As the songwriting half of San Francisco duo Two Gallants, Adam Haworth Stephens has plenty of stories to tell. The narratives continue with “We Live on Cliffs,” his solo debut out Sept. 28 on Saddle Creek. Produced by Joe Chiccarelli, and featuring a litany of guest musicians from My Morning Jacket’s Patrick Hallahan and Bo […]
Leeds four-piece Wild Beasts turned a lot of heads at Lollapalooza – well, those that weren’t already turned by the band’s Mercury Prize nomination for the album “Two Dancers.” No, Wild Beasts don’t look terribly wild, but their shimmering, insistent music has the untamed quality of an outsider fervently trying to make sense of the […]
Roadside Graves remind me of dusky afternoons spent in bars with wise friends when it’s way too early for whiskey. Lead singer John Gleason writes songs as brainy as they are boozy, with a penchant for putting his finger on exactly the way things feel in the world right now. With “You Won’t be Happy […]
Even two times zones away Wednesday, I could almost feel the Smell tremble and sigh when the local noiseniks No Age unveiled new music. The new single “Glitter” – is the title derived from the fact the intro vaguely resembles the Gary Glitter hit? – will be out Aug. 24 on Sub Pop as both […]
Over the past decade, Frazey Ford rose to indie acclaim as part of Canadian trio the Be Good Tanyas, a group that typified the new roots folk movement of the early 2000s. Now solo, she’s redefining the sound of Americana with the near-perfect “Obadiah.” A marriage of sweet soul music in the vein of Al […]
Daptone recording artists the Budos Band have their needle in the same reverential retro-soul groove as label mate Sharon Jones, with the emphasis on Fela Kuti styled Afro-funk and blazing Tower of Power-esque horns. These soul brothers wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack to “When We Were Kings,” and are demonstrably the kind […]
The New Collisions are kind of like our current L.A. weather pattern – a rather gloomy set of lyrics that is burst wide open by sunny power pop by the time it really kicks in. The Boston-based band was discovered by the Cars’ great Greg Hawkes last year and have already shared the stage with […]
The French act Revolver may be named for a well known Beatles album, but their jaunty download, “Get Around Town,” is reminiscent of a Merry Go Round song, back when Emitt Rhodes was still wet behind the ears, circa “Scarborough Fair”. The monsieurs were produced by the same guys behind our beloved Phoenix. Their album […]
L.A. rockers Everest had their share of gut-wrenching, hair-pulling moments during the months they were making their sophomore album, “On Approach.” But the quintet must have swallowed hard when they got word that their label owner and The Man They Admire Most – Neil Young, for cryin’ out loud – said he’d like to talk […]
There’s a touch of Karen O in the vocal delivery of Joy Formidable singer Ritzy Bryan – she has Liz Fraser’s eyes too. The band pack a lot into their three-minute epics: coruscating guitar, thrumming bass notes, an edgy energy and an enthusiastic delivery. They sound ready. The North Walian trio are touring ahead of […]
