It’s interesting how life experience and age can determine how a phrase is interpreted. The term “girl group” for our parents conjures images of Motown legends like The Supremes. Those of a music absorbing age in the 80s and 90s probably think of TLC, Spice Girls or Destiny’s Child. For a number of years after […]

The latest album by Andrew Bird titled Useless Creatures, is reflective of sounds of loneliness, heartbreak, spring, autumn, sadness and happiness all at the same time—like a pantheon of emotions. The album starts with the song “Master Sigh” and it is just that. Hauntingly beautiful it sounds like gold and brown Autumn leaves falling from […]

The title “A Headful of Stars” provides a great image to go with the dreamy Britpop heard in the new album by The Sails. Yet another 60s psych flashback band out of the U.K., The Sails is led by Michael Gagliano of the band Epic, along with a little help from an ever changing ensemble […]

Instrumental in the foundations of psychedelic rock and icons of a generation, Pink Floyd is one of the most influential rock bands of all time. While Floyd’s name is solidified in rock history, to those in Gen X and beyond, Syd Barrett’s name may only be vaguely recognizable. Even though Barrett achieved great success leading […]

Quirky and unusual are two words to describe the duo of Buke and Gass. Their name alone is enough to slap them with such labels (though the pronunciation of “byook” and “gace” helps curb thoughts of bodily functions… a little.) Yet, they become a whole lot more fascinating when you discover the basis for the […]

Photo: Anna Thompson After receiving some major indie Blog love with their 2009 debut album “Ain’t So Bright,” the Electric Owls are set to release their new EP “Cullowhee Songs” on November 9th. The four-song EP jangles with that inviting sound of backyard instruments you’d hear at a country hoedown, except the Electric Owls add […]

Time travel, that’s what I feel when first hitting play on “Love & The Sweet Divine,” the debut full length album by Solaram. The first track “When She Falls” is a mix of Spacemen 3 memories and the vocal sweetness of The Beatles created through basic lyrics about love (shocking for songwriters I know) a […]

Much can happen in 20 years. For example, the number one song 20 years ago, nearly to this day, was “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice. Now, ol’ Rob Van Winkle is running in the pseudo-celebrity has-been circuit with another reality show about do-it-yourself house repair. Big name rock stars of 20 years ago have […]

The leaves outside are starting their transformation, the temperatures are dropping and we’ve officially turned that seasonal corner, deep in the heart of Fall. October is a month that welcomes diversity, transition and spooky good times. Thus, it only seems appropriate that the Portland-based band Tu Fawning chose this wonderful time of the year for […]

Door beating percussive throbs open “Life Prowler,” the welcoming introduction into No Age’s latest, Everything In Between. Their third longplayer (second for Sub Pop), the LA duo Dean Spunt and Randy Randall return with the follow-up to their 2008 Grammy-nominated “Best Recording Packaging” that is: Nouns. “One time is all I need to know my […]