Has it really been thirteen years? It was May 1, 2014 that KEXP's punk rock show Sonic Reducer hit the airwaves. Since then, DJs Mr. West, Brian Foss, and Jenn have brought you three hours of the best in local, national, international punk and hardcore from 9:00 PM to midnight every Saturday night.
The KCMU reaction to this 1990 album by New York punks Alice Donut is, as often happens in college-radio-land, quite varied, from "their best yet" to "a step back." For what it's worth, the historical record, as far as my quick survey has revealed, seems to lean toward the opinion that Mule, the ba…
It's been 57 years since a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa took the lives of musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, but their music and influence live on, as strong as ever. Called "The Day the Music Died," after a lyric from Don McLean's tribute single "Ameri…
Happy New Year! Last night, Kendrick Lamar decided to end 2015 with a 7-minute short film called God Is Gangsta. It features tracks from his acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly, "u" and "For Sale? (Interlude)." Watch Kendrick rap and go clubbing in Paris below. [Pitchfork]
After a long five years, The Chemical Brothers will release a new studio album called Born in the Echoes on July 17. The LP will feature collaborations from Beck, Q-Tip, St. Vincent, and many more. Today they've debuted "Sometimes I Feel So Deserted," the album's opening track. [Pitchfork]
If you're hoping to spend St. Patrick's Day doing some record shopping, you are indeed in luck, as there are some great new releases at the end of the rainbow this week. Highlights include the latest from Modest Mouse. KEXP Music Director Don Yates notes, "the latest album (and first in eight years…
Although best known as the lead singer behind seminal Pacific Northwest bands Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service, Ben Gibbard also possesses a deep record collection, spurred by his passion for timeless pop and Krautrock gems that date back to the 60s. Expertly curating a 17-song all-vinyl …
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…
Her self-titled release has been popping up on tons of End-of-the-Year Top Albums lists, and today, St. Vincent shares a video for album highlight "Birth In Reverse." In the clip, Annie Clark shreds in a cloud of smoke. Watch below: [Consequence of Sound]
For the rest of the year, we'll be spotlighting our KEXP DJs Top Albums of 2014, leading up to our 2014 90.3 Top Album Countdown! Voting ends TODAY, Tuesday, December 16th at 6:00 PM PT, so let us know your favorites now, and tune in on Friday, December 19th to hear if your picks made the list!
You'll want to make the climb to the 2015 Treefort Music Fest the weekend of March 25th - 29th, 2015 in downtown Boise, Idaho. Though only in its fourth year, this seedling of a music festival has firmly planted their roots in their community. In fact, they were recently named Boise’s Economic Cult…
Every summer, the crowds pack into Pike street between Broadway and 12th to throw a party unlike any other. Capitol Hill Block Party is a tried and true block party, rocking the streets until 12:30 in the morning, showering them in confetti, and giving both attendees and nearby Capitol Hill apartme…
Every summer, the crowds pack into Pike street between Broadway and 12th to throw a party unlike any other. Capitol Hill Block Party is a tried and true block party, rocking the streets until 12:30 in the morning, showering them with confetti, and giving both attendees and nearby Capitol Hill apart…
It's been six long years, but the latest solo album from Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis is out today. KEXP Music Director Don Yates describes the album, The Voyager, as "a strong return to form steeped in classic West Coast ‘70s and ‘80s pop-rock with smartly crafted songs juxtaposing breezy mel…
Every summer, the crowds pack into Pike street between Broadway and 12th to throw a party unlike any other. Capitol Hill Block Party is a tried and true block party, rocking the streets until 12:30 in the morning, showering them with confetti, and giving both attendees and nearby Capitol Hill apart…
It's almost time to shut down the streets of the neighborhood for an amazing weekend of music: Capitol Hill Block Party 2014! This year's line-up features a great range of artists, both local and visiting, many who've stopped by the KEXP studios before! In fact, the list is so long, we've split it …
Swedish band Little Dragon are back with their fourth album, Nabuma Rubberband, which KEXP's Music Director Don Yates describes as their "most impressive set yet of chilly, R&B-tinged electro-pop." Why not let the downtempo electro-beats help you channel your inner eight-year-old for a chance t…
Since Prince released his song "Breakfast Can Wait" earlier this year, I haven't been able to look at breakfast the same. Now, to make my mornings even more awkward, we have a very sensual music video to enjoy. Sexualized breakfast foods are just the tip of the iceberg in this video, there's also …
The first of several videos we'd like to share with you this morning is Dinosaur Jr.'s new clip for "Pierce the Morning Rain," a cut from last year's I Bet on Sky. The video stars actor James Urbaniak as a man obsessed with finding the perfect car stereo and comedian Maria Bamford as his concerned …
On Saturday night, a small, but hardcore, audience gathered at The Neptune to enjoy a band that’s been touring steadily for 35 years. The Church is one of the few '80s bands that’s continued to put out new music throughout their long career and this tour is to support their 26th album Man Woman Lif…
