Genres & Styles
As genre-specific tags seem to become less and less useful tools for adequately describing specific sounds and visual styles, our categorizations are extremely general. “Dance,” for example, encompasses everything from dance music and dance-related films to dance performances; “collage” includes sound collages as well as visual or multimedia collages. More medium-specific tags — like “hardcore” or “painting” — are only used to describe music and art, respectively.
8-bit acoustic alt-country alternative ambient animation art rock avant-garde blues chillwave classical collage dance dream pop drone electronic electropop emo experimental fashion female folk funk garage gothic hardcore hip-hop illustration indie industrial installation instrumental jazz landscape lo-fi lyrical metal minimal mixed media outsider noise perfrormance photography pop pop-punk portrait post-hardcore post-metal post-punk post-rock print progressive psychedelic punk rock sculpture shoegaze self-released singer-songwriter soul surf synthpop technical textile typography
Indie Rock & Indie Pop
Gardens & Villa Band Interview : Naturally Mystical (w/ Lyrical Analysis)- Remix City : Wooden Shjips, Young Magic, Blondes, Chromeo
Remix City Sifting through mountains of remix trash so you don’t have to, in an attempt to find the ones that contribute to their originals. Today’s post runs the gamut in musical style, but pay special note to the Whitney Houston tribute. R.I.P., woman. Wooden Shjips If you weren’t convinced that about everyone ever is [...] - Wymond Miles - Earth Has Doors EP Album Review
Guitarist and songwriter for The Fresh & Onlys, Wymond Miles, has just released his first solo effort on Sacred Bones, entitled Earth Has Doors. In just twenty minutes, the visually-evocative four-track EP seems to progressively journey through vast territories of earth and space. Side A, with the tracks “Hidden Things Are Asking You To Find [...] - Dr. Dog - Be The Void Album Review
There’s no denying that Pennsylvania rockers Dr. Dog are at an interesting crossroads on their sixth studio album, Be the Void. Their steady, consistent rise in popularity seemed bound to increase almost twofold on their previous album Shame, Shame, but as it was met with average reviews, Dr. Dog continued on their path of predictable [...] - Multicultural Sounds: The Do - Tightrope (Janelle Monae Cover), BRAINSTORM (Mdou Moctar Covers)
The Dø – “Tightrope” (Janelle Monaé Cover) Janelle Monaé is one charming lady, and her music for “Tightrope” is the type of spectacle one can watch and re-watch and hardly tire of. French-Finnish duo The Dø have decided to take a stab at slowing down the R&B dance track and adding a sultry lethargic bluesyness [...] - Extended Listen + Full Album Streams: Young Magic - Melt, Field Music - Plumb
Young Magic – Melt Young Magic’ long-awaited debut album, Melt, is out on Carpark Records February 14th and brings with it more of the band’s prismatic magical sound. The record does feature some previously released tracks — like Night In The Ocean and You With Air (for which we love desiger Leif Podhajsky’s cover art) [...]
Psychedelic
Translinguistic Other Interview (w/ Midday Veil‘s Emily Pothast)- Midday Veil - Moon Temple Music Video (Subterranean Ritual II)
In Midday Veil’s new video for “Moon Temple,” vocalist Emily Pothast has edited source material she and guitarist Timm Mason generated last year during a residency at Experimental Television Center in Upstate New York. At its gentlest, the video is a silky smooth ripple; at its most severe, a rigid and noisy gallop through harsh-edged [...] - Black Mountain - Year Zero Film Trailer
YEAR ZERO Vehicles, dirt, and griminess recalling those from Black Mountain’s video for “Old Fangs” receive a colorful lift via projections in caves, beautiful sunsets, hot babes, and… surf footage? Black Mountain have surprisingly teamed up with skate and surf company GLOBE to create a [heavily electronic influenced?] soundtrack for the upcoming surf film, Year [...] - YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN + Swahili Blonde = On The Topic Of "Psych-Opera", Genre-Crossing, Press Hype.
A post critiquing two female-fronted, genre-hopping experimental bands — and exaggerations. YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN Pitchfork describes YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN as “psych-opera.” Press point yarn. This is not psych-opera, dudes; at least, not in musical style. When in consideration of YT//ST, one is inundated with hype terminology — including the band’s calling themselves “Noh(能)-Wave” [...] - Extended Listen + Full Album Streams: EARTH - Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II, Royal Baths - Better Luck Next Life, Grimes - Visions
EARTH – Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II We loved EARTH’s last record, as well as its album cover artwork from Seattle artist Stacey Rozich. Their latest, Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II comes out February 14th, 2012, on Southern Lord Records; it continues to build off the previous album’s improvisational energies with [...] - Wymond Miles - Earth Has Doors EP Album Review
Guitarist and songwriter for The Fresh & Onlys, Wymond Miles, has just released his first solo effort on Sacred Bones, entitled Earth Has Doors. In just twenty minutes, the visually-evocative four-track EP seems to progressively journey through vast territories of earth and space. Side A, with the tracks “Hidden Things Are Asking You To Find [...]
