On April 15, Sturgill Simpson will release a new album called A Sailor's Guide to Earth, his follow up to 2014's Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. Today he's shared the album's first single, "Brace For Impact (Live a Little)." In a press release, Simpson described his motivation for the album: …
When Julia Holter sings "Can I feel you?" on "Feel You", it's more of a question of capability than one of permission, recalling a feeling of faint familiarity mixed with a lingering inquisitiveness. That gap between existing in a moment and fully grasping it is where the songs on Have You In My Wi…
The Arcs, Dan Auerbach's new music project, have released a brand new single called "Fool's Gold." In an interview with Rolling Stone, Auerbach described the meaning of Fool's Gold as having "the same thrilling discovery, the same shiny luster and perceived weight as gold, but it isn’t gold and wh…
As major labels continue to exist behind the times, artists and labels with little capital and lesser reputations are producing some of the most innovative, interesting, and inspiring music. Whether it’s creating a new niche in digital technology or looking to once obsolete formats, Agitated Atmosp…
Where does one begin with R. Stevie Moore? That's what I've been asking myself, and likely what most people ask themselves when faced with the enormity of his recorded output. Well, you've got to start somewhere, and since I happened to pull this record off the shelves, and it seems to have been a …
"High energy" barely begins to describe Rubblebucket. The seven-member Brooklyn-based band is actually pared down in size from when they originally met in the Northeast, but the core members keep the joyous spirit of Rubblebucket alive through their quirky multi-insturmental dance pop, which can ge…
Anyone who's ever seen a show at Fremont Abbey could tell you that it's a beautiful, intimate setting; it's one of a handful of music venues in Seattle that is available to rent for wedding receptions, and when it does host gigs, they're primarily acoustic shows and songwriter showcases. But Deep S…
Leeds band Eagulls know how to incorporate punk fuzz and poppy hooks into a hard-hitting blend of speedy percussion, chainsaw reverb, and, well, demonic possession. Notorious for their thoughts on the so-called 'beach-bands' out right now, Eagulls aren't looking to make any long-time friends with a…
While there was often a healthy debate on any given album's merits at KCMU, every once in a while it seems that everybody just ganged up on some poor defenseless record for no good reason. Icky Joey (not a name familiar to me until I pulled this record off the shelf) was a super group of sorts, fea…
Every year, Seattle sends a multitude of great artists down to Austin this week to showcase how our great city continues push the independent music scene forward in our own unique way. Of course, there is no shortage of Seattle bands at SXSW this year. But it was a special treat for us to get to se…
"Lovely" and "infectious" — mash those words together and it sounds something like Lucius. Watch and hear the band perform, and those words seem even more apt. Led by co-vocalists Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe, the NYC-based five-piece blends gorgeous harmonies and lively percussion in girl group in…
"We're not one-dimensional human beings, so why should our music be?" asked Honus Honus, the mastermind behind Philadelphia band Man Man. Their names may be repetitive (true to theme, the drummer goes by "Pow Pow"), but this experimental group is anything but, always striving to evolve their quirky…
Opening day two of the KEXP broadcast live from KEX hostel at Iceland Airwaves is Icelandic singer-songwriter Snorri Helgason. His music has classic American folk sensibilities, reminiscent of the likes of Harry Nilsson and Nick Drake. some with sparse instrumentation, and words sung so quietly and…
Easily one of the most popular bands to perform during our broadcast from the Bumbershoot Music Lounge, The Joy Formidable have blown up since the first time they played for KEXP back in 2010. Their second and most recent album, Wolf's Law, amps up their shoegazery rock sound to epic proportions, y…
Back in October, we took the first opportunity we had to bring Scottish group Django Django live on air. Their self-titled debut, soon to be nominated for a Mercury Prize, had been released just the day before, and a full U.S. tour was still a dream, but the band was able to drop by the Cutting Roo…
Despite being recorded in December, Lavender Diamond's in-studio session was one of the warmest things that KEXP broadcast in 2012. Singer Becky Stark's voice is nothing short of radiant, buoying the Los Angeles quartet's tender, winsome sound. Across the folk pop bounce of "There's A Perfect Love …
As a born and bred Northwesterner, seeing a dual lineup of my teenage (and adult) favorites Modest Mouse and Built To Spill play at the fair I went to every single year from the time I was a child until I was a pre-teen, the Puyallup Fair (I'm sorry, but it will never be the Washington State Fair t…
It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News. Anyone who follows football or has been to The Clink for a Hawks game knows that hands down it is the loudest stadium in…
When I first ever heard of Steve Albini's provocatively-named band between Big Black and Shellac (after they'd ceased operations) I was already a fan of his, so I just kinda rolled my eyes and thought "ah, there goes ol' Steve again, ruffling feathers and pushing buttons." Being a fairly sheltered …
