Judy Collins and Neko Case Set to Headline RootsFest 2010
Denver’s RootsFest will celebrate its third anniversary this year with a bill of trans-genre and generation artists. Folk veteran Judy Collins and alt.country cover girl Neko Case are set to headline the roots-music merrymaking.... read more
Creed Vs. Creed: Quality Assurance Representative and Rock Frontman Face Off
One is a creepy relic who's had trouble with the law. The other is a character on The Office. Creed Bratton: Quality Assurance Representative, The OfficeScott Stapp: Frontman, reunited rock band Creed... read more
Avett Brothers Release Jody Hill-Directed Music Video, Announce Spring Tour
With their new video for “Slight Figure of Speech,” the Avett Brothers have tapped into one of America’s best late night activities. Infomercials! The song itself is tucked into several minutes of Andy Daly (Semi-Pro, Reno 911) playing a clueless home-shopping host before he introduces his next product: a real, live band!... read more
Björk Contributes Song to Children's Film
Details of Björk’s latest project may strike as oddly familiar, with a children’s tale serving as inspiration. But instead of Wild Things, the Icelandic songstress will be singing with hippo-like trolls and donkey-like tails in mind, as she lends songs to the theatrical production of Moomins and the Comet Chase.... read more
Judd Apatow Hints at Pineapple Express Sequel
The man who brought M.I.A. to the masses with the awesome trailer usage of “Paper Planes” is now considering a sequel to his stoner bromance flick.... read more
Tori Amos: Midwinter Graces
Famously idiosyncratic songwriter continues mid-career slump with album of holiday songs Given that holiday-themed releases are just a step above albums of pop standards on the continuum slumping toward creative irrelevancy, Midwinter Graces presents a career crossroads for Tori Amos. Having long wandered between pagan and Christian themes, here Amos attempts to combine the familiar spirit of well-known Christmas carols with Winter Solstice mysticism but eventually sinks into the same sentimentality and overproduction that often mars her more conventional projects. Struggling to stick to the script, her rendition of “Star of Wonder” starts off shrouded in a haze of pattering... read more
Listen Up: Mending A Heart With What Broke It (Or, I Love The Everybodyfields, Vol. 392)
It's been six months since the split... read more
Best of What's Next: Shelley Short
Shelley Short grew up in Oregon, in an home that always stayed warm... read more
Pixies Play Fallon, Fans Pick Second Song on Twitter
Aside from his penchant for starring in bad Queen Latifah movies, Jimmy Fallon’s usually got the public’s interest in mind. A man of the people, if you will. With his affable persona and regular-dude smile, he emits a charming you-went-to-high-school-with-me vibe. Further proving this, when indie-rock icons the Pixies stop by his show on Nov. 24, viewers have the chance to vote on which song the band will play in addition to the classic “Debaser.”... read more
New Dead Weather Album Coming in 2010
Jack White supergroup the Dead Weather is already planning a 2010 sophomore record release, even though their debut, Horehound, has been out for less than a year.... read more
Watch the Trailer for The Decemberists Video Album, Here Comes the Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized
The Decemberists has set a date for the online premiere of its “full-length video album,” titled Here Comes the Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized.... read more
Watch Jason Segel Hilariously Perform Onstage With The Swell Season
We probably should’ve seen this one coming, honestly. The Swell Season: earnest, beautiful folk rock made by two former lovers. Jason Segel: lovably oafish dude who got totally naked in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. And they’ve all been in movies! Three peas in a pod, right?... read more
Sugarland: Gold and Green
All I want for Christmas is a cohesive record As with Sugarland’s previous studio efforts, lead singer Jennifer Nettles suffers from a vocal identity crisis on the duo’s new holiday-themed Gold and Green. Does she want to be a saccharine adult-contemporary crooner (“Gold and Green”), a wailing gospel beacon (“Coming Home”) or the twangy country girl next door (“Nuttin’ For Christmas”)? Here, such shifts seem contrived, robbing Nettles of any relatable authenticity. What little sincerity the set has comes from Kristian Bush singing lead on “Maybe Baby (New Year’s Day)” and “Holly Jolly Christmas.” Unfortunately, the latter is all but... read more
Catching Up With... David Rawlings
Although the records are released under Gillian Welch’s name, she and David Rawlings are essentially... read more
R.E.M. Working on New Album, Michael Stipe Working on Beard
A couple days ago, R.E.M released two short videos filmed by a covert/hirsute Michael Stipe. Haphazardly focusing the camera on the occasional electric guitar or amplifier, Stipe meanders through the rooms where his band is recording its 15th studio record. According to Pop Candy, Grammy Award-winning Jacknife Lee is producing the new album, still in its early stages. Not many other details are known at the moment, but you can watch Stipe’s Blair Witchy cinematography below:... read more
Jonathan Richman to Celebrate Turkeys on Saturday
Just because turkeys are traditionally killed and eaten for Thanksgiving doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the holiday as well. This is America, after all—a land of equal opportunities for man and bird alike.... read more
Watch Vampire Weekend's "Cousins" Video
Vampire Weekend’s Contra may not drop until Jan. 12, but we’ve got tons of goodies to hold us over until then. Along with first single “Horchata,” today the video for “Cousins” hit the good old reliable interwebs. This second single is out now digitally, and will hit stores on a 7" vinyl Dec. 15. "Cousins"’ video is a dizzying trip back and forth in an city alleyway, with the VW lads showing the same playful spirit that drives their music. Directed by Garth Jennings (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and produced Hammer and Tongs (Jennings and creative partner Nick Goldsmith),... read more
Ears We Trust: Robert Earl Keen
In this long-running feature, music-industry tastemakers tell us what they’re listening to and loving. Today’s columnist: Texas singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen.... read more
EMI Becomes First Record Label to Provide Hulu-Exclusive Videos
EMI has struck a deal with Hulu to become its first record-label partner, and is set to distribute music videos and concert footage exclusively through the video-sharing site.... read more
Without Venue, Jelly Pool Parties Could Dry Up
Brooklyn’s 5-year-strong Jelly Pool Parties have been providing free, awesome music to thousands each summer, with acts like Grizzly Bear, Girl Talk and Simian Mobile Disco playing no-cost shows. The concert series was originally held at the McCarren Park Pool, but then moved to the East River State Park in the summer of 2009 to accommodate bigger bands and bigger crowds. But according to the New York State Parks Department and the Open Space Alliance, the park may not be available for Jelly 2010.... read more
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