Anyone who as heard music created by Meg Duffy can agree that her talent is undeniable. Whether it’s playing guitar for Kevin Morby and supplying this amazing backbone to his music, or her own project, Hand Habits, her music is impressive. Her debut LP as Hand Habits, Wildly Idle (Humble Before the Void) is a testament to her skills, both […]

Pearl and The Beard were one of Brooklyn’s finest bands when they split up last year. The trio created truly special music. Though the split was sad, it excited fans at what might be next for the former members. Jocelyn Mackenzie’s powerful voice was a huge part of the equation, and she just released her first solo EP, Unlovely. Mackenzie’s […]

In 2013, Xenia Rubinos released her fantastic debut record Magic Trix. It was a fun, weird album with music rooted in her Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage. Last Friday, Rubinos released her second album, Black Terry Cat, on ANTI Records, and it is a big shift for the songwriter. Magic Trix was a fun listen, it was chaotic, it was […]

For over twenty years, Darren Jessee has been a driving force in alternative music, specifically as the drummer for Ben Folds 5. Jessee has also written many songs for Ben Folds 5, including the chorus to “Brick”, and even toured as a drummer for Sharon Van Etten a couple of years ago. This brings us to his Hotel Lights project, […]

The third record from Minneapolis-based Poliça, United Crushers is out today. It’s an album that we’ve been anticipating for months, as Poliça’s haunting style is nothing short of captivating, thanks to the remarkable voice of Channy Leaneagh. It’s not surprising then that United Crushers is one heavy, emotional, and personal album. Channy Leaneagh’s use of vocal effects is a hugely […]

Like so many people around the world, we were devastated by the news that David Bowie had passed away. For some of us, we awoke to the news and thought it had to be a bad dream. For those who were awake, we thought it had to be a hoax, a bad joke that someone was spreading on the internet. […]

One of our favorite discoveries this year was a band that flew under the radar last year, Balancer. A three-piece band with members from Colombia and Puerto Rico. We were drawn to their music because of its positive energy. In the time since their last release, their drummer, Gabriela Jimeno, started a solo project called Ela Minus. On “Jamaica”, the first […]

Jesse Payne‘s music is a bold blend of post-rock and folk music. On August 14, Payne will release his latest LP, Heirloom. This week, he shared the track “Ravens” with American Songwriter. On “Ravens”, Payne’s voice is reminiscent of the soothing crooning of M. Ward, but with an instrumental you’d expect from a band involving the Dessner twins.  It’s a really […]

My Dead Air‘s Dan Ballard is no stranger to hit popular music. His band, Until June was a best selling band in Europe, and had some success in North America, having their songs featured on the soundtracks for multiple television shows. After Until June’s popularity and activity settled down, Ballard decided to create his own side project, called My Dead Air. […]

Last week, Brooklyn based experimental pop band Pavo Pavo released a double single, “Ran Ran Run”, and “Annie Hall”.  “Ran Ran Run” is an infectious pop track with some really great female led vocals and harmonies with synths and a really great bass groove.  “Annie Hall” is a piano led track with great harmonies as well, and a really unique […]

This week, Portland, Oregon based singer-songwriter Heather Woods Broderick is sharing the video for her new track “Wyoming” off of her upcoming album Glider which will be out July 10 on Western Vinyl.  Much like the first song, “A Call For Distance”, “Wyoming” is a stunner of a track, but for a different reason, “Wyoming” builds into an overwhelming whirlwind of guitar […]

Brooklyn songwriter Shilpa Ray released her latest record, Last Year’s Savage yesterday, her most recent in her decade long career.  Ray gained recognition for her powerful voice and unique, thought provoking lyrics as the leader of her band, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers.  Ray’s music draws from the raw grit of punk rock, as well as being soulful and […]

Seattle’s Nightmare Fortress create truly stunning music. Their debut record, The Wanting, came out this year and features a myriad of lush, layered, and intense tracks that are reminiscent of some of the most memorable 80’s New Wave and Post-Punk bands.  One stand out track from The Wanting is “A Life Worth Leaving”, and this week, Nightmare Fortress is sharing a video for […]

Without a doubt the best way to spend Monday night in Montreal was in the company of Aly Spaltro, aka Lady Lamb. Playing the Divan Orange for the second time in two years, Lady Lamb’s audience keeps growing and she picks up new admirers with every passing show. Following a memorable opening performance by New York’s Rathborne (their first tour […]

We lost a giant of the jazz world yesterday, as legendary trumpeter Clark Terry passed away at the age of 94. In a career spanning over 70 years as a musician and bandleader, Clark Terry (or “CT” as he was often called) was the last living member of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra, and also spent time in Count Basie’s and Quincy […]

Earlier this year, South Carolina native Sean Neuse released his debut solo album under the moniker Color of Light. The project’s name is fitting as Memory is a sonic escapade that has the feel of hypnotic lights flashing all around you. The album is definitely ambient yet experimental. It’s a challenging listen for those looking for something straightforward and based […]

For Erik Hall, the man behind In Tall Buildings, his latest record, Driver, took four years to write, record, and produce, but in actuality it is a twenty-year love affair that began when he was 13 years old and experimenting with his first home recordings. Throughout his terrific sophomore album, you can hear inspiration from a score of artists in […]

There’s a lot of great music coming out of Sweden, and I’m not talking about ABBA, Ace of Base, Roxette, The Knife, Miike Snow, Little Dragon, The Radio Dept., or even First Aid Kit (although they’re all pretty awesome in their own right). Last week, indie electronic-psych rockers, Makthaverskan, released a new single as part of a forthcoming 7″. El […]

Whereas Band of Lovers drew us in with their positive, orchestral folk, New York City’s Sunshine – the duo of Amy Priya Santos and Steve Ferrara – lure us with their classical approach to folk, blues, and jazz. Supported by a talented backing band, The Knights – who are Reverend Crawford Forbes (trumpet, vocals), Dylan Thurston (piano, melodica, vocals), Mike […]

Most bands today come up with whacky names to make you curious. They’ll release album titles that are curiosities, riddles, or just simply nonsensical. Then you get two people like Sabina Beachdell and Dave Strumfeld who want to tell the world exactly who they are and what kind of music they write about. As Band of Lovers, the two will […]