The Winks are quite the puzzle. Just like the Magnetic Fields or The Robot Ate Me, they’re minimalists when it comes to songwriting; but still manage to achieve a wide-sweeping, grandeous sound. Actually, “Snakes” reminds me a bit of something that could have come out of a musical. Perhaps Sweeney Todd? But either way, I’d […]

[Read more →]

For those of you who claim to miss the “old” Bright Eyes, here’s your chance. David Dondero is folksy enough to be endearing, but rocking enough to keep from sleeping with his sister (I assume). Originally a member of Sunbrain, David has since released a whole mess’a albums on Future Farmer Records. While I’m not […]

[Read more →]

The (International) Noise Conspiracy are now streaming their album, Armed Love, which is set for an October 4th North American release. I kid you not when I say that “Communist Moon” (track 10, if you’re interested) is one of my favorite songs ever. It’s a great album by a wonderful band. Also, T(I)NC have added […]

[Read more →]

Indie rock has never been about being cool. But while the members of Dressy Bessy might be a bit shy or occasionally awkward off the stage, once they picked up their instruments, every trace of their nerdy alter-egos was gone. Throughout the night, lead singer Tammy Ealom would alternate between acting like a sugary-sweet schoolgirl, […]

[Read more →]

So while listening to Les Savy Fav today, I stumbled across a highly complimentary artist: Sabrosa Purr. You have to admit, after months spent listening to Sufjan Stevens and the Decemberists, sometimes your body just needs some balls-to-the-wall rock music - and Sabrosa Purr has got plenty to spare. Lead singer, Will Love (sounds rockstar, […]

[Read more →]

You might know Richard Preece of Lovejoy from his role in The Snowdrops; but even if you don’t, Lovejoy are still worth your time. Described on their website as music defined by “hopeless optimism, seething bitterness, and petty snobery,” they’re all sorts of pop goodness looked at through a humble man’s viewpoint.
MP3: Sid Vicious

[Read more →]

I think everyone has that band, artist or composer that is just a random island in their sea of musical tastes. One of my many, many islands is Scott Joplin - the dude who wrote “The Entertainer” and a bunch of other great piano tunes. So when The New Rags listed him as an influence, […]

[Read more →]

So the quotation marks in the title are due to the fact that lots of you have probably heard this song. “People You Meet” was featured on the Polyvinyl Records sampler earlier this year. While apparently this isn’t the mix that will appear on BA’s long-awaited Sophomore album, Clementines, it’s still pretty great. I think […]

[Read more →]