The end of the year is the slowest time for most bands to release any music, Radiohead has never been "most bands". On Christmas day, the group, who'd been quiet for a while (hopefully hunkering down on a new album), surprised fans by releasing a song they wrote this year, intended it as the theme …
Broken Bells, the duo of The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse, stopped by Late Show With Dave Letterman last night to promote their album After The Disco. During the late night broadcast they performed the track "Control," but they obviously had bigger plans for the show's webcast. They ended …
A cinematic labor of love that captured a quiet revolution for American country music, the 1976 documentary Heartworn Highways is just like the songs that fill it. Sure, it’s scrappy, and a little rough around the edges. Yet its abundance of warmth, wit, and vitality makes it easy to understand how…
DJ Shannon brings you her latest favorite gems from bands such as Blaenavon, Shame, Ride, the Casual Sexists, Lea Porcelain, Paradise and Creatures. 1. Blaenavon - Lonely Side 2. Shame - Concrete 3. Ride - Pulsar 4. Control of the Going - Love You More 5. Paradise - Goodbye 21st Century 6. Lea P…
Today, Foals have dropped their new album, What Went Down, the follow up to 2013's impressive Holy Fire. The 10-track collection was recorded in France and produced by James Ford, who's worked with artist such as Florence and the Machine and the Arctic Monkeys. What Went Down can be streamed in it…
A-HA! Turns out that creepy snippet The Shins shared yesterday is part of a longer video that has been revealed today. As the press release says, "James Mercer wanted to give you all a Halloween gift while you wait for the album." So, watch the video for "Dead Alive" below. The new album will be o…
My Morning Jacket return with their seventh studio album, The Waterfall, on May 4th via ATO Records/Capitol Records. It'll be the band's first release since 2011’s Circuital, and the first of two new albums planned for this year. Jim James and friends have shared a video trailer for the album, fea…
No, we haven't time-warped to twenty years ago: on this holiday week, the reissues and anniversary editions dominate the new release list. One of the highlights is the reissue of Flake Music's 1997 debut (and sole release) When You Land Here, It’s Time to Return. Flake Music was an early incarnatio…
Happy Halloween, everyone! In the spirit of scaring, Arcade Fire has shared a 20-minute horror film called Festi, which takes place during their 2011 tour. As they celebrate lead singer Win Butler's birthday, the band deals with the frightening curse of the infamous 27 Club. An entire slew of cele…
More new music from The Shins: stream the very Wilco-esque single "Mildenhall" below (frontman James Mercer is even singer lower than ever before). The band's fifth LP Heartworms will be out March 10th via Aural Apothecary/Columbia. Catch them at this year's Sasquatch! Music Festival, 5/26-5/28 at…
It's not difficult to assay Purity Ring's latest album, Another Eternity. Based on the first three singles, the sophomore effort was undoubtedly pure gold in its alchemic union of Corin Roddick's beats and production and Megan James's resonant voice. The Edmonton duo have added further luster to th…
Today's Song of the Day, as chosen by Kevin Cole, host of Drive Time on KEXP, is "Something to Say" by James and the Cold Gun , from their self-titled 2023 album on Loosegroove Records
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 …
Can you believe it's been eight years since DJ Cheryl Waters first kicked off her now-annual Canada Day show? Even our friends at the Canadian consulate are tuning in, like Consulate General James K. Hill (right) who stopped by the station to chat with Cheryl about the Great White North! “There is …
So, what happens after the disco? Broken Bells break it down in the video for the title track of their sophomore release, After the Disco. In this clip, directed by Nelson de Castro, the duo of James Mercer and Danger Mouse take a walk through several post-party scenes. Check it out below, and che…
In the Nordstrom Recital Hall during Decibel Festival's Optical 4 showcase, the sound of WIFE was equal parts exciting and heavy - the sound was swelling with an emotional intensity unparalleled, and the room felt thick with listening. Visuals tracked through architectural yet emotive abstractions …
This past weekend in Portland, a benefit concert was held for beloved local artist Scott McCaughey, who suffered a stroke back in November. As we mentioned last month here on the KEXP Blog, the two nights (Friday at the Star Theater, Saturday at the Wonder Ballroom) featured an all-star bill includ…
Brooklyn band The So So Glos lead this week's new release with their fifth full length. KEXP Music Director Don Yates says the LP, "finds them bringing a bit more diverse and hook-filled sound to their anthemic garage-punk, with often-politically charged lyrics contrasting anxiety, political extrem…
If our recent in-studio session with Thurston Moore was too much of a tease, you can now stream his forthcoming full-length album, The Best Day, below. His fourth solo album finds the former Sonic Youth frontman backed by longtime drummer Steve Shelley, My Bloody Valentine bassist Deb Googe, and U…