Electronic
Trip Report (#17) Mixtape Stream & Download- DARKSIDE + Matthew Dear = Vocal Effect Genius & Dance Rhythms
DARKSIDE Considering everyone has been getting their panties in a wad about the genius of 21-year-old Nicolas Jaar, it seems to make sense that his next project — a collaboration with Dave Harrington (of ARMS) would excel ridiculously. Their first show sold out Music Hall Of Williamsburg despite the fact that they have only one [...] - Black Mountain - Year Zero Film Trailer
YEAR ZERO Vehicles, dirt, and griminess recalling those from Black Mountain’s video for “Old Fangs” receive a colorful lift via projections in caves, beautiful sunsets, hot babes, and… surf footage? Black Mountain have surprisingly teamed up with skate and surf company GLOBE to create a [heavily electronic influenced?] soundtrack for the upcoming surf film, Year [...] - YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN + Swahili Blonde = On The Topic Of "Psych-Opera", Genre-Crossing, Press Hype.
A post critiquing two female-fronted, genre-hopping experimental bands — and exaggerations. YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN Pitchfork describes YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN as “psych-opera.” Press point yarn. This is not psych-opera, dudes; at least, not in musical style. When in consideration of YT//ST, one is inundated with hype terminology — including the band’s calling themselves “Noh(能)-Wave” [...] - Spectral Hypnosis : Tomat, Hanetration, Father Murphy MP3 Streams & Downloads
SPECTRAL HYPNOSIS A recurring series, featuring mesmerizing songs for one to lose sense of time and space, mind and body. In today’s post, we focus on drone and Europeans manipulating the shit out of genre in exceptionally creative ways. We will begin at the bottom of a deep, dark hole with Father Murphy, gradually climb [...] - Remix City : Wooden Shjips, Young Magic, Blondes, Chromeo
Remix City Sifting through mountains of remix trash so you don’t have to, in an attempt to find the ones that contribute to their originals. Today’s post runs the gamut in musical style, but pay special note to the Whitney Houston tribute. R.I.P., woman. Wooden Shjips If you weren’t convinced that about everyone ever is [...]
Dance
Twin Sister – In Heaven Album Review- DARKSIDE + Matthew Dear = Vocal Effect Genius & Dance Rhythms
DARKSIDE Considering everyone has been getting their panties in a wad about the genius of 21-year-old Nicolas Jaar, it seems to make sense that his next project — a collaboration with Dave Harrington (of ARMS) would excel ridiculously. Their first show sold out Music Hall Of Williamsburg despite the fact that they have only one [...] - Remix City : Wooden Shjips, Young Magic, Blondes, Chromeo
Remix City Sifting through mountains of remix trash so you don’t have to, in an attempt to find the ones that contribute to their originals. Today’s post runs the gamut in musical style, but pay special note to the Whitney Houston tribute. R.I.P., woman. Wooden Shjips If you weren’t convinced that about everyone ever is [...] - Multicultural Sounds: The Do - Tightrope (Janelle Monae Cover), BRAINSTORM (Mdou Moctar Covers)
The Dø – “Tightrope” (Janelle Monaé Cover) Janelle Monaé is one charming lady, and her music for “Tightrope” is the type of spectacle one can watch and re-watch and hardly tire of. French-Finnish duo The Dø have decided to take a stab at slowing down the R&B dance track and adding a sultry lethargic bluesyness [...] - Remix City: Battles Drop Gloss 12" Series + Making Friendz + Blood Orange
Welcome to Remix City! A recurring, no-bullshit series of posts that will highlight remixes that are actually worth a damn (as we all know, there are plenty that truly aren’t). Battles To kick it off are two from the almost infallible Battles, as a part of their upcoming Drop Gloss 12″ series. These two tracks, [...] - Jeff Diteman Paints Popular Portland Faces In The Fabbri Series.
LUCY YIM AND JIN CAMOU If your name is Jeff Diteman, you might be a Portland artist that has spent two years secretly crafting a series of oil paintings, waiting patiently until the opportune time and place to debut the complete collection of works. Now ready to be unveiled is Diteman’s The Fabbri Series; it [...]
