Florence + the Machine are, in theory at least, pretty ideal candidates for an installment of MTV Unplugged. Listening to the official CD releases of these shows, artists like Neil Young hew fairly close to their on-record sound (rendering the discs rather inessential), while artists like Alice in Chains and Jay-Z were forced to operate slightly left of their centers, lending an appealing air of excitement to the corresponding discs. Florence Welch is a naturally gifted singer – always a […]
Indie Rock
Spin Cycle: Lostprophets’ “Weapons”
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Lostprophets are back with a new album, Weapons. Check out our review!
Spin Cycle: Of Monsters and Men’s “My Head is an Animal”
As I hinted when reviewing Of Monsters and Men’s Into the Woods EP a couple of months ago, the pop and indie universes seem to be on a collision course. This isn’t an entirely new phenomenon – remember all of the hullabaloo surrounding Modest Mouse embracing Top 40 with “Float On” back in ’03? – but we’ve reached a point, culturally, where the dividing line is almost nonexistent. Arcade Fire and Bon Iver have Grammys now, and Gotye and Florence + The Machine are […]
Spin Cycle: Bear In Heaven’s “I Love You, It’s Cool”
If there was a movie based solely on nirvana (the noun, not the band, you sillies), Bear In Heaven would be the artists supplying the score. On their latest, I Love You It’s Cool, Brooklyn’s Bear In Heaven magically meld electronic soundscapes with live instruments to create something, um, magical. Upon first hearing Bear In Heaven you will be transported to a heavenly place where you’ll either want to dance endlessly or stare at your shoes while bobbing your head in a trance-like […]
Spin Cycle: “The Hunger Games” Original Soundtrack
It’s the #1 soundtrack to the #1 movie in the land! Taylor Swift! Maroon 5! Kid Cudi! Check out what Brittany has to say about the “Hunger Games” soundtrack!
Spin Cycle: The Shins’ “Port of Morrow”
James Mercer and an (all new) band of Shins are back after a five-year absence. How much does a new lineup alter the landscape of The Shins’ intricate pop? Read the review and find out.
Spin Cycle: I Come To Shanghai’s “Eternal Life Volume II”
I’ve had I Come To Shanghai’s Eternal Life Vol. II for quite some time now. As previously discussed here on Popblerd , Robert Ashley and Sam Frigard added an “early download & listen” incentive to their KickStarter project. Over the last month, I’ve had their record pop up on my iPhone as I go for long drives or as I do chores around the house. Much like one of my favorite albums, Chicago , there is a constantly flowing suite of music that seamlessly blends from one […]
The Singles Bar: I Come To Shanghai offers “Eternal Life” for a price… (NSFW)
Athens-based rock duo I Come To Shanghai appears to be tapping into the zeitgeist of the internet, with their new KickStarter project gathering funds to implement the previously released “Eternal Life Vol. I” and the forthcoming “Eternal Life Vol. II” to be pressed to a vinyl LP, forming one cohesive and eternal musical experience. As previously discussed on Popblerd in both mediums of documentary filmmaking and old school PC gaming , KickStarter-esque projects seem to be all the rage as of late. Robert Ashley and Sam Frigard of I Come […]
Spin Cycle: The Magnetic Fields’ “Love at the Bottom of the Sea”
Digestible and lean, The Magnetic Fields’ latest record, Love at the Bottom of the Sea, attempts to have it both ways: while each Fields album after their massive, masterful magnum opus 69 Love Songs has been more laser-focused than that thrillingly kitchen-sink record, Love at the Bottom packs 15 swift tracks into its sinewy 34-minute runtime. For this we can thank Stephin Merritt, Magnetic Fields maestro and patron saint of indie kids who scrawl their lyrical sketches on cocktail napkins and dog-eared […]
Spin Cycle: Sleigh Bells’ “Reign of Terror”
I was a huge fan of Sleigh Bells’ debut album Treats when it dropped two summers ago: a heavy, low-fi party album steeped in 80s guitar crunch and the double threat of Alexis Krauss’ delicate melodies and crazed cheerleader screams, assembled over electric drum machine back beats. The album excelled at many things, but outside “Rill, Rill”, subtlety wasn’t one of them. Then again, when your aim is 32 minutes of catchy, feel good, danceable noise pop, you don’t really […]
Spin Cycle: fun.’s “Some Nights”
You’ve heard “We Are Young” all over the place, now check out what we think about fun.’s new album.