We Recommend
No Regerts, the recent (and hilariously titled) album from Chastity Belt, is a quietly brilliant and important document of feminism and sexual insight, disguised as remarkably surefooted indie rock. With lyrics that vacillate from the winking to the serious - though always trenchantly well-observed - Chastity Belt build solid, simple
We Recommend
For the most part, Canadian indie music that makes its way across the border has come in the form of bombastic choral rock (Arcade Fire) or hook-driven power-pop (Wolf Parade). While I acknowledge that this is an entirely reductive way to look at things, it was still something of a
Music
In one of the final shots of Stop Making Sense - a movie that notably eliminated shots of the crowd in favor of lovingly photographed views of the Talking Heads - we finally get a glimpse of the audience, and they are going fucking bonkers. Whenever I see those shots,
We Recommend
Portland band Ages and Ages, without getting all touchy-feely, has eschewed apathy in favor of forthright optimism. Like the Arcade Fire did a decade ago, Ages and Ages recruit their entire band to sing at once, less for the sensation of catharsis, and more for the feeling of togetherness. Isn't
We Recommend
Radiohead took a weird turn after OK Computer. Instead of jettisoning into the atmosphere of rock gods, they pulled back and decided to make music that they could enjoy, which meant alienating a section of their audience. They continued this trend, making their music more and more specific, until they'd
We Recommend
The Family Curse describe themselves as "electro filth rock," and that definitely does a more succinct job of letting you know what they're all about than I could. To be more specific, the Family Curse sound positively caked with grime and some weird sticky substance that you don't even want
Music
Kevin Seconds has never been a slave to expectations, even as his immensely influential band, 7 Seconds, helped to foster the West Coast hardcore scene in the early '80s. Never one to rest on his laurels, Kevin Seconds led his band beyond the confines of straight-edge hardcore and into more
We Recommend
Kevin Seconds has never been a slave to expectations, even as his immensely influential band, 7 Seconds, helped to foster the West Coast hardcore scene in the early '80s. Never one to rest on his laurels, Kevin Seconds led his band beyond the confines of straight-edge hardcore and into more
We Recommend
The Telephone Projects is a one-man band that seems to revel in cracks and flaws. Made up of one Brennon Gage, of San Diego, the project seems to mostly revolve around Gage and his Casiotone, churning out vaguely miserablist indie pop with a tongue-in-cheek attitude of carefree defiance. Gage proudly
We Recommend
A cracking drum machine provides the aggressive backbone of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, post-punkers Rhythm of Cruelty. That relentless beat is what propels these nervy tunes, accompanied by the reverb-engulfed vocals of bassist Brandi Strauss and the sharp guitar attack of Ian Rowley. Things are decidedly moody for Rhythm of Cruelty,
Arts
When I brought it up to Spud Goodman that his talk show has existed, in one way or another, for almost 30 years, he seemed genuinely shocked. In February of 1985, The Spud Goodman Show premiered on local public access television. "Gosh, I'm not joking, here, but nobody's ever said a
Music
Robert Pollard isn't just a hilarious drunk, he's also one of the most prolific recording artists in popular music. He's released 22 albums since 1987, and that's just studio albums under the Guided by Voices umbrella. This isn't counting EPs, live albums, solo recordings, or even his album comprised entirely
We Recommend
Robert Pollard isn't just a hilarious drunk, he's also one of the most prolific recording artists in popular music. He's released 22 albums since 1987, and that's just studio albums under the Guided by Voices umbrella. This isn't counting EPs, live albums, solo recordings, or even his album comprised entirely
We Recommend
Hailing from Oakland, Steel Cranes are a no-nonsense duo composed of Tracy Shapiro and Amanda Shuckle. Their brand of wiry, nervy post-punk recalls badasses such as PJ Harvey and Patti Smith. The assault of guitar and drums is dialed in to a degree that would be exhausting if it weren't
We Recommend
LAKE had a busy 2013, releasing two full-length albums - The World is Real and Circular Doorway - while continuing their habit of not making too much of a fuss about it. Throughout their seven-year career, LAKE has quietly established itself as one of the best bands in the Pacific
