Alternative Rock
Robert Fripp and Toyah Tackle Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”: Watch
King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and his singer wife Toyah Willcox are still giving fans plenty of ear (and eye) candy on Sundays, this time gracing us with a rendition of the Smashing Pumpkins classic “Bullet With Butterfly Wings.” It’s been a while since we’ve reported on the frisky couple’s “Sunday Lunch” series, but they’ve been going strong in 2022, mostly delivering covers of punk classics from The Clash, Ramones, and others over the past several weeks. For this weekend’s edition, the pair tackle the Pumpkins’ smash alt-rock hit with their usual musical and visual flair. Toyah’s risqué see-through top is par for the course for her Sunday performances, but in this case it’s not too far off what original Pumpkins bassist D’arcy Wretzky wore during the band’s 1998 tour in support of ...
Fontaines D.C. Unveil New Song “I Love You”: Stream
Fontaines D.C. are back with a brooding new single. Listen to “I Love You” below. Like the curt “Life ain’t always empty” refrain of 2020’s “A Hero’s Death,” “I Love You” pounds its positive message into your skull with music so menacing, you question its intent. “I love you, I love you, I told you I do,” Grian Chatten insists, as swirling, Cure-style guitar fades in over slow-thumping bass. “It’s all I’ve ever felt, I’ve never felt so well,” he speak-sings. Once more with feeling, perhaps? “Ostensibly a love song,” as a press release puts it, Dublin’s favorite post punks fit some local commentary into the song of devotion as well, prompting Chatten to name the single “the first overtly political song we’ve written.” “It’s standing in the center of our beloved home country as a multitude o...
Spoon’s Britt Daniel on Lucifer on the Sofa and the Importance of the Radio
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Spoon’s Britt Daniel catches up with Kyle Meredith to talk about the band’s tenth studio album, Lucifer on the Sofa. Related Video The lead singer took us into the band’s decision to make an all-out rock record, the use of Mr. Jones as a character in music history, and the importance of radio to him as a child. Daniel goes on to talk about Lucifer representing a version of himself, their plans to release more songs from these sessions, and his appreciation for the band’s 1997 Soft Effects EP. Advertisement Listen to Britt Daniel of Spoon discuss Lucifer on the Sofa, Soft Effects, and more above or watch the full interview...
Jeff Tweedy Says Wilco Are Working on a New Album
New Wilco music is coming down the pipeline. In a “Chit-Chat Check-In” post on Jeff Tweedy’s newsletter last week, the vocalist said that he and his fellow Wilco members were in the studio “chipping away at a new record.” “It’s been very, very, very fun and exciting, and we’re having a great time,” Tweedy said. “If I can get everybody in the Wilco braintrust on board, maybe I’ll share a snippet of a work in progress or something like that over the weekend behind the paywall.” Head over to Tweedy’s page here to listen to the full update. While Tweedy’s casual “Chit-Chat Check-Ins” are free for anyone to listen to, diehard Wilcoheads can get exclusive access to more Wilco-adjacent content with a paid subscription. In the meantime, stay tuned here for more news about their follow-up to 2019’s...
My Morning Jacket Announce 2022 Tour Dates
My Morning Jacket have announced a 2022 North American tour in support of their self-titled album, which was also their first new studio set in six years. Along the way, they’ll be accompanied by Madison Cunningham, Indigo De Souza, and Joy Oladokun. The Louisville rockers have already booked a trip to Cancún in March for My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday, and they’ll follow that with a run through the southern United States in April and May, including an appearance at High Water Music Festival and ending with Shaky Knees in Atlanta. After a brief rest, the trek resumes in June and July with a midwestern jaunt. Notably, they’ll play a two-night stand in their hometown of Louisville, with proceeds benefiting Change Today, Change Tomorrow (CTCT), a Louisville-based...
Death Cab for Cutie Cover Yoko Ono’s “Waiting for the Sunrise”: Stream
Ben Gibbard’s latest project has been compiling an album of Yoko Ono covers in honor of the iconic — and often misunderstood — musician. Today, his band Death Cab for Cutie have shared their own contribution to Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono before its February 18th release. “Waiting for the Sunrise” originally appeared on Ono’s 1973 double album Approximately Infinite Universe, which she co-produced with her husband John Lennon. The album saw Ono move from her avant-garde musical beginnings into a more straightforward pop sound, although “Waiting for the Sunrise” still has an endearing quirky spunk. Death Cab’s cover stays pretty authentic to Ono’s original, utilizing the same propulsive drum beat. They do give it a more rock-forward feel by adding some lovely vocal harmonies and a great ...
