The lively 1984 discussion that took place among the KCMU DJ-erati on the cover of the first LP by Alien Sex Fiend might just take the prize for greatest number of words with the least to do with the music at hand. It definitely has the most anagrams I've ever come across in my years of doing this …
A review of Fauna Shade's single "Marzipan" described their sound as "Floydian... zapping electronic wiggles." This simultaneously whimsical yet vague description fits the band perfectly: their sound bounces through all the psychedelic subgenres, with droning stoner fuzz meeting some of Tame Impala…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Aft…
Now in its fifth year, the Treefort Music Fest brings its biggest line-up yet to Boise, Idaho. Over the next five days, over 400 bands will take the stage across multiple venues in downtown Boise, including Built to Spill, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Youth Lagoon, Thundercat, Thee Oh…
Hailing from Osaka, Seiho is one of Japan's most enigmatic and charismatic artists that infuses his colorful electronic productions with an adventurous and playful flair that's difficult to categorize. While he's broken through as both an underground force and a major label artist in his home count…
Malik Taylor, aka Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest, passed away yesterday at the age of 45, as a result of complications due to diabetes. Taylor formed A Tribe Called Quest with his childhood best friends in 1985, releasing their now-legendary debut People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of …
This week in El Sonido, guest writer Aarin Wright recommends some of her favorite Latin artist from the USA. (¡in Enlgish y en español!):
Celebrating their fourth LP, A Man Alive, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down stopped by KEXP to throw a little pre-release party. Though the new songs are energetic and completely accessible, as Thao explains to the Midday Show's Cheryl Waters, recording A Man Alive was an incredibly personal, at time…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Aft…

In 2018, KEXP celebrated the 30th anniversary of local record label Sub Pop with a four-month retrospective, "counting up" every catalog number in their vast discography of over 1,200 releases. Dig into the archives of our catalog coverage, featuring in-depth coverage on the history of their releases.