Singer-guitarist Johnny Ruby was reared in Los Angeles and educated in London, and his music as the Sister Ruby Band straddles both worlds – oozing the gauzy snarl of British shoegazers and the stoned mysticism of the West Coast psych-rock elite. Last spring, the 22-year-old made some noise with an EP titled “A Shot in […]
Derek Thomas’ name may already be familiar if you’re a 60 Watt Kid fan. The trio, who called it quits last year, was known for their experimental sound textured with synths, heavy reverb, looped guitars and almost incantation-like vocals. However, Thomas recently kick-started a new project called Skyline Drive that cultivates softer, folk rock tones. […]
Jason Drake has a sense of humor, even if Kevin Spacey doesn’t. Drake, the L.A.-via-Brooklyn electro guru and onetime partner in the Definitive Jux label, had planned to release his new album as Cassettes Won’t Listen with the title “Kevinspacey.” The actor ordered him to cease and desist. So the new album is titled “EVINSPACEY” […]
There’s always been the strong beat of a human heart behind the machines the churn out the indie-pop of Letting Up Despite Great Faults. Even if, as with the Los Angeles quintet’s new “Paper Crush” EP, that heart is broken. Songwriter Mike Lee’s newest batch of songs was informed by the end of a romance, […]
For most of a decade, Stefanie Drootin has had one foot in her native Los Angeles and the other in Omaha’s indie scene. She’s been a member of the Tim Kasher (Cursive) project the Good Life, and performed with Bright Eyes, She & Him and Azure Ray, among others. Her latest collaboration with singer-guitarist Chris […]
Kristian Matsson (aka the Tallest Man on Earth) may currently be dubbed with the “Swedish Bob Dylan” title for his similarly poignant but intimate vocals and soft yet intricate guitar plucking. However, it’s difficult not to be drawn in to his honest, wistful tales that seem almost criminal they aren’t kept private, thus strengthening his […]
The adrenaline-fueled folk-rock of L.A. quintet Escalator Hill draws as much influence from the big indie collectives of this era as the past’s purveyors of Americana. The band’s debut collection of sepia-toned meditations and clattering celebrations, “Poplar Avenue,” was produced by David Newton (The Little Ones, the Henry Clay People, among others) and will be […]
It’s impossible to tire of well-executed choruses of “whoa-whoa,” as the the first single from Real Estate’s sophomore album “Days” will testify. The New Jersey psych-pop trio of Martin Courtney, Matt Mondanile and Alex Bleeker, who’ve added Jackson Pollis and Jonah Maurer to their live lineup, won plenty of acclaim for their melancholic machinations on […]
With his band Louis XIV in the deep freeze after three albums and thousands of miles of touring, singer-guitarist Jason Hill needed a change. The San Diegan moved to L.A., bought a house in Laurel Canyon, built a recording studio he calls “Ulysses” and retreated to “a life of staying at home and making records,” […]
The roster of 4AD is dotted with artists who’ve carved out some kind of legacy, so imagine our surprise in June when the label announced the addition of Inc. – the project of twins Daniel and Andrew Aged that until recently was doing business as Teen Inc. The Ageds have collaborated with Nite Jewel and […]
