Like the ball drop at Times Squares in New York City, the fireworks igniting from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the annual rite of hundreds of million of people making resolutions they cannot keep, we once again share some of our favorite songs from the past 365 days. The Mega, Mega Playlist of 2018 is another doozy. Specifically, it features […]

Yesterday, we shared the first 25 of our Favorite 50 Albums of 2018. Here are the remaining twenty-five, which is littered with some of the very best singer-songwriters of our time. Click on the individual albums to be read the short descriptions and hear a few songs from these tremendous LPs. We’ve also included a Spotify playlist for your listening […]

New Material by Preoccupations And the circle is complete. Any Preoccupations fan will understand what these words mean, as the band’s latest album, New Material, completes a trilogy that began with Viet Cong (when they were known under that name) and continued with 2016’s self-titled album. Like the previous two, New Material is a dark, bleak, and trembling concept album […]

New Material by Preoccupations If one was to start a list of the best bands of the 2010s, Calgary’s Preoccupations would be near – if not at – the top of the list. Their debut album, Viet Cong, when they were known as Viet Cong, was a viscerally raw and emotionally deep ode to a fallen friend. After a name change, […]

It was Valentine’s week, and we fell in love with several new artists and bands. We also fell head over heels again for some of indie’s greatest artists, who surprised us with the gift of new songs. To hear what we mean, the Weekend Showcase 4.06 edition reviews the week that was in music. The playlist has 55 songs from 14 […]

Earlier today we shared the World Edition of The Matinee, which you can find here. Now it’s time for The Matinee ’18 February 15th – North American Edition. Six more songs featuring all-time favorites and a couple of new ones. We get started with one of the great indie artists of the past fifteen years.   Eleanor Friedberger – “In […]

No big introduction is needed because the Weekend Showcase 4.02 edition features the best new music from the past week or so. Find 52 songs on the mega playlist from artists representing 11 countries, including: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Japan, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, and the United States. The playlist and tracklisting, as usual, follows the list of articles from […]

Today’s serving of new music cocktails features six stunning artists from Australia, Canada, England, and the USA. With genres ranging from indie pop to Australian chillwave and British soul, this week’s Melodic Tonic lives up to its name. Let’s kick things off with one of Canada’s finest indie rockers.   Preoccupations – “Espionage” (Calgary, Canada) RIYL: Bauhaus, David Bowie, Sisters […]

This year’s Hopscotch festival kicks off on Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it brings one of the year’s best lineups to the table.  There are tons of great artists and bands from around the country, representing the Brooklyn DIY scene, Philly punk scene, and even a headlining show from Solange Knowles. While the big headlining shows by Solange, Big […]

As is tradition on the last day of the year, we share The Mega, Mega Playlist of 2016. After featuring more than 2,500 songs through The Matinee, Melodic Tonic, Saturday Sampler, album reviews, photo essays, and premieres. We’ve reduced that list to 120 songs just in time for New Year’s Day. These songs aren’t a complete representation of what we’ve […]

In my role as photographer with The Revue, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to photograph some amazing bands. Sometimes it is a world famous act and sometimes it’s a rising indie band still in the process of making a name for themselves. Regardless of the size of the act, I am always drawn to the music and relish the chance […]

The new television season commences today, but new music never takes a rest. Review the past week in the Weekend Showcase 2.37 edition, which has 50 songs. The artists are representing 13 countries, including: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Togo, the United States, and Wales. The playlist and tracklisting, as usual, follows the list […]

Under their previous incarnation as Viet Cong, Preoccupations‘ 2015 debut album was more than a great album. It was a visceral experience both musically and emotionally. It was raw and cathartic, resonating with Joy Division’s industrial and post-punk brilliance. Beneath the reverb-drenched guitars and the thunderous rhythms, however, were four guys releasing the pain that came with losing a dear […]

Weekend Showcase 2.35 has a bit of everything from everywhere. Maybe you want some blistering indie rock or enjoy old school country? Is euphoric indie pop or shimmering world music and electronica your thing? Soul-crushing ballads and moving indie folk are what you fancy? Possibly you want to get moving to some spatial shoegaze, classic blues-rock and funk, and hip-shaking […]

Because of the large quantities of great new music we have received this week, The Matinee September 8th has nine songs. I’ll keep the descriptions as brief as possible, so that you can enjoy the great tunes. We kick things off with a really special project.   Melted Mirror – “Hungry Shades” (Calgary, Canada) from Taking It To Heart, Volume […]

We’re a little tardy with the Weekend Showcase, as a bunch of us were out at the 57th Newport Folk Festival (one of the best festivals on the planet). The travel to Newport also meant we had fewer things to share, so this week’s (Mid) Weekend Showcase 2.28 edition is quite lean. The playlist, though, is as good as any […]

The Matinee July 19th features 7 new songs. Because of the length, I have kept the descriptions to a minimum so you can just enjoy these sublime tracks.   DWARF – “To Close to the Flame” (Mesa, AR, USA) RIYL: Swearin’, Speedy Ortiz, HeyRocco, False Advertising A little band that is just trying to live life and enjoy its little […]

For the first time in the history of the RBC Bluesfest, a two-day break has been provided. In some respect, it is disappointing to not be heading out to the grounds of the War Museum and anticipating hearing a new artists. At the same time, the two days allows everyone to recharge their batteries, get errands done (like wash the […]

The first Saturday of Bluesfest arrives and the lineup is pretty deep. There is a bit of everything for everyone, including one of the most anticipated shows of the 9-day festival – at least for me anyway and I am not referring to The Lumineers (who do put on a fine show). There is one disappointment, though – Brandi Carlile […]

From Spain to Australia, New Zealand to Canada, and across the USA, The Matinee June 30th edition uncovers more hidden gems to add to your indie music collection. Many of the songs aim to take hold of our souls and never let go, and you likely will not mind.   Brandyn Burnette – “Underneath” (St. Louis, USA) RIYL: YNGCULT, Molly […]