January ends on a bang as many long-awaited albums hit stores this past Friday. Cleveland's Cloud Nothings return with their fourth LP, which KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls, "their most polished and measured set to date of punkish power-pop. Produced by John Goodmanson, the album combines a dy…
Earlier this year, we got a sneak peek at the new alt-J album as the UK trio stopped by KEXP for an in-studio session. Now, the entire LP is out -- a release KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls, "their most adventurous, ranging from catchy prog-pop and solemn atmospheric folk ballads to decidedly o…
The crushing news of Prince's untimely death has rocked the music industry. Artists all over the world have been paying tribute to the icon. On Broadway, Jennifer Hudson and The Color Purple cast ended their show with a powerful cover of "Purple Rain," and the cast of Hamilton had an impromptu dan…
Following up from her stunning debut, Toronto’s Cold Specks drops by the live room to give us a crucial shot of excitement by sharing a sprinkling of sultry and sincere tunes from her new sophomore longplay Neuroplasticity. Helping to embellish Al Spx's powerful and magnetic voice is her minimal bu…
When Sólstafir plays for KEXP, the gods take notice. Two years ago, during KEXP's broadcast at Iceland Airwaves, hurricane-level gales swept across Reykjavik as the hard rocking band brewed up their own storm inside Kex Hostel. Last month, on their first tour of the West Coast, heavy winds followed…
For a two piece group, Solids never ceases to thrash around. The Montréal based band, comprised of Xavier Germain Poitras on guitar and Louis Guillemette on drums, already has quite a following. In 2010, Solids released an EP, Generic Dogs, and would later disseminate two 7"s, one titled Fog Friend…
Dude York, the power trio from Seattle, play music that rocks, music that makes you move, music you've never quite heard before. They are an amalgamation of musical inspirations and this has never been more evident than on their new record, Dehumanize. KEXP caught up with drummer Andrew Hall to tal…
When England's Lucy Rose came in to KEXP's studios, the friendly, unassuming songwriter didn't give much of a hint of the powerhouse performance that was about to come out. When she began singing a set of songs from her 2012 debut, Like I Used To, the Surrey chanteuse released a For Emma-level emot…
With this short session in the KEXP studio, Karl Wallinger proved once again that the legacy of his one man brigade World Party still lives on. Today, Wallinger's timeless records are as powerful and effective as they've ever been, and in the stripped down setting of our studio, his heartfelt balla…
This Sunday, KEXP's Expansions will host their 18th annual MLK Unity Party for an evening of music and dance to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Join Expansions DJs Sharlese, Kid Hops, Masa, Alex, and Riz as they soundtrack the evening and celebrate Dr. King's astounding legacy. …
This year brought us unforgettable artists and albums. KEXP highlights 24 gems from 2024 in Latin American alternative music. From Alcalá Norte's rebellious debut redefining Spanish rock to Amaro Freitas' jazz homage to the Amazon, Ana Tijoux's long-awaited Vida, and Verraco's electrifying and futu…
I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction from our occasionally snobbish friends at KCMU circa 1989 to the eponymous major label debut by Indigo Girls (who I'm assuming need no introduction, but maybe millennials have no idea who I'm talking about; well, I guess this record is as good a place to s…
As Toronto-based teens, best buds Katie Monks and Liz Ball would sneak off to the park to play guitar. What started as a secret has now become broadcast around the world on KEXP: as Toronto quartet Dilly Dally, Monks and Ball channel their '90s influences into fierce, grunge-inspired pop, spotlight…
It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News. I doesn't feel more like summer to me than when the Concerts at the Mural begin. We present these free shows along with …
With all Los Angeles' sunny stereotypes, it's easy to miss the darkness there for the light. But not Chelsea Wolfe. The SoCal singer-songwriter has carved a unique place in the music landscape with her epic "drone-metal-art-folk" style. On her recent third album, Pain Is Beauty, she takes a decided…
Throughout Okkervil River's in-studio session, frontman Will Sheff keeps breaking into giggles. And if you look closely around the room, you'll see plastic action figures perched on the keyboard or suspended from the mic stand. It's that sense of childlike wonder that Sheff taps into for the band's…
With a name like Dog Mountain, how could you ever fail? The Bellingham indie rock quartet doesn't need the name as a crutch -- they match both the majesty of mountains and dogs by crafting powerful, tastefully arranged guitar-heavy tracks that aptly blend the band's humor with their own introspecti…
