Keeping in mind classic folk sounds of the '60s and '70s while marching straight into the future, Nashville's John Salaway impresses on "The Beauty That Surrounds Us" from Americana Dreams.
Norwegian-American Signe Marie Rustad gazes into the lights of Oslo and finds hope after a long streak of writer's block. The result: "In a Thousand Lights", premiered with this interview.
Austin trio Nobody's Girl gives a freewheeling, late night holiday party atmosphere to the holiday classic, "Merry Christmas, Baby".
Washington DC's Broke Royals return with another hook-laden slice of arena-ready pop, "Saint Luxury". "So often, the people promising answers are just trying to sell you something or make a power grab."
Italian gothic metal outfit, Lacuna Coil return with their ninth and heaviest album to date. Co-lead vocalist Cristina Scabbia reflects on the album's inspirations: "This record is basically us saying that it is OK not to be OK."
The first-ever collection of holiday tunes from Josh Rouse is as cool as you might expect. And you don't need to put up a tree to listen to it. "Not every song on my record is about Santa Claus. You can listen to it in spring and still enjoy it."
Co-founder of the Whigs, Parker Gispert recreates the Sinatra classic "That's Life" following his pastoral, folk-cum-American Primitive masterpiece, Sunlight Tonight. "I wanted to have a tune that would extend a welcoming hand to different generations."
Los Angeles folk rock trio, the Dales deliver the majestic single, "Easy Times". Band co-founder Drew Lawrence says, "I decided to turn it all off and focus on the good things, the ones around me that I love."
Mellotron Variations create mind-bending but deeply melodic music on "Went Home to Meet Konrad". The project features Pat Sansone (Wilco), John Medeski, Robby Grant (Vending Machine), and Jonathan Kirkscey (Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Blueshift Ensemble).
Lee Hazlewood guru Hunter Lea talks about the latest in a long line of archival releases from the influential artist as well as how members of the grunge and avant-garde rock communities helped save one of American music's most singular voices from complete obscurity.
Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes serve up a hook-laden, danceable dose of electronic pop that is joyful and direct on "Out Alive".
Twenty years into their career, instrumentally-driven trio Dysrhythmia still find new ways to surprise and astound listeners. Virtuosity isn't the only thing that matters here but it sure gives us a lot of marvel at on Terminal Threshold.
Love songs don't have to be sad or overly sentimental. Sometimes they can make their case and be clear-eyed about it as pop-punk's Donaher prove on "Before Anyone Else".
Combining the sounds of prairie country and heartland rock, Moody Little Sister tease their upcoming album with "711 Lucky Street".
Your favorite sound collage maestros Negativland return with a meditation on greed that could have been written in the 1980s or the 1790s.
Chicago's Heazza proves deeply listenable on her six-song debut EP that alternately tears at the heart and heals it.
© 1999-2018 Popmatters.com. All rights reserved.
Popmatters is wholly independently owned and operated.
