music

Zach Condon started out as a solo musician with extraordinary composition and recording skills. When his recording of Gulag Orkestar gained a lot of attention, the band expanded to become Beirut and travel the world. In 2007, Beirut released The Flying Club Cup—… Read the restan album inspired by french culture, fashion

In October, the French indie-pop band M83 released a highly anticipated double album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming—… Read the restan ambitious creation that lead man Anthony Gonzales promised would be confident and epic. Gonzales wanted the album to feel like a journey through varied landscapes and emotions. He hoped the confident vocals

There is something special about Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Whether they are singing a sweetly sad serenade or stomping their cowboy boots and playing the banjo, the duo definitely makes you want to listen. Jamie Cowperthwait of Rolling Stone… Read the rest says they “can lull you into near-hypnosis and then make

My first experience with The Head and the Heart was entirely on a whim. Late on a Sunday night some friends and I found ourselves bopping our heads and humming along with the rest of the crowd at the Wonder Ballroom in NE Portland, Ore. And I’ll be honest, the… Read the rest

Take a listen to this playlist to hear Thom Yorke share his favorite electronic music in a two-hour block on BBC Radio, 6 Mix. He gave love to a variety of artists such as Erykah Badu, J Dilla, Flying Lotus,  Ramadanman, and Autechre. There’s also a taste of the Radiohead… Read the rest

I’m still trying to figure out WU LYF, but maybe that’s the point. They call themselves “heavy pop,” but it feels too intense, primal and sinister to be poppy. The inspired beats, funk rhythms and wandering melodies draw you in but something about the chilling tone keeps you holding back… Read the rest

Most Music Mondays showcase a world or folk-style band. Said band is generally composed of members from all around the world, bringing Latin and African influence to their music. And I love it.
But this Monday—what might be one of the last real days of summer weather in the Pacific… Read the rest

Listening to roger Clyne & The Peacemakers is a unique experience. With a sound that I can only describe as, “Old Wild, Wild West-style,” it almost feels like I’ve gone back in time. Which, it seems, is sort of what they’re going for. According to the band’s bio:
“Fifteen years… Read the rest

I can’t think of a better word to describe Mala Rodriguez’s music than enchanting. Her Spanish rhymes are both sultry and terrifying. Even her name calls is mystifying. Born Maria Rodriguez, she goes by the nickname “Mala” that her aunt gave her as a child because she had a habit… Read the rest

The Jackalope Saints are a Portland-based string band that plays folk-bluegrass music rooted in tradition with an updated style. The Saints’ bio explains the group as follows:
Adding a twist of soul and stirring the pot a new sound surfaces: Navy Bluegrass River Rock. It is the howling sound of … Read the rest

If you’re a yoga-lover, it’s high time you entered this outstanding contest from prAna to win tickets for yourself and a friend to the four-day Wanderlust festival. It’s quick, easy and free; just go here, enter your contact information and submit it before the June 30th cut-off date.
In return,… Read the rest

According to the filmmakers behind Musicwood… Read the rest, “The world is running out of wood.” This statement shouldn’t come as a shock to you. With deforestation, woodlands and indigenous forests are slowly dwindling–causing species extinction and leading to higher, more dangerous levels of C02 in the atmosphere. If a statement such

Francisca Valenzuela is a 22-year-old musician from Chile that we’re sorry to say we haven’t featured before. She writes her own music–both in english and spanish–and plays the piano and guitar beautifully. We came across this 2011-released single, “Quiero Verte Más“ on NPR‘s listing of 2011′s new Alt Latino rising… Read the rest

Sitting at my desk on another gray-hued Monday, I discovered the new Afro-beat album from Chopteeth, and immediately–at first without noticing–began tapping my foot on the carpet. What’s more, the music from this recently released album actually had the effect of raising my spirits, and with that, Chopteeth Live… Read the rest became

“If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place,” Jake Shimabukuro (she-ma-BOO-koo-row) believes. Perhaps that’s the inspiration for the title of his undeniably peaceful new album, “Peace Love Ukulele,” which will be released tomorrow.
The ukulele  is traditionally recognized as a somewhat mediocre instrument saved for tacky… Read the rest