Alternative Rock
Alex Lahey Shares Free-Spirited New Single “Spike the Punch”: Stream
Alex Lahey returns today with “Spike the Punch,” her first proper solo single of 2021. Self-produced alongside John Castle and mixed by Grammy winner Carlos de la Garza, the power-pop tune arrives with a stunning accompanying music video. Like taking a gulp of jungle juice in the wee morning hours at a house party, “Spike the Punch” feels like an inhibition-free sugar rush. Its lyrics reckon with the euphoria of ditching your morals, while the threat of real consequences always linger in the shadows: “I got my ass kicked, it was fantastic /Kept going back like a hopeless romantic,” Lahey sings in the track’s opening lines before an explosive chorus. “‘Spike the Punch’ is a song about the fun that comes with self-sabotage and reckless abandon,” Lahey wrote in a statement. “It’s big, it’s lo...
Andrew Bird and Lucius Share Live Performance of The Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs”: Watch
Andrew Bird and Lucius were among a slew of high-profile acts who contributed to the recently released track-by-track covers album I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico, and now they have shared an intimate live recording of their take on “Venus in Furs.” Of course, “Venus in Furs” wouldn’t be complete without John Cale’s iconic viola solo. It makes sense that Bird — who’s a bit of a violin legend in his own right — would put his own spin on the track, using loop pedals to fill out the live performance as he then plucks the four-stringed instrument like a banjo alongside Lucius’ flawless vocal harmonies. Though nobody could compete with Lou Reed and company, this is one cover that rivals its original. Check out their living room performance of “Venus In ...
Coldplay, Gang of Four, Animal Collective, and More Tours on Sale This Week
Temperatures are dropping, as are COVID-19 case numbers, and while it sometimes felt like we’d never get to this point, live music is back. With the delayed festival season in the rearview mirror and our sunburns just about healed, it’s time to look forward to what’s next. This week a bracing variety of acts are preparing to hit the road. Coldplay are poised to conquer another set of stadiums, post-punk icons Gang of Four will soldier on without Andy Gill, Peter Hook’s new band will pay tribute to his old band, American K-pop star Eric Nam is set to support a new release, and festival favorites Jeff Tweedy and Animal Collective will stump for their upcoming albums. Read more below. Coldplay: Get tickets via Ticketmaster Advertisement Related Video Coldplay’s 2022 intercontinental tour...
Johnny Marr on Fever Dreams, James Bond, and The Smiths’ Vault Releases
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Johnny Marr catches up with Kyle Meredith to dig into Fever Dreams, a four-part EP series leading to a full album early next year. Advertisement Related Video The former Smiths member talks about the impossible task of measuring up to past classics; working with Hans Zimmer on the new James Bond film, No Time to Die; the 30th anniversary of Electronic (his post-Smiths collab with New Order’s Bernard Sumner); and which album we may possibly see expanded as the next Smiths’ vault release. The legendary guitarist also touches on wanting to make electro bangers and being influenced by classic soul artists to sing about more person...
Peter Hook & The Light Announce “Joy Division: A Celebration” 2022 North American Tour
Peter Hook & The Light are coming back to the US. The veteran post-punker has just announced a 2022 North American tour called “Joy Division: A Celebration” that will see Peter Hook and his band performing songs by his former band Joy Division. See the full list of dates for it below. The “Joy Division: A Celebration” tour takes place next fall and spans 26 dates in total. After kicking things off on August 11th in Toronto, Canada, Peter Hook & The Light will perform live in major cities like Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The tour will then conclude on September 14th in Vancouver, Canada. Fans can look forward to hearing two of Joy Division’s most seminal albums, Unknown Pleasures and Closer, in full alongsi...
M83’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming Turns 10: An Enduring Era of Indie
I’ve heard M83’s “Outro,” the final track of Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, in more TV commercials than I can count. Never mind the widespread usage in TV shows, films, and trailers: I’m talking strictly 30-60 second advertisements, the commercials you’d like to mute, tune out, or fast forward through. The usage of the song in media was arguably the most widespread around 2014, but even today, ten years after its release, music supervisors still gravitate towards “Outro” because of its humongous, cathartic climax, a waterfall of synths cascading into a vast cosmos of sound. Upon listening to Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming for the first time ten years ago, I doubt many people heard “Outro” and thought to themselves, “This is the sound of leasing a new Mazda.” Nevertheless, the song and album truly end...
Guided by Voices Announce New Album It’s Not Them. It Couldn’t Be Them. It Is Them!