Folk & Freak Folk
Chad VanGaalen Interview (w/ Animated Video Retrospective)- Artemio Rodriguez Woodcuts And Etchings Recalling Mystical And Morbid Traditions
The man behind La Mano Press — an artist-run center dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of printmaking — Artemio Rodriguez’s works fall somewhere between old alchemical and biblical illustrations and Mexican folk art. His woodcuts and etchings ring of death and dying and simultaneously of playfulness, making spit-roasted rows of heads look downright adorable, [...] - Wymond Miles - Earth Has Doors EP Album Review
Guitarist and songwriter for The Fresh & Onlys, Wymond Miles, has just released his first solo effort on Sacred Bones, entitled Earth Has Doors. In just twenty minutes, the visually-evocative four-track EP seems to progressively journey through vast territories of earth and space. Side A, with the tracks “Hidden Things Are Asking You To Find [...] - Dr. Dog - Be The Void Album Review
There’s no denying that Pennsylvania rockers Dr. Dog are at an interesting crossroads on their sixth studio album, Be the Void. Their steady, consistent rise in popularity seemed bound to increase almost twofold on their previous album Shame, Shame, but as it was met with average reviews, Dr. Dog continued on their path of predictable [...] - Chelsea Wolfe - "Pale On Pale", "Movie Screen", "Demons"Live Performances On Room 205
Incase’s Room 205 is a rare company-sponsored series of music videos that actually makes sense. For starters, they actually pick good musicians and actually seem to know what they’re doing in terms of video work. They’ve just released this new session, for Chelsea Wolfe’s “Pale On Pale.” I’ve had this blues and doom track on [...] - Herman Dune - Tell Me Something I Don't Know EP Album Review
Much better known in Europe than in the US (thanks in large part to John Peel), France’s Herman Dune have been around for over a decade, busy pioneering the “anti-folk” movement that has had a mutually influential relationship with countless bands, from Belle & Sebastian to The Mountain Goats to even Jens Lekman. This album [...]
Hardcore & Post-Hardcore
La Dispute Band Interview : It’s Like Medicine. It’s Self-Discovery. (w/ Full Album Stream & Lyrical Analysis)- Title Fight Band Interview : Space For Memories
“A lot of the inspiration for the record came from us being on tour and us growing up the last couple of years on the road – [which is] pretty much in the most unconventional way possible.” – Ned Russin
- 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Deluxe Packaging
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...] - Top Songs From 2011 : Part One
A staff-compiled list of some of our favorite songs from the year 2011, in no particular order or with allegiance to any particular style.
- Top Songs From 2011 : Part Two
A staff-compiled list of some of our favorite songs from the year 2011, in no particular order or with allegiance to any particular style.
- Fucked Up - "Turn the Season" Music Video Continues David's Story
Fucked Up’s release David Comes to Life is a sure bet to end up on many a critical darling’s acclaimed best of 2011 list. The sprawling epic tells the life story of David, a factory worker who falls in love with an activist named Veronica, and accidentally kills her when the two try to bomb [...]
Post-Rock & Instrumental
REIGNS – The Widow Blades Album Review- Wymond Miles - Earth Has Doors EP Album Review
Guitarist and songwriter for The Fresh & Onlys, Wymond Miles, has just released his first solo effort on Sacred Bones, entitled Earth Has Doors. In just twenty minutes, the visually-evocative four-track EP seems to progressively journey through vast territories of earth and space. Side A, with the tracks “Hidden Things Are Asking You To Find [...] - Remix City: Battles Drop Gloss 12" Series + Making Friendz + Blood Orange
Welcome to Remix City! A recurring, no-bullshit series of posts that will highlight remixes that are actually worth a damn (as we all know, there are plenty that truly aren’t). Battles To kick it off are two from the almost infallible Battles, as a part of their upcoming Drop Gloss 12″ series. These two tracks, [...] - Extended Listen + Full Album Streams : Steve Moore And Majeure Split (Zombi) + Disco Mixes From Oliver
Extended Listens + Streams! One giant post with singular tracks that span a long time, for the lazy person who wants continuous good music! Steve Moore & Majeure We do love Zombi. Hence the excitement of a split (on Temporary Residence LTD, from its two members, Steve Moore and Majeure (aka A.E.Paterra). They’re so confident [...] - Zechs Marquise - Everlasting Beacon Of Light Music Video
Oh, Zechs Marquise, purveyors of fine progressive instrumental music. The music of Zechs Marquise specializes in taking listeners on multi-instrumental journeys laden with unpredictable twists and turns, and this video does just that as well. Viewers are invited to participate in a trip to the “Everlasting Beacon Of Light” — a space filled with gangsters, [...] - Colin Stetson - Those Who Didn't Run Music Video
Watching Colin Stetson live is an absolute jaw-dropping marvel. With his circular breathing technique, Colin Stetson crafts soundscapes with a bass saxophone like no one else can. This video for “Those Who Didn’t Run” is quite simple, comprised of little more than a few components. Trees, mountains, smoke, waterfalls, and most importantly, the moon, are [...]
Metal & Post-Metal
Mastodon Music Videos- YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN + Swahili Blonde = On The Topic Of "Psych-Opera", Genre-Crossing, Press Hype.
