May 27, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
R.E.M. – “Nightswimming” This classic from the Athens, Georgia-based band came from what many consider their best record, 1994’s Automatic For the People. Named for the sign of a favorite restaurant near Athens, this record found R.E.M. mining the American South for influences, both lyrically and musically. The strings on this song were arranged by… Read more »
May 26, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – I Should Have Known it Tom Petty – “I Should Have Known It” For their upcoming album Mojo, Petty and the Heartbreakers recorded the same way they did back when they began: live in the studio, no overdubs or recording tricks. The record touches on several points of the… Read more »
May 25, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Court Yard Hounds – “See You in the Spring” Sisters Marti Maguire and Emily Robison are best known for their enchanting harmonies with the Dixie Chicks, leaving that band’s two-year hiatus to produce this self-titled debut album. This track features guest vocals from Jakob Dylan, who joined the band at their debut performance at SXSW to… Read more »
May 24, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Band of Horses – “Laredo” This track, from the South Carolina band’s latest album, Infinite Arms, hit stores on May 18. Lead singer Ben Bridwell (the only remaining original member of the band) slaved over this record for 16 months before its release. Opening slots for Pearl Jam and Zooey Deschanel’s She & Him have… Read more »
May 21, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Old 97’s – “Won’t Be Home” This track from 2004’s album Drag it Up features the signature energetic style of Old 97’s. Originally from Dallas, Old 97’s have made a 15 year career of it, most recently releasing their seventh studio album, Blame it on Gravity. Lead singer Rhett Miller, is joining KXT for June’s… Read more »
May 20, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
The Cranberries – “Linger” Dolores O’Riordan formed the Cranberries in 1989 with brothers Noel and Mike Hogan. Though the initial release of Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? failed to garner attention, MTV picked up the video for “Linger” and it charted almost immediately. The lush pop sound combined with O’Riordan’s inimitable… Read more »
May 19, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Iron and Wine – “Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car” Many first experienced Iron & Wine from his cover of The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” on the Garden State soundtrack. The entire Iron & Wine discography has a dark and eerily beautiful sound that Sam Beam has made his staple, from his first record… Read more »
May 18, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
My Morning Jacket – Golden My Morning Jacket – “Golden” This harmony-drenched track from My Morning Jacket’s third studio album It Still Moves shows the softer side of what this hard-rocking, Kentucky-based band can do. Jim James’ ethereal vocals are the centerpiece of everything the band does, even as they have explored more experimental territory with… Read more »
May 17, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Horse Feathers – “Belly of June” From their most recent record Thistled Spring, Portland’s Horse Feathers’ lovely acoustic and strings approach first came from Justin Ringle’s songs and the instrumentation of brother/sister Peter and Heather Broderick. Though the siblings are gone, Ringle carries on with a new lineup on this record, the followup to 2008’s… Read more »
May 14, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Stereophonics – Innocent Stereophonics – “Innocent” Kelly Jones and company have been churning out their whiskey-throated version of British rock since 1992, though their 1997 record Word Gets Around helped propel their career upwards, winning BRIT Magazine’s “Best New Band”. 2001’s Just Enough Education to Perform gave them their highest charting single with “Have a… Read more »
