The Most Beautiful Band On The Web: A Banda Mais Bonita de Cidade

By Tom Speed at 10:10 AM on September 7, 2012

The town of Curitiba sits in the southern part of Brazil, a flat and humid outpost in the largest country on the South American continent. But there is a nascent-yet-vibrant music scene.  read more

Found in: Music, Features

Jens Lekman: Putting Love in Perspective

By Max Blau at 9:37 AM on September 5, 2012

I’ve traveled almost a quarter of the way around the world to capture a sense of the Swedish songwriter in his hometown.  read more

Found in: Music, Features

California Wives: Art History

By Brian Tremml at 4:00 PM on September 4, 2012

In the moment of hesitation between the opening chord and the entrance of the entire ensemble lies the enigmatic quality that drives California Wives’ debut album Art History, an album that continually surprises and refreshes its listeners with a soothing juxtaposition of steady rock anthems and new wave electronic vibes.  read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

Bob Mould: Silver Age

By Stephen M. Deusner at 3:23 PM on September 4, 2012

Earlier this summer, Merge Records reissued the entire catalog by Sugar, the alt-rock group lead by Bob Mould in the early 1990s.  read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

Daniel Fights A Hurricane by Shane Jones

By Laura Straub at 3:12 PM on September 4, 2012

The epic hero has fallen to the wayside.   read more

Found in: Books, Reviews

Animal Collective: Centipede Hz

By Dan Weiss at 2:36 PM on September 4, 2012

It only takes two ears to enjoy Animal Collective, even if you view them as a menace in the long run.  read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

Two Door Cinema Club: Beacon

By Megan Farokhmanesh at 2:13 PM on September 4, 2012

Tourist History is a tough act to follow.  read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

The Fresh & Onlys: Long Slow Dance

By Charlie Duerr at 1:45 PM on September 4, 2012

On their fourth album, San Francisco’s The Fresh & Onlys file down the rough edges and turn in what are arguably the most melodic and ear-friendly jams of the band’s short-but-prolific career.  read more

Found in: Music, Reviews

Hell on Wheels Review: "Scabs" (Episode 2.04)

By Ross Bonaime at 1:36 PM on September 4, 2012

Hell on Wheels is nothing if not a show that loves diversions. It’s fine with not talking about building the railroad (supposedly the main plot of the show), or Bohannan’s revenge plot that is meant to explain his reason for being on the railroad (something that has been dropped seemingly altogether), to instead focus on Elam’s love triangle, the dark turning of the McGinnes brothers and allowing the Reverend and The Swede to have a drunk campfire where they discuss a sabre-toothed tiger skull. Hell on Wheels feels content to take its time, much like the railroad workers don’t feel the rush to get the railroad done, or even work on it for episodes at a time apparently. “Scabs” is an exception to all this, focusing solely on the building of said railroad, and disposing of most of the minor characters this week to, excuse the pun, get everything back on track.   read more

Found in: TV, Reviews

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

By Mary Kate Varnau at 12:39 PM on September 4, 2012

Do a Google News search for “faith,” then sit back and click through the first 10 stories. A warning, though—skip the mid-afternoon, Internet-browsing snack. You won’t want to eat for this.  read more

Found in: Books, Reviews