One thing I love about Lissie is her ability to comfortably shift musical styles while always consistently sounding like herself. Though she leans most often into a light folk-rock, sometimes she’ll play with something unexpected. Here, she takes on a playful sixties girl-group sound. All … Continue reading Stranger
Even after becoming wildly successful, M.I.A. continued to make music – a “digital ruckus” in her own words – that sounds like it’s being broadcast from a filthy basement somewhere in a housing project. M.I.A. did make her earliest recordings at home with a cheap … Continue reading Steppin’ Up
Robyn’s Body Talk was the feel-good party soundtrack for the entire first half of the decade. Even now it’s hard to think of anyone who provides so much uplift and fun, sassy attitude, humor and heart. Robyn proved that dance music doesn’t have to be … Continue reading Stars 4-Ever
Win Butler has said that Arcade Fire’s concept album The Suburbs is “neither a love letter to, nor an indictment of, the suburbs.” But society long ago settled that the suburbs are both the ultimate middle-class aspiration and a handy metaphor for every modern day … Continue reading Sprawl (Flatland)/Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
It’s funny that M.I.A.’s Wiki lists her occupation as ‘rapper’. Her music is so far outside all the usual definitions of genre, she’s basically her own genre. Also, she has an MBE. Also, I guess she’s in “retirement” now. Hopefully, it won’t stick, because I … Continue reading Space
It’s been 11 years of writing this blog, and in that time I’ve covered a lot of things. My first post, on November 5th 2008, was a Zap Mama song, followed the next day by Nick Cave’s Abattoir Blues, and Barack Obama’s Presidential acceptance speech. … Continue reading Song to the Siren
John O’Regan (aka Diamond Rings) is a Canadian indie musician who has played in different styles under different names. I saw him in his Diamond Rings guise as an opener for Robyn. I was impressed by his colorful style, or course, but also the energy … Continue reading Something Else
This is my favorite MGMT song. (Sorry, Kids.) It is a small gem that really captures the MGMT magic. At only two minutes and thirty seconds, it might feel a little bit like a toss-off. It starts off wavering, then it gets all climactic. But … Continue reading Someone’s Missing
It’s been a decade since the last Sade record, and there may or may not be another one. It’s entirely possible that we’ll have to be content with what we have from her, because there’s hardly any doubt that Sade herself could happily never appear … Continue reading Soldier of Love
To be perfectly honest, I’m getting tired of writing about Here Lies Love after all these years. I mean, it’s been nine years; if you haven’t bought this record already, I don’t know what I can do for you. And it’s not like some new … Continue reading Solano Avenue
