Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam, PEARL JAM!!!! The last time Pearl Jam had a new album out was 2009’s Backspacer which, for me at least, was kind of a blip on the radar of magnificent Pearl Jam releases. Since then, there have been the inevitable side projects and relentless touring as well as a certain drummer of the band reuniting with some other Seattle band for an album and subsequent tour (Soundgarden). But I digress. PJ is now back with Lightning […]
Spin Cycle: Mumford & Sons, Babel
Scottish hitmakers Mumford & Sons are back with another agreeable, hooky collection of stomping folk-rock. How does “Babel” stack up to “Sigh No More”?
Spin Cycle: The Avett Brothers, The Carpenter
In the realm of swaying, stomping, harmonic pop-folk, The Avett Brothers stand only in the shadow of Mumford & Sons, a recent success story that, perhaps not-coincidentally, the long-running North Carolina brother-band is starting to bear more than a passing resemblance to. Comparing Mumford’s lone album to the Avett’s discography previously yielded only superficial comparisons: po-faced, earnest lyricism; the tell-tale lilt of a banjo here and there; shouty, fractured harmonies. But where the Mumfords use their Appalachian sensibilities […]
Popblerd’s New Release Report 9/11/12: Chillin’ Like Bob Dylan
This week’s list of new releases is wide and varied, encompassing acts as diverse as the XX, Dave Matthews Band, DMX, and the Bard himself, Bob Dylan.
Popblerd! Presents: Your 2011 Grammy Awards Live Blog (& Drinking Game)!
Some folks go crazy over the Academy Awards. Some folks go nuts over the Super Bowl. For me, unless a New York City team is in the World Series or Super Bowl, my most exciting pop culture event has to be the Grammy Awards. It intrigued me as a kid-it was probably the first award show I ever saw. I believe it was the 1980 ceremony, and all I remember is that The Doobie Brothers were performing, I was watching […]