Steelwells resurfaced in 2012 with the same lineup but with a slightly different sound on their “Cool Kids” EP. The Orange County-based quintet continue to work within this bold, new sound palette and share another new track titled “Dead Song.” Recorded live at Lost Ark Studios in San Diego, its tone is, again, less jovial […]
L.A.-based singer-songwriter Maxime Sokolinski – who’s played in his big sister Soko’s band, as well as with Daniel Johnston, Adanowsky and L.A.’s Sweaters – stepped out of the shadows in 2011 when he released a little bedroom pop gem, “Feels Like,” anonymously, to YouTube. The 25-year-old has spent recent months back in his native France, […]
Summer weather has arrived in L.A., and shoegazing duo Cobalt Cranes take an appropriate drive in their self-directed music video for “Head in the Clouds.” There’s nothing like a driving into the desert with the top down, but what do you do when you see something glowing in neon colors? If it resembles anything close […]
For days now I’ve been holed up with “Trouble Will Find Me,” the forthcoming sixth album from the National (out May 21 via 4AD). It’s the latest opus in what has become a 12-year hexalogy from the NYC-via-Cincinnati quintet of Matt Berninger, Scott and Bryan Devendorf and Bryce and Aaron Dessner. The literary allusions are […]
Not to obsess, but Cillie Barnes’ single “Brainwash” possesses about everything you’d want in a pop song, except maybe an easy way to categorize it. Razor-sharp lyrics, alternately sung and rapped (reminiscent of the Neighbourhood), a spry melody, a rhythm you’d imagine crowds could bounce along with – the woman behind the Cillie Barnes persona, […]
Have a wonderful Wednesday: ‣Â Woodkid, originally scheduled to make his L.A. debut at the Luckman last November before Superstorm Sandy confounded his travel plans, brings his highly cinematic music to the Fonda Theatre. The musical persona of French director, graphic artist and songwriter Yoann Lemoine (who’s done video for a host of A-listers), Woodkid released […]
Happy Tuesday: ‣ His Purple Majesty, Prince, and 3rd Eye Girl play Grove of Anaheim. ‣ Kurt Vile & the Violators stops by the Echoplex in support of his latest album “Wakin on a Pretty Daze.” [That’s Vile’s video for “Never Run Away” above.] San Francisco’s the Fresh & Onlys and New York’s Steve Gunn round […]
The album “I Thought I Was an Alien” may be slated for an official Stateside release June 11 via Community Music, but chances are most fans of French chanteuse Stéphanie Sokolinski – aka Soko – will already know all 14 songs by heart.  Whether she’s acting in films or writing musical letters (like “I Just Want to […]
No sooner had L.A.-based duo Deap Vally spent a little time back home – their debut EP “Get Deap” came out in early April and they rocked afternoon sets at Coachella’s dual weekends – than their music resurfaced in the U.K. to soak up some more of the Brit love that has made them fast […]
Not unlike its title, Pyyramids’ debut album “Brightest Darkest Day” ducks from the shadows to the light and back to the shadows again, seemingly from song to song. The mix of gritty guitars, slippery effects and cool electro is the handiwork of OK Go’s Tim Nordwind and singer Drea Smith (ex-He Say/She Say), who shows […]
