Two bands that probably sit close to each other on your record shelf: The Shins performed a session for Spotify where they covered The Smiths 1986 single "Panic." Listen below. James Mercer and friends also performed their own track "Name For You" off their latest full-length, Heartworms, out now …
Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi has shared a new solo track -- stream the single "Simple Gifts" below, a take on a traditional Shaker song originally written in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett. This modern version will appear on the upcoming soundtrack for the movie The Circle, starring Tom Hanks and Emm…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. All this week we are celebrating Seat…
It's hard to believe it's been four years since Adam Yauch, aka MCA of the Beastie Boys, passed away from cancer. SoCal punks FIDLAR posted a tribute today online, a loving rendition of the single "Sabotage" from the 1994 Beasties album Ill Communication. Listen below. FIDLAR have long cited the g…
New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams brought his band and their foot-pounding vintage folk to the KEXP studios in support of his first solo record. Longtime the front-man of The Unfaithful Ways, Williams relocated to Melbourne to record and release his eponymous solo album. The rocksteady,…
I didn't realize that I was familiar with Altered Images when I pulled out this record, but it turns out I know two of their songs (and I'm sure you know at least one, if not both): the title track from their debut album, Happy Birthday (which is exactly the one you think of when I say it's an '80s…
You can't live in Seattle and not have heard of the O.K. Hotel. In the late '80s, Steve Freeborn and Tia Mathies transformed the now-legendary building, located under the viaduct in Pioneer Square, into a music venue, fine arts gallery, and cafe. In fact, in the 1992 Cameron Crowe film Singles, it'…
If you're my age and MTV was a huge part of your musical awakening, this album (or really its hit single "Goody Two-Shoes") was your first exposure to the artist known as Adam Ant. And you probably thought it was pretty cool. But if you were a college radio DJ at the time, and had been enjoying the…
The Juan MacLean is the stage name of talented electronic musician and DJ John MacLean. While his roots trace back to post-hardcore Sub Pop band Six Finger Satellite in the first half of the 1990s, he's been a force on the revered DFA Records label for over a decade with three critically-acclaimed …
We've always known Seattle band Tangerine were sweet, but as if to prove it, they've got a new EP titled Sugar Teeth coming out in February on Swoon Records. Swoon, indeed! Check out the first single, "Tender," below. Sugar Teeth hits the streets on February 19th, and the trio play Neumos on Thurs…
British electronic duo Maribou State (Chris Davids & Liam Ivory) have been producing consistently high-quality deep lush house grooves over the past five years with early releases on Fat!, Southern Fried, and Anjunadeep Records. Their new album, Portraits, marked their debut for Counter/Ninja T…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. This week, we are featuring songs by …
no rome is the alias of Filipino bedroom musician Rome Gomez. Based in Manila, the young artist has showcased a brilliant fusion of electronic-pop, shoegaze, and R&B with an emotional, kinetic touch on his new Hurry Home & Rest EP as well as an array of stand-alone singles, gaining a growin…
In honor of Father's Day, Future Islands have shared the video for their Singles track "A Song For Our Grandfathers." The clip shows the band spending some quality time at a family reunion in North Carolina before performing the sweet song for everyone. Future Islands have also posted a site where…
Seattle's south end neighborhood Beacon Hill is putting on a single afternoon all-ages, free music festival June 20th, featuring some of the best in local hip-hop - from the Blue Scholars' Prometheus Brown to Gabriel Teodros to Spekulation. The all-day Block Party will be honoring the neighborhood …
Even after releasing a pair of EP's, Wolf Alice has yet to show their teeth. The young London four-piece have grown from a folky duo into a gnashing, shoegazy, guitar-heavy band steeped in 90's alternative rock but with a freshly energized take. But their past singles “Fluffy” and “Moaning Lisa Smi…
Bay Area bashers Thee Oh Sees return this Spring with their ninth album, Mutilator Defeated At Last. Stream the first single "Web" below. This time around, the line-up consists of mainstay frontman John Dwyer (vocals, guitar), Tim Hellman (bass), Nick Murray (drums), Brigid Dawson (keyboard and ta…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, selected by DJ Shannon …
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 DJs think you should hear. This week, we are featuring songs …
Sharon Van Etten is one of many great artists contributing singles to the 7-Inches For Planned Parenthood compilation, released today. "Passion and Love" is the name of her contributed song, which is simple and sparse, with her vocals being accompanied by acoustic guitar. The 30-track compilation i…
