Grammy nominations get announced tonight. Who will come up as the big nominee? Besides Adele, that is…
Indie Rock
Grammy Nominations Announced Tonight; Who’s Gonna Clean Up?
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The Viewfinder: “A Road Song” by Fountains Of Wayne
Man, Fountains of Wayne have been peeling videos from the Sky Full Of Holes album like no one’s business. “A Road Song” is the fourth clip to be taken from this excellent album, and while it doesn’t offer much in the way of groundbreaking visuals (it’s a fairly prototypical “on the road” video), “A Road Song”, in my humble opinion, is the album’s best song. While employing the smart-assery that is Fountains’ trademark, the song actually has a poignant strain to it. It’s a […]
Spin Cycle: Rob Potylo’s “How Do You Feel In June?”
Album Reviews / Indie Rock / music / New Releases / pop culture / Pop Music / rock music / Spin Cycle
Rob Potylo’s just released the final installment in a trilogy of albums AND he’s playing Boston tonight. Check out our review of the album and hit the show up if you’re local!
The Singles Bar: Black Taxi’s “Tightrope”
Remember when The Strokes first appeared on the scene 10 years ago and everyone was all like “They’re so amazing! They’re gonna be huge!” and then they split after 3 albums only to reform for money and sucked? If they had a first single like like “Tightrope” by Brooklyn’s Black Taxi maybe their career trajectory would’ve been different. For one thing, the strength of “Tightrope” alone indicates staying power. Mark my words five albums down the road when they’re still making exciting […]
Spin Cycle: “The Front Bottoms”
It’s very rare in this day and age that bands still come out and manage to sound like no one else. The Front Bottoms are that kind of a band. A duo like no other of their contemporaries, they create stories within each one of their songs. At times blink 182-ish without the brattiness (Maybe if Tom Delonge took Angels & Airwaves in a more acoustic direction without the air of pretension…), The Front Bottoms do so much with so little. With such lush arrangements on […]
Spin Cycle: Florence + the Machine’s “Ceremonials”
British act Florence + The Machine follow up their well-received debut “Lungs” with a new album called “Ceremonials”. Can Ms. Welch and company successfully avoid the sophomore slump?
Spin Cycle: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s “Tape Club”
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin are easy to like, but they’re unlikely to be anyone’s favorite band. They’re a little too unassuming for that: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin write simple, unadorned pop songs. Classifying them as indie is difficult since, beyond their unwieldy band name and reasonably lo-fi take on things, their songs are generally catchy and devoid of pretense; lumping them in with groups that tread the indie/pop dividing line like Death Cab For Cutie or […]
Spin Cycle: Mayer Hawthorne’s “How Do You Do?”
It’s a very tricky thing when an acclaimed artist makes the jump from an indie label to a major. Will they retain that spark that drew you in to begin with? Will they be forced to make stylistic compromises to appease the suits and mass audiences? Will they end up as the soundtrack to commercials for Target and get in house play at your local Starbucks? Without delving into a diatribe about the corporate music industry, I’ll simply say that […]
The Blerd Interview: Matthew Ryan
Since his 1997 debut album “May Day”, Matthew Ryan has been producing one gem after another, while flying just under the radar. Critics and fellow musicians love him, as does the devoted fan base lucky enough to be aware of one of our finest songwriters. From major label releases to self released albums to indie labels, he has seen all sides of the music business and continues to produce stellar full lengths. Just when you think he can’t top himself, […]