Destroyer Share New Single “Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread”: Stream
Destroyer have a Valentine’s Day present for you, and spoiler alert, it’s a new song. The Canadian indie rockers have shared “Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread,” the latest preview of their forthcoming album, LABYRINTHITIS. With Joshua Wells’ percussion and John Collins’ drum programming in the spotlight, “Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread” — no, that’s not a typo — juxtaposes a galloping, disco-infused beat with frontman Dan Bejar’s subtle melancholy. “Been meaning to wear my hair like this for ages/ I mean down, down, all the way down,” he sings. Over a bright instrumental, Bejar’s solemn delivery seems to say: Life is hard, so why not indulge in its comforts while we’re here? Listen to “Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread” below. Advertisement Related Video LABYRINTHITIS, the follow-up to 2020’s...
The War on Drugs on Loving Radiohead, Covering Dylan, and Having David Gilmour in Their Crowd
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Adam Granduciel catches up with Kyle Meredith to talk about I Don’t Live Here Anymore, the fifth LP from The War On Drugs. Related Video The frontman dives into how The War on Drugs found the sound for the new album, taking inspiration from Radiohead and having producer Nigel Godrich show up to their studio, and how he writes lyrics. Granduciel also tells us about covering Bob Dylan live and which of his catalog they may attempt next, as well as the time Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour was once in their audience. Advertisement Listen to The War on Drugs mastermind discuss I Don’t Live Here Anymore, Radiohead, and more above or...
Rage Against the Machine Announce Rescheduled North American Dates for 2023
Rage Against the Machine have unveiled a fully revised North American tour itinerary after multiple postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After recently postponing the first leg of their 2022 tour, the band has rescheduled those dates for 2023. As previously reported, the band’s Summer 2022 dates will remain intact. The 2023 leg kicks off February 22nd in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and run through a two-night stand in Detroit on April 1st and 2nd. Those shows are in addition to the summer 2022 run, which launches July 7th in East Troy, Wisconsin, and wraps up with a five-night stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden in August. Tickets for all shows are available via Ticketmaster. RATM were slated to embark on their highly anticipated reunion tour in spring 2020, but those plans were s...
Third Eye Blind Announce 2022 Tour with Taking Back Sunday
Third Eye Blind are celebrating their 25th year as a band in style by going on a tour with fellow alt rock veterans Taking Back Sunday. Called “Summer Gods: 25 Years in the Blind,” the summer US trek will also feature Aussie rockers Hockey Dad as openers. Kicking off on June 22nd in Troutdale, Oregon, the joint tour will feature stops in cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston, and Las Vegas before wrapping up on August 13th in Irvine, California. See the full itinerary below. A portion of proceeds from each ticket will go to SeaTrees, an organization that Third Eye Blind has teamed with to help restore the kelp ecosystem off the coast of California. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday, February 18th. Grab yours at Ticketmaster. Advertise...
Eddie Vedder Unveils New Album Earthling: Stream
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has unleashed his long-awaited new solo album, Earthling. Listen to the project below. Earthling marks Vedder’s first solo project since 2011’s Ukulele Songs. With a star-studded backing band featuring Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer, and guest appearances from Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John, the LP moves beyond the angsty grunge that made the artist famous over three decades ago. Instead, Vedder dabbles in bluegrass, Americana, and straight-ahead rock, “a trial-and-error soundtrack to one man’s maturation,” as we put it in our review of the album. It features the previously released singles “Long Way,” “The Haves,” and “Brother the Cloud.” Advertisement Related Video Last week, Vedder kicked off his “Earthlings” t...
Slowdive Confirm Work on New Album
Slowdive have confirmed they’re at work on a new album. On Thursday, Slowdive’s official Twitter account shared a photo of Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell with the caption, “Studio vibes.” Goswell quoted tweeted the photo on her personal Twitter account, writing, “LP5.” Slowdive released their self-titled fourth album in 2017. It marked the band’s first release in 22 years, following their reunion in 2014. Related Video This summer, Slowdive are lined up to play several European festivals, including Barcelona’s Primavera Sound and Porto’s NOS Primavera Sound. Advertisement Last year, Goswell and Slowdive bandmate, Christian Savill, collaborated with members of The Flaming Lips, Casket Girls, and The Soft Cavalry on an album under the moniker of Beachy Head. LP5 https://t.co/gtDt1OZF3N — R...