It’s a day that ends in ‘y,’ which means we’re due for a new Guided by Voices album. The prolific rockers’ 34th (!) studio set is called It’s Not Them. It Couldn’t Be Them. It Is Them!, and it arrives this Friday, October 22nd. This is the second album of the year from Robert Pollard and co., following April’s Earth Man Blues. The 15-track effort was written by Pollard with production from Travis Harrison. It includes the singles “My (Limited) Engagement,” “High in the Rain,” and “Dance of Gurus,” and you can check out all three tracks along with the album artwork and tracklist below. Pre-orders are ongoing. Earlier this year, Pollard formed the new group Cub Scout Bowling Pins, which released its debut EP Heaven Beats Iowa in January. In 2020, GBV unveiled three m...
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Share New Single “What If I”: Stream
In just a couple of weeks, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats will release their third studio album, The Future. Just ahead of its release, the soul-rock band have shared the new single “What If I,” which features backing vocals from Jenny Lewis and Lucius’ Jess Wolfe. “What If I” is a laid-back, twangy jam whose narrator is coming to terms with their life’s purpose — or lack thereof. “What if I just can’t discover? What if I’m just taking too long? /Or I’m wrong, my vision is cluttered, I’m stumbling on,” Rateliff croons in the song’s opening lines. “What If I” then gradually crescendos, with Lewis and Wolfe’s backing vocals beefing up the horn-filled coda. Additionally, Rateliff and company have announced a pair of The Future album release shows at New York City’s Beacon...
David Bowie’s Toy-Era Track “Karma Man” Receives First-Ever Commercial Release: Stream
On November 26th, David Bowie’s fabled 2001 album, Toy, will received its first-ever commercial release as part of an upcoming archival box set called Brilliant Adventure (1992 – 2001). Then on January 7th, it’ll received a standalone release as a multi-disc set titled, TOY:BOX. In anticipation, the Toy track “Karma Man” has been released alongside an alternate version of “Silly Boy Blue.” Listen to both recordings below. Toy was recorded in the aftermath of Bowie’s 2000 performance at Glastonbury, as the Thin White Duke sought to reimagine some of his earliest recordings with a live backing band, and then release it in a surprise manner. But after EMI/Virgin put the kibosh on those plans, Bowie lost interest in the project, moved to Columbia Records, and recorded the album Heathen. ...
Tori Amos Unveils New Song “Spies”: Stream
Tori Amos has entered the high-stakes world of children’s make-believe with her new song “Spies.” The track opens with mysterious clicks and scratching noises, setting the stage for some thrilling spy craft. “Knowing this may help you make, make it through the night on lullabies,” Amos begins, addressing her daughter Tash. “Knowing this may help you to open up your eyes/ Spies!” As bass and drums thump along to this war of the imagination, Amos claims that “the hippopotamus must stay anonymous for now,” and wonders about a secretive “aardvark on the underground.” Stream the track below. “Spies” appears on Amos’ upcoming 16th studio album, Ocean to Ocean, which drops October 29th via Decca Records. Pre-orders are ongoing. Previously, she shared the lead si...
Speedy Ortiz Announces New Compilation The Death of Speedy Ortiz & Cop Kicker…Forever
Sadie Dupuis has spent the last decade writing and recording playful indie rock as Speedy Ortiz. Now, the musician is commemorating her 10th year under the moniker with a 2xLP compilation called The Death of Speedy Ortiz & Cop Kicker…Forever, featuring some of the band’s earliest work. The expansive reissue is due out November 12th via Carpark, and as a preview, Dupuis has also shared the new self-directed video for “Cutco.” The Death of Speedy Ortiz & Cop Kicker…Forever will include the contents of 2011’s Cop Kicker EP and The Death of Speedy Ortiz LP, all now remastered by Dupuis, who’s since become a go-to producer in her own right. You’ll also get to enjoy a handful of previously unreleased tracks, reflective liner notes written by Dupuis, and a collection of photos f...
Sunflower Bean Share New Single “Baby Don’t Cry,” Announce US Tour Dates
Following their 2018 breakthrough album Twentytwo in Blue, Sunflower Bean are gearing up for a comeback. Today, the New York City trio — and former Artist of the Month — have returned with “Baby Don’t Cry.” Additionally, Sunflower Bean have unveiled a handful of tour dates beginning in December and going into 2022. “Baby Don’t Cry” aims to uplift, though Sunflower Bean deliver their sentiments with the knowledge that it can be hard to fight back tears: “TV makes me so mad/ NPR is always telling me something bad,” vocalist Julia Cumming sings over a sauntering instrumental that melds the band’s grungy roots with a ’60s girl group flair. “So many things in our lives are disposable,” the band writes in a statement. “Content and news is consumed and discarded leaving us unfulfilled. ‘Baby Don’...
