the likes of Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, Regina Spektor and others with the help of his ‘New Blood Orchestra.’ In theory, it sounded like a nifty idea – especially when it was coached by the fact that Gabriel authorized a companion or follow-up piece where those same artists would have an opportunity to return the favor. Hence the respective titles of Scratch My Back (2010) and now …And I’ll […]
Monster Magnet, “The Duke:” The Singles Bar Review
…And like a psychedelic trip back into the ethers, Monster Magnet return with another rocket-fueled space rock jam on the album cut, ‘The Duke,’ from their forthcoming album Last Patrol. Following 2010’s Mastermind, this will be the band’s second album on Napalm Records. It’s a mostly acoustic ‘classic rock sounding,’ track with the signature rhythm section holding things together and Dave Wyndorf vocally setting the mood, gradually building the electric guitar solo ante with Phil Caivano and Garrett Sweeney along for the […]
The Carlton Shuffle, 7/20/13
Now that you’ve sweated through a sweltering mid-July week, let’s cool down with this week’s Carlton Shuffle! As is often the case we’re all over the musical map – new, old, metal, pop, soul, on down the line. Grab a snowcone, and groove!
a.f.i., “I Hope You Suffer:” The Singles Bar Review
So afireinside (known better under all sorts of spelling and capitalization of the letters AFI) are poised to return with their ninth studio album, Burials, out on October 22nd. Davey Havok and the boys have cooked up this dark little ditty called ‘I Hope You Suffer.’ I am digging it and hoping it’s a return to more hollowed ground (i.e. anything circa 2003’s Sing the Sorrow or prior). Tell us what you think in the comments below or on the Popblerd! Facebook page. […]
Moby, ‘A Case for Shame:’ The Viewfinder Review
So Moby is set to release his latest album, entitled innocents on October 1st. I dropped by his site today and found a video for the tune ‘a case for shame,’ featuring Cold Specks. It’s highlighted below. Listen – Moby’s coming off one of the best albums in recent years with 2011’s destroyed and he’s already collaborated with Mark Lanegan on a track for this new album. Cold Specks is a perfect vocal fit for Moby’s style of cinematic electronic music. […]
Kings of Leon, ‘Supersoaker:’ The Singles Bar Review
So Kings of Leon have finally released the first taste of new music from their new album Mechanical Bull, slated for release on September 24th. It’s called ‘Supersoaker,’ and had been making the live rounds towards the end of their tour in support of 2010’s truly breakout album, Come Around Sundown. While it lacks the punch of previous lead-off singles ‘Radioactive’ or ‘Sex on Fire’ (off 2008’s Only By The Night). It does hold true to the promise that it reminisces with […]
Placebo, “Too Many Friends”: The Singles Bar Review
British rock outfit Placebo are set to release their seventh studio album in September (9/16/13) and, with every album since 1998’s landmark album Without You, I’m Nothing, I’m always excited. We’ve finally gotten the first official taste of the album in the first single released to radio and the internet. It’s called “Too Many Friends,” and in typical Brian Molko lyrical prowess, it tackles technology and its social effects on relationships. You can give a listen below. Loud Like Love is due […]
