independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
Ah. It's that time of year again when tastemakers and pundits compile lists of the year's best musical offerings. We at East of 8th decided to focus our efforts on highlighting albums that impacted us in 2017, whether they were recognized by the mainstream or not. Some of these artists hail from our own backyard,... Continue Reading →
Rock n’ roll is an ever-evolving genre that builds on its past. By studying the riffs and harmonies of those who’ve come before, new artists add their own personalities and experiences in a myriad of ways that challenge the ideas of what rock n’ roll is and what it can be. Nashville’s The Delta Troubadours... Continue Reading →
Ella Vos, L.A.-based pop star with big dreams and a heart of gold, has taken debut album Words I Never Said, set for release on November 17th, as an opportunity to share her soul with the world. From beginning to end, her signature style and euphonious melodies fill the album with an ethereal sound that is... Continue Reading →
It often seems that our dreams know more about who we are than our conscious being wants to admit. We are often in wonder at the fantastic images that our minds assemble when reality and inhibition collide. But in the more somber and wistful moments of sleep, the past is chronicled in grander or more... Continue Reading →
Canadian indie-rock band The Rural Alberta Advantage has undergone some changes in tune in the past year with the departure of original band member, Amy Cole, but this loss sure hasn’t knocked them off their feet. Brand-new album, The Wild, perfectly encompasses the evolution of RAA’s sound over the years- blending sophisticated harmonies and intricately crafted... Continue Reading →
“Let me pull you closer to me, as we waltz ‘round the room,” sings 5j Barrow’s Jason Hite, in the opening verse of “Seagreen Dress,” the first song on their forthcoming EP, The Journey Vol. 1. His beautiful tenor ebbs and flows with the pulsating strums of the accompanying acoustic guitar—and then in an unexpected... Continue Reading →
If you haven’t yet heard of Black Pistol Fire, you should—but even if you haven’t, that probably won’t be true for very much longer. From their energetic festival appearances to the unexpected artistry that you hear on each new release, this Canada-bred Austin, Texas-based duo, composed of guitarist/vocalist Kevin McKeown and drummer Eric Owen, will... Continue Reading →
We've had such a crush on alt-rock outfit MUTEMATH since we first heard their adrenaline-surging tune "Spotlight" on the swoon-worthy Twilight soundtrack back in 2008 (thou shalt not judge), and got addicted to their trademark stop-motion music videos. Recently, the seasoned rockers released Play Dead, their fifth studio LP, and it's nothing short of fantastic. While we're used... Continue Reading →
The Belle Game - Fear/Nothing Vancouver alt-pop outfit The Belle Game released their sophomore album Fear/Nothing today via Arts & Crafts, With wall-to-wall atmosphere, Andrea Lo's powerful vocals, and pop sensibilities that are blissed-out at one moment and shrouded in dark mystery the next, Fear/Nothing is a synth-y exclamation of celestial sound. Get your ears on this one.... Continue Reading →
Just about everyone who has a pulse has heard a George Thorogood song; whether you are a fan or not, at sometime over the past 40 years, the iconic artist and his band the Destroyers have contributed, in one way or another, one of their myriad of songs across many mediums. This fact that makes... Continue Reading →
