• Song of the Moment

    SOTM: Alabama Shakes, “The Greatest”

        Brittany Howard — the big, beautiful lead frontwoman and guitarist for Alabama Shakes, whose 2015 album Sound and Color is a masterpiece of brilliant, erm, sound and color — rocks. Just listen to this fun, rockin’ freak-out showcasing Howard’s soulful voice and brilliant riffs.     Now listen again, this time to a bluesy live version that switches up the pace (plus, check out Howard’s awesome glasses!). She is THE GREATEST!

  • Song of the Moment

    “Last Disaster” by Night School

    “Last Disaster” by Night School is the exact kind of song I want to listen to in this heat. It’s enjoyable, light and the perfect addition to any summer party mix. The guitar tone is perfect and the vocal harmonies add a full sound that creates a great pop song. “Last Disaster” is well written and produced. Night School’s new album, Blush, came out earlier this month on Graveface Records. Their slightly doo-wop sound is perfect for fans of Agent Ribbons and Best Coast. Check out the video for their single “Last Disaster!”  

  • A Little Slice of History,  Song of the Moment

    Two Peter Gabriel Songs Improved by Kate Bush

    If I had to use one word to describe Kate Bush it would be mystical. She’s mysterious, she rarely performs live anymore. And, her image is that of a fairy. Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush collaborated multiple times, Kate Bush appears as a guest vocalist on quite a few of Peter Gabriel’s songs and I would say her voice adds the mysticism that both “Games Without Frontiers (1980)” and “Don’t Give Up (1986)” needed. The first time I heard “Games Without Frontiers” I was absolutely struck by the lyrics and backing vocals. The song is telling stories about what I would imagine to be children playing games. It seems so innocent then…

  • Song of the Moment

    New Electric Citizen, Higher Time

        A belated congratulations to our pals, Electric Citizen on their new album, Higher Time! The album was released Friday May 13th and is so killer! Back with extremely heavy rock n’ roll riffs the album is definitely possessing. They’re having their Higher Time release show this Saturday night (May 21st) at the Northside Tavern with Ruby the Hatchet. Check out my personal favorite, “Evil.” The songs starts out with a heavy break down that launches into the song. Laura’s vocals are stronger than ever. The whole vibe of the band, including the mix makes you feel like you’re listening to something straight from the 70’s. And of course, Ross absolutely…

  • Song of the Moment

    “Best Friend” by White Mystery

      A gem from White Mystery’s new album, Outta Control, “Best Friend” is a catchy tune to get your week started! The mid tempo song on the sibling’s fifth album is perfect for porch hangs with no doubt, your best friends. The rock n’ roll duo from Chicago has been putting out great music since 2008. Miss Alex White is a crazy smart rock n’ roll business woman who put out her very own guitar pedal called the “Firekeeper” earlier this year. White Mystery is one of the hardest working bands out there and they continue to grow in strength with their new album, Outta Control.      Check out some…

  • Song of the Moment

    “Zodiacal Woman” by Queen Crescent

                  What’s old is new again. In a time when the dark heavy music of Black Sabbath rears it’s head in the form of new female fronted bands like Electric Citizen and Blood Ceremony, Queen Crescent is a new budding band channeling the 70’s style extremely well. Fronted by Melissa Vu who not only sings like a Grace Slick-esque goddess but wails on the flute, the band’s new single “Zodiacal Woman” displays extremely tight and heavy riffs. The Oakland based four-piece released their self-titled in 2015 and are headed back to the studio to record new songs with Chaz Bundick of Toro y Moi. As the band summons…

  • Song of the Moment

    Song of the Moment: Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, “Nobody Dies”

        Thao & the Get Down Stay Down is the kind of band that forces your body to move, even when you are listening to heartbreak and devastating loss and grief and death.         Example: try not to tap your toes to this funky single, “Nobody Dies,” from their new album A Man Alive. In it, a woman remembers watching her father leave as a girl. “You made a cruel kid, come look what you did.” But the buoyant rhythm of the bass, guitar, and drums gives the song a gutsy, bright sound at odds with the lyrics, which lament the force of human denial. We act like nobody dies You act like…

  • Song of the Moment

    Spring- “Everybody”

    Last week we set the clocks forward and almost like magic spring happened. Suddenly it’s still sunny when I get off the bus from work. There’s daylight enough to take a walk before dinner. The hillside behind our house is filled with green shoots that will soon transform into color. Gaia bought a new green dress and the world is a better place. To celebrate, I walk over to the record shelf and grab Spring’s one and only album. A few years ago, my favourite old hippie friend decided that I was worthy of inheriting the boxes of records that his old roommate had left behind back in the early…

  • A Little Slice of History,  Song of the Moment

    “The Staircase (Mystery)” by Siouxsie and the Banshees and Some History

    I’ve been listening to The Scream a lot lately but I ended up choosing a song that didn’t originally appear on the album for the Song of the Moment. A spooky number for you to kick off spring, “The Staircase (Mystery)” should be the theme song to a horror show. The song was released as a single in 1979 and later appeared on a re-issue of The Scream as a bonus track. Siouxsie and the Banshees formed in 1976 so this song really captures their early raw goth punk feel. The mix on this song is awesome, specifically the different levels on the guitar mix. It creates a jagged feel…

  • Song of the Moment

    “A Pin-Light Bent” by Joanna Newsom

    If your idea of badass indie rock doesn’t include a harp, take a listen to Joanna Newsom’s fourth album, Divers. Like her first three albums (The Milk-Eyed Mender, 2004; Ys, 2006; and Have One On Me, 2010), Newsom brings the angelic instrument down to earth, grounding it with guitars, banjo, bass, keyboard, and drums. Although Newsom’s music is often described as ethereal, otherworldly, or even precious, it has always struck me as decidedly earthy. She is often lusty, even bawdy or coarse.                         But on “A Pin-Light Bent,” it’s just Newsom’s sinewy voice and lavish harp. Just two notes, at…