When Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein announced plans for an IFC sketch comedy show called Portlandia way back in 2010, the idea seemed slightly far-fetched. The two had already been baking online shorts as ThunderAnt for a few years, but Brownstein was still primarily a musician, even though Sleater-Kinney were on hiatus at the time. Also, could Portland culture and …

New York’s Starcleaner Reunion have been on our radar for a couple years now. In 2024, we named them one of the year’s Best New Artists and dubbed their sophomore EP Cafe Life as one of our favorite EPs. Last month they returned with new music via the single “Weather Instrument.” Today, they’re back with another single “Never Odd Or …

Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien released his second solo album, Blue Morpho, back in May. Today he’s sharing a song from those sessions that didn’t make it onto the tracklist. The engaging instrumental “Abbeycwmhir,” previously available only as the B-side on the “Blue Morpho” 7″ single, translates to “Abbey in the Long Valley.” It’s named after a village in the valley …

When the Southern California band Initiate plays down-the-middle hardcore, they’re absolutely exemplary at it. Their riffs bring bounce and energy, and frontwoman Crystal Pak has an absolutely elemental scream. But Initiate haven’t really made down-the-middle hardcore since the release of their incredibly sick 2020 EP Lavender. Instead, Initiate inject their style with soaring melodies and unexpected instrumental touches, and their …

Big Thief’s Buck Meek has a new band. Earlier this year, Meek released his solo album The Mirror, and it included contributions from people like solo artist and former Here We Go Magic frontman Luke Temple, singer-songwriter Germaine Dunes, ambient composer Jesse Quebbeman-Turley, and guitarist Adam Brisbin. Since last year, Meek has also been in a band called Kisser with …

The Rolling Stones will release their new album Foreign Tongues this Friday. I wrote a bit about it here. One track I didn’t mention is “Ringing Hollow,” the latest (and last?) song to get a pre-release preview treatment — not under an alias or with a star–studded video, but via an old-fashioned stripped-down performance. The post Mick Jagger & Ronnie …

Twin Temple, the LA-based duo of married couple Alexandra and Zachary James, have carved out an interesting niche for themselves. They make old-timey doo-wop and early-’60s pop pastiche that’s full of campy Satanic imagery; hits include “Lucifer, My Love,” “Sex Magick,” and “Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy.” Apparently, not everyone appreciates this whole gimmick. The duo were booked to play …

Last month Sam and Louise Sullivan charmed us with their addictive Love & Devotion lead single “Down On Love.” The nostalgic folk-rock duo is doing it again today with the release of the easily enjoyable, ’60s-inflected title track. The post Sam And Louise Sullivan – “Love & Devotion” appeared first on Stereogum.

Bonnie Tyler, one of rock ‘n’ roll history’s all-time great maximalist wailers, has passed away. The New York Times reports that Tyler, best known for hits like “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” and “Holding Out For A Hero,” died on Wednesday at a hospital in Portugal, where she lived and where she recently went through emergency intestinal surgery. She remained …

The Trump administration has confirmed it is not moving forward with the long-planned effort to place abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the U.S. $20 bill. According to Spectrum News, Treasury Secretary… The post Trump Administration Halts Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Plan appeared first on .