A post critiquing two female-fronted, genre-hopping experimental bands — and exaggerations. YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN Pitchfork describes YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN as “psych-opera.” Press point yarn. This is not psych-opera, dudes; at least, not in musical style. When in consideration of YT//ST, one is inundated with hype terminology — including the band’s calling themselves “Noh(能)-Wave” [...] - Spectral Hypnosis : Tomat, Hanetration, Father Murphy MP3 Streams & Downloads
SPECTRAL HYPNOSIS A recurring series, featuring mesmerizing songs for one to lose sense of time and space, mind and body. In today’s post, we focus on drone and Europeans manipulating the shit out of genre in exceptionally creative ways. We will begin at the bottom of a deep, dark hole with Father Murphy, gradually climb [...] - 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Fashion, Sculpture & Installation
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...] - 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...] - 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Illustration, Painting & Drawing
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...]
Punk, Pop-Punk & Emo
I Am The Avalanche – Avalanche United Album Review- Title Fight Band Interview : Space For Memories
“A lot of the inspiration for the record came from us being on tour and us growing up the last couple of years on the road – [which is] pretty much in the most unconventional way possible.” – Ned Russin
- 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Collage
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...] - 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Deluxe Packaging
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...] - Top Songs From 2011 : Part One
A staff-compiled list of some of our favorite songs from the year 2011, in no particular order or with allegiance to any particular style.
- Albums Of The Year 2011 : REDEFINE Staff Picks
A spectrum of musical madness that represents our tastes from large to small, mainstream to obscure, spaced out to reasonable. There’s no way in bloody hell you’ll love every release on this list unless you have a million personalities living in your puny body, but chances are great that you’ll discover some excellence you never knew you loved.
Garage
Grooms – Prom Album Review (w/ Full Album Stream)- Extended Listen + Full Album Streams: EARTH - Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II, Royal Baths - Better Luck Next Life, Grimes - Visions
EARTH – Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II We loved EARTH’s last record, as well as its album cover artwork from Seattle artist Stacey Rozich. Their latest, Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light II comes out February 14th, 2012, on Southern Lord Records; it continues to build off the previous album’s improvisational energies with [...] - 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...] - Top Songs From 2011 : Part Two
A staff-compiled list of some of our favorite songs from the year 2011, in no particular order or with allegiance to any particular style.
- Albums Of The Year 2011 : REDEFINE Staff Picks
A spectrum of musical madness that represents our tastes from large to small, mainstream to obscure, spaced out to reasonable. There’s no way in bloody hell you’ll love every release on this list unless you have a million personalities living in your puny body, but chances are great that you’ll discover some excellence you never knew you loved.
- Royal Baths Sign To Kanine Records, "Darling Divine" MP3 For February 2012's Better Luck Next Life
Former San Franciscans Royal Baths moved to New York about half a year ago, and have since signed to Kanine Records. Their next record, Better Luck Next Life, is set to be released by Kanine Records on February 7, 2012. Here is the first single, “Darling Divine.” Listen to Royal Baths’ “Darling Divine” – DOWNLOAD [...]
Classical & Acoustic
Little Wings Interview : The Symbolism Behind Black Grass (w/ Full Album Stream & Lyrical Analysis)- Wymond Miles - Earth Has Doors EP Album Review
Guitarist and songwriter for The Fresh & Onlys, Wymond Miles, has just released his first solo effort on Sacred Bones, entitled Earth Has Doors. In just twenty minutes, the visually-evocative four-track EP seems to progressively journey through vast territories of earth and space. Side A, with the tracks “Hidden Things Are Asking You To Find [...] - Spectral Hypnosis : Orcas, CFCF, Jogging House MP3 Streams & Downloads
SPECTRAL HYPNOSIS A recurring series, featuring mesmerizing songs for one to lose sense of time and space, mind and body. Orcas – Orcas Two Pacific Northwest musicians — electronic-minded singer-songwriter Benoit Pioulard and minimal composer Rafael Anton Irisarri (of The Sight Below) — have gotten together for the aptly-named Orcas. Their upcoming self-titled album is [...] - 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Color Photography
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...] - 2011 Year-End Respect For Album Cover Art : Deluxe Packaging
Our third-annual album cover art feature uses interviews with artists and musicians to highlight the philosophical, thematic, and conceptual significance of great album cover artwork. THE BREAKDOWN 12 Collage + 14 Digital Illustration, Drawing, Design + 19 Illustration, Painting, Drawing + 8 Black And White Photography + 22 Color Photography + 6 Deluxe Packaging [...] - The Pine Hill Haints - Welcome To The Midnight Opry Album Review
Noting that this group comes from Alabama originally, expectations might stereotype that there would be a country or folk flavor to this record. Such tones are clearly there, be it in the use of the saw or the accordion as featured instruments or be it the title of the new album itself: Welcome To The [...]