August 2, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Robert Plant and the Band of Joy – “Angel Dance” When the former Led Zeppelin frontman decided to create a new incarnation of his pre-Zep band (which included drummer John Bonham), he looked to guitarist Buddy Miller, who played on his Grammy-winning Raising Sand record with Alison Krauss. Miller brought in folk-rocker Patty Griffin and… Read more »
July 30, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Matthew Sweet – “Girlfriend” Hard to believe that the record of the same name came out almost 20 years ago, after Matthew Sweet was dropped from his label. His rocking power pop complimented his sugary sweet melodies, making this record a breakthrough smash. Along with “I’ve Been Waiting” and “Evangeline”, this song gave Sweet national… Read more »
July 29, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Gomez – “Airstream Driver” This song, from Gomez’s sixth record A New Tide, shows the expanse of their musical talents, pulling in blues, catchy pop melodies, and quirky indie rock sounds. Despite finding success with their first two releases Bring It On and Liquid Skin, they have bounced around between labels before landing on Dave… Read more »
July 27, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Tift Merritt – “Mixtape” This tune from the Raleigh, NC native’s fourth record See You On The Moon perfectly highlights the soulful voice that has given Tift Merritt acclaim since her first record Bramble Rose. This latest effort, produced by Tucker Martine (husband to Laura Veirs) simplifies her sound to the basics, highlighting her songwriting… Read more »
July 26, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Good Old War – “Coney Island” You might have heard “My Old Sinking Ship” on our airwaves, from Good Old War’s latest self-titled effort, but this song, the lead track from their 2008 release Only Way To Be Alone was the song that initially gained them critical acclaim. The band hails from Philadelphia, and their… Read more »
July 23, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Bob Schneider – “Metal and Steel” Austinite Bob Schneider has been making music for more than twenty years with bands like the Scabs, the Ugly Americans, and Joe Rockhead, though he has received more acclaim for his solo work of the last decade. Drifting in and out of major label deals, Schneider’s genre-bending sound has… Read more »
July 22, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Amy Winehouse – “You Know I’m No Good” Amy Winehouse exploded in 2007 with her release Back to Black, produced by British DJ Mark Ronson. Ronson took Winehouse’s soulful vocals and matched them with Sharon Jones’ backing band, the Dap-Kings to create a sound that revived British R&B. This track showcases that sound in all… Read more »
July 21, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Richard Thompson – Crawl Back (Under My Stone) Richard Thompson – “Crawl Back (Under My Stone)” This song, from the legendary guitarist’s 1999 record Mock Tudor, finds him in classic form, with his witty songwriting and expert playing at the forefront. After he made his mark with British folk band Fairport Convention, he made several… Read more »
July 20, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Jenny & Johnny – Big Wave Jenny & Johnny – “Big Wave” This latest collaboration from Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis and her boyfriend Johnathan Rice mines 60’s pop in both melody and the buzzing, aquatic guitars that recall the Ventures or early Beach Boys. From their upcoming record I’m Having Fun Now, this pairing inspired… Read more »
July 19, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Crowded House – Saturday Sun Crowded House – “Saturday Sun” New Zealander Neil Finn began his illustrious career with Crowded House in 1985 after the dissolution of Split Enz, the band that also featured his brother Tim. Finding success with the band’s self-titled record, they would go on to have a 15 year career, despite… Read more »
