Amber Bravo, senior editor of music mag The Fader, talks about a recent spate of rockers breaking records instead of hotel rooms.
music
Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff crafts an al fresco playlist
Will Sheff, the man behind lauded indie band Okkervil River, can turn a phrase like few others (even earning a grammy nom for his liner notes). This weekend, catch him and the band - alongside Best Coast, Grouplove, and others - at the Cultivate 'Food Ideas & Music' Festival in Denver. Will provides us with a party soundtrack that's best appreciated al fresco.
We put on ‘Weight,’ courtesy SF garage rocker Mikal Cronin
Mikal Cronin cut his teeth in San Francisco's garage rock circle (see: frequent collaborator Ty Segall). In 2010, he released a very well received debut, and now his follow-up "MCII" comes out in May on Merge Records. Here's a standout single from it - "Weight" - a perfect reminder that things aren't always as heavy as we think.
Brit band Alt-J suggest some songs for a Druid barbecue
In December, buzzy Brit band Alt-J's debut album An Awesome Wave won the prestigious Mercury Prize (U.K. album of the year). This month they launched their first major U.S. tour, including a slew of acclaimed shows at the South-by-Southwest music festival. Keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton and guitarist Gwil Sainsbury share a few song suggestions for a totally normal dinner party...in the woods...with witches.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Craft a Yuletide Playlist
Hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis rode their smash hit “Thrift Shop” to the top of Billboard’s rap charts, their album The Heist has been one of the most popular in the country, and now, the ultimate honor: they tell our listeners what to listen to. The hip-hop hitmakers offer up a holiday soundtrack… featuring David Bowie’s "Labyrinth."
Blue Hawaii – ‘Try to Be’
Don’t be fooled - indie outfit Blue Hawaii hails from Montreal, and sounds nothing like Elvis. But we can’t help falling in love with new single “Try to Be” - especially Raphaelle Standell-Preston’s hypnotic vocals. (Blue Hawaii’s album Untogether is out in April.)
Actress Julia Stiles on sharing a house with the ghost of Marvin Gaye
Julia Stiles tells us about how, while filming It's a Disaster, the cast hung out in the Los Angeles home where Marvin Gaye lived - and died.
Playable Dinner Party Playlists
We’re posting streaming playlists of music for your dinner party (or workday) enjoyment.
Jens Lekman’s acoustic performance of ‘I Know What Love Isn’t’
Swedish Musician Jens Lekman graced us with an acoustic performance of the title track from his new album, “I Know What Love Isn’t.” Click through to listen…and commence to swoon.
Natasha Pincus’ One Shot Wonders (See ’em Here)
VMA Nominee Natasha Pincus (of Gotye's "Somebody that I Used to Know") offered up an impressive list of single-shot music videos. Watch them here, along with clips of Natasha's work...