SXSW 2010: The Absolute Best Of Everything So Far
At this relatively-early point in the evening of the very first day of SXSW 2010, having been awake since five o'clock this morning and quite close to taping my eyelids up just to edit this blog post, I feel absolutely qualified to award the following superlatives. read more
Found in: Blogs, FestivusRoky Erickson and Okkervil River Ready New Album for April Release
[Photo by Rob Inderrieden] It’s been a tough life for Roky Erickson since his 13th Floor Elevators emerged with “You’re Gonna Miss Me” in 1966. Just three years later, Erickson was imprisoned in Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane in Texas for possession of a single joint. There, he underwent electroshock therapy and experimental antipsychotic treatments. He was released in 1972 to mismanagement and poverty.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsA.C. Newman Talks Upcoming New Pornographers Album, Together
The head Pornographer discusses collaborating with St. Vincent and Ted Leo, and being inspired by Hüsker Dü... read more
Found in: Music, NewsNorah Jones: The Fall
Unexpected dance grooves from jazzy folk star As a jazz-adoring youngster, Norah Jones initially made her mark as a performer, her best-known songs written by others. Jones has since grown up as a songwriter on the biggest of stages, a challenge she’s tackled by turning inward, working with a set of regular bandmates and daring to whisper her increasingly pointed lines when others might over-emote.... read more
Found in: Music, ReviewsTwenty Ridiculously Literal Album Covers
Dear Slayer... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayNorah Jones Enlists Ryan Adams, Will Sheff for New Album
Norah Jones may have entered the music scene with her own words, but for her upcoming album, she had a bit of help from her friends. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsOkkervil River to Tour With Wilco
Indie rock's favorite Stand Ins, Okkervil River, have found a new spot: right beside Wilco. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsA Dozen Dead Roses: An anti-Valentine's Day mix for the jaded heartbroken
Above: "Broken Heart" by Fabu Any hint of bitterness aside, I've always felt Valentine's Day was a silly holiday, even when I was happily in a relationship. The idea of celebrating your love for someone by showering them with expensive gifts, candy, flowers and really cheesy Hallmark cards on a designated day when everyone's supposed to do it anyway seems the antithesis of showing sincere appreciation for a loved one.Anyway, I thought today was as good of an excuse as any to take a listen to some of the very best songs exploring popular music's most fertile themes—heartbreak, lost love, unrequited... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayTwenty Songs not by The Decemberists About Kids Meeting Unfortunate Ends
The Decemberists offered up "The Rake's Song," a track from their upcoming Hazards of Love LP, as a free download last week, which means that lots of people were probably struck with the same two thoughts that hit me upon my own first listen. One, this is a song about a dude killing his kids. Two, there are not many songs about that. ... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayStaff Picks - Rachael Maddux (assistant editor)
Here's the list of my top albums of 2008, which I begrudgingly cobbled together after being told, no, I was not allowed to vote for last year's Everybodyfields album in all ten spots. Don't believe anyone who tells you music journalists have it easy! Life is hard.... read more
Found in: Blogs, Ctrl-V

