I could have a whole sub-category of this series called "why didn't I listen to this band in high school?" If I did, this record by the Hard-Ons (Or is it just "Hard-Ons"? a quick survey of Internet usage is inconclusive.) would most certainly be part of it. Loud, fast, guitar-driven songs ping-pon…
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. Every Friday, we feature a song b…
We've got more new music from Portland punkster trio The Thermals: check out the single "My Heart Went Cold" below. The track will appear on the band's seventh full-length We Disappear, produced by former Death Cab for Cutie member Chris Walla. We Disappear hits stores on March 25th via Saddle Cre…
What a fantastic way to send off the KEXP Live Room at our Dexter/Denny studios! When the members of EL VY arrived to the station in matching polka-dot shirts, we thought they looked pretty cool, but then once they stepped into our studio with its iconic twinkling lights, we realized how special th…
Poliça will release their third album, United Crushers, on March 4. The Minneapolis synthpop band describe the album as "heavily political and deeply personal with thick references to social injustice, self-doubt and isolation, the rapidly increasing urban decline in gentrification, overcoming mu…
Beloved Bay Area band Thee Oh Sees release their sixth full-length, Mutilator Defeated At Last, on May 18th via Castle Face Records. You can stream the album in its entirety below. A press release notes that on the new one, "synths and acoustic guitars wind throughout the album like veins of gold …
Sean Ragon's cult has grown. The neo-folk frontman is back, this time backed with a full-time band in Cult of Youth to exorcise his experimental, dark, demonically heartfelt songs. With the perfect mix of chemistry between the members, the group offers a carefully orchestrated and tense collection …
Brooklyn band The National have quietly shared a new track: stream the single "Sunshine on My Back" below, featuring guest vocals from Sharon Van Etten. The track was recorded during the sessions for their 2013 release Trouble Will Find Me, and comes free with every rental or purchase of the Mista…
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…
Best Coast will drop their new album California Nights on May 5. They've shared the lyric video for album track "Heaven Sent." This spring the band heads out on a North American tour, which will bring them to The Showbox on June 4. [CoS]
Canada’s musical climate got a couple of degrees cooler this year with the debut self titled release of Toronto’s Alvvays. During their journey through Seattle, the band turned the KEXP live room into cosmic ocean of tranquility with their gleaming melodies, luxurious tones and the haunting beauty …
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, featured on the Afterno…
Toronto-based trio The Rural Alberta Advantage burst onto the scene back in 2006, racking up countless awards and accolades with each release: two Juno Award Nominations (Best New Group, Video of the Year), a long list nomination for the Polaris Music Prize, and rave reviews across the board. KEXP …
Baltimore synthpop trio Future Islands have an undeniable '80s influence, so who better than Vince Clarke, frontman of Erasure and former member of Depeche Mode, to remix them? Clarke takes the track "Doves" from the band's most recent release, Singles, and transforms it into a smooth dance-club s…
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, featured on the Midday …
In case you missed it, today is Earth Day! In honor of our beautiful planet Portugal. The Man has shared an "endangered song." It's purpose is to raise awareness for endangered Sumatran tigers. They created only 400 copies (the same number of remaining tigers) of the "Sumatran Tiger" single and it…
Seattle duo Golden Gardens aim to infultrate a meaningful part of your mind. The beauty of the band, however, is that it is not obvious which part of your psyche they have in their sights. It is a constant journey for you, the listener, to figure out what's in their scope as you continue to hear th…
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. Today’s song, featured on the Morn…
Josh Rawlings plays keyboards with some of Seattle's most influential musicians and performers, from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to Allen Stone to his own band, Industrial Revelation. A graduate of Cornish, and recently a new father, Josh balances his time between family, being on tour, recording a…
Arctic Monkeys have premiered a video for the track "One for the Road" off their latest album AM, which the KEXP Blog has called a "most interesting step out of their spiky, guitar-laden comfort zone." Watch the band meander through the cornfields below. [Pitchfork]
