independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
“We are three friends who grew up together playing music; when we decided we wanted it to be more of an expression and documentation of our lives, it became Mansell,” says Holden Fincher, vocalist and guitarist of the Atlanta-based indie rock outfit, who released their debut album, Mantra, on November 11th. “Both of my parents... Continue Reading →
“It’s natural”, declares Nashville’s Guthrie Brown, in “Natural”, the aptly-titled title track of his new EP; Brown, whose previous work was more on the “folk” side of folk rock, has taken his sound in a new electric direction, and it just seems, well, natural. At five songs strong, Natural explores everything sonically from dance-y indie pop to... Continue Reading →
“I’m not a spring chicken, as they say,” jokes Dustin Burnett, who, on November 4th, will release Golden Age, his first album under the moniker ZAYDE WØLF. The Grammy-nominated Nashville-based music producer, who founded, fronted, and toured with the band The October for years, began his musical journey at the tender age of 15, when his... Continue Reading →
It’s a typical story—band forms, band gets a little notoriety around their hometown, and does fine for a while. Then one day, after yet another long trip in the van, band decides to take it to the next level; after all, they’re getting better at this thing called rock n’ roll, and decide to move... Continue Reading →
“We make swampy rock music,” says Will Evans of Charleston, South Carolina-based blues rock outfit Dead 27s, whose debut full-length, Ghosts Are Calling Out, is set for release on Friday, September 30th via Red Parlor Records. “Charleston makes you want to play swampy music— it’s a very Southern city, it’s hot and it’s humid, you feel... Continue Reading →
Canadian pop-rock outfit Paper Lions is currently maintaining their sanity in the midst of a “record release storm”, says lead vocalist John MacPhee. The band, which has been together for over a decade, unleashed their latest album, Full Colour, on September 16th. The band had a unique opportunity when recording this time, a process that... Continue Reading →
Martin and Lewis, Byrne and Eno, peanut butter and jelly,—there are some unions that were destined to for greatness, partnerships that make the world a more enjoyable place to be. Alt-rocker Hamilton Leithauser’s collaboration with Rostam Batmanglij (formerly of Vampire Weekend), prove with their new album, I Had A Dream That You Were Mine, set... Continue Reading →
Renowned violinist and purveyor of orchestral pop Kaoru Ishibashi, a.k.a. Kishi Bashi, has finally invited us to the party. This writer was first introduced to the brilliance of his musical prowess in his 2012 full length debut 151a, a glimpse into boundless creativity that was a “sight” for these ears to behold. With 151a, we... Continue Reading →
Los Angeles-based pop rock trio DREAMERS released their long-awaited debut LP today, This Album Does Not Exist, via Fairfax Recordings. I myself was beginning to wonder if the album really did not exist, but DREAMERS comes in clutch with twelve tasty rock-tastic morsels. This Album Does Not Exist is not a collection of sentimental love... Continue Reading →
“There’s an undeniable thread of rebellion that goes along with rock n’ roll; using these instruments that were created for order and beauty and turning them into overdriven electric things is kind of a middle finger in itself. It’s meant to be that way. It’s about perpetual youthfulness and individuality,” opines indie pop rocker Eric... Continue Reading →
