It's Labor Day weekend, and the new releases are working hard. Highlights include the latest from Asheville, NC-based artist Angel Olsen. KEXP Music Director Don Yates notes the release "continues to head in a more electric, rock-oriented direction on her excellent third album, combining elements of raw classic-rock, moody soul, '60s girl-group pop, psych-rock, atmospheric synth-pop and more into emotionally powerful songs of struggle and resiliency through the ups and downs of love and life."
Veteran band The Wedding Present share their 9th album, "an ambitious 20-song set that begins with a string of ambient instrumentals before kicking in with the band's signature buzzing guitar-pop on song five. After that, the album rarely flags." Melbourne, Australia band Chook Race bring their sophomore release, "a solid set of hook-filled post-punk with jangly guitars, driving rhythms and alternating male/female vocals." London band Beach Baby debut with "a hook-filled blend of driving post-punk, shimmering beach-pop and shoegazerish psych-rock." Seattle metal trio Helms Alee share their fourth album, recorded and produced by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios. And electronic group Soundwalk Collective team up with the legendary Patti Smith and her daughter, Jesse Paris Smith.
Fall is kicking off with some heavy hitters. KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls the latest from Wilco, "one of their more modest-sounding releases, featuring a mostly low-key and acoustic-oriented folk-rock sound on bittersweet songs revolving around alienation and childhood memories."
With a rare chunk of time to spare between great acts at Bumbershoot, a stop at the Sub Pop installation was in order. A short walk down the hill from KEXP to the International Fountain Pavillion to check out the installation and pop-up shop from the legendary Seattle label. Only up for the weekend…
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 Midd…
While KEXP celebrated their landmark 1989 debut last Friday, De La Soul released their eighth album (and first in 12 years). KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls it, "a lengthy, somewhat inconsistent set with a diverse sound ranging from funky hip hop and smooth R&B to hypnotic electro-pop and m…
