Top Story

FYF Fest Announces 2013 Lineup Featuring My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio and More

May 13th, 2013 By Raymond Flotat

As we’ve come to expect in recent years, LA’s FYF Fest has announced it’s 2013 lineup and it’s a doozy. This year’s installment features a slew of modern alternative and indie rock from today and yesteryear. Headlining on night one are Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio and Flag (the supergroup of ex-Black Flag members Chuck Dukowski, Keith Morris and Bill Stevenson performing Black Flag songs). Night two features the first U.S. performance of My Bloody Valentine since their slot at Coachella 2009. Joining them at the top of the bill are MGMT (who have been strangely quiet lately), Beach House, Solange, Yo La Tengo and mxdwn favorites, The Melvins.

Read more…

Connect With Us Reviews

Small Black – Limits of Desire

May 20th, 2013 By Terence Calacsan

umojacketv1

Glo-Fidelity

With indie music bloggers living by the semi-ironic phrase “chillwave is dead” or “glo-fi is dead,” the genre has only given birth to more ambient, over-reverberated pop. The resurgence of shoegaze and dream pop has also revived those interested in textural, ethereal music. Limits of Desire is Small Black’s contribution to a genre still headed by the likes of Toro Y Moi and Washed Out. Let’s be glad they’re brave enough to do so.
Read more…

Eluvium – Nightmare Ending

May 19th, 2013 By Sean Taras

Eluvium-Nightmare-Ending

Daydream Beginning

Eluvium: Noun.
1. Residual deposits of soil, dust and rock particles produced by the action of the wind.
2. One stage name of Matthew Cooper, experimental electronic musician.

Nightmare Ending is Cooper’s most recent album, a meandering collection of thickly atmospheric pieces that are as naturalistic as the artist’s pseudonym implies. Here, Eluvium composes the score of his own unknowable film. This soothing, meditative record combines several genres into one constantly evolving whole, gently brushing elements of shoe-gaze, classical romanticism and ambient music over a quiet landscape.
Read more…

Saltland – I Thought It Was Us But It Was All Of Us

May 19th, 2013 By Stephan Hayes

saltland-i-thought-it-was-us-but-it-was-all-of-us

Montreal’s Rebecca Foon Sees in Sound

Montreal cellist and local band contemporary Rebecca Foon, performing under the moniker Saltland, rises above obscure and nebulous song titles and band names to deliver a moving symphony of strings and voices. Newly released on Constellation, this solo debut from the ex-Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la Band member, titled I Thought It Was Us But It Was All Of Us, is a moody art-film soundtrack waiting to happen. In fact, Foon has several soundtrack credits to her name.
Read more…

Steve Von Till – As The Crow Flies (Reissue)

May 19th, 2013 By Edan Cohen

Steve-Von-Till-As-The-Crow-Flies

Music for Very Long, Pointy Goatees

Steve Von Till was introduced to the music world in 1989 as the singer and guitar player for a metal band called Neurosis. In 2000, he released As The Crow Flies, a stripped-down, acoustic record that is, for all intents and purposes, a metal record, albeit one with hushed vocals and 99% of the exhilaration (and backing tracks) removed. Amazingly, this is a reissue. There was a time when reissues were for important records or for badly-mastered older records.  Perhaps times have changed.
Read more…

Eve – Lip Lock

Okta Logue – Transit EP

The Dillinger Escape Plan – One of Us is the Killer

Delta Spirit, Live at the Playboy Mansion

Standish/Carlyon – Deleted Scenes

News

R.I.P. Ray Manzarek of The Doors

May 20th, 2013 By Isabelle Champagne

Founding member of The Doors, Ray Manzarek, passed away on Monday at age 74. After a long battle with cancer, he leaves behind a legacy and permanent imprint on music history.
Read more…

mxdwn EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: HOTT MT Streams New Album I Made This

May 20th, 2013 By Matt Atkin

Not much is known about Hour Of The Time Majesty 12, or HOTT MT for short. What we do know, is that their new album I Made This is worth a listen or seven. The album doesn’t drop officially until tomorrow, but that didn’t stop us here at mxdwn from securing an exclusive stream of the entire new album in full, available for your listening pleasure right now! Stream the full album now, inside. Read more…

Linkin Park Announced As Headliners for Sunset Strip Music Festival 2013

May 20th, 2013 By Isabelle Champagne

Sunset Strip Music Festival has announced LINKIN PARK as headliners for their sixth annual festival. A portion of ticket sales will go to benefit Music For Relief.
Read more…

WATCH: Kanye West Performs Two New Songs “Black Skinhead” and “New Slaves” on SNL

May 19th, 2013 By Isabelle Champagne

Saturday Night Live’s season finale was highlighted by Kanye West’s first public performance for his upcoming album Yeezus. The SNL appearance follows a surprise New York City performance on Wednesday and the innovative release of “New Slaves” worldwide on Friday Night.
Read more…

New Music Alert: Rabbit Rabbit Announces Debut Album Rabbit Rabbit Radio, Volume 1 Set for August 2013 Release

Matt And Kim Announce Summer 2013 Tour Dates

Google Launches Music-Streaming Radio Google Play Music All Access

Ty Segall Teases New Album Sleeper Set for August 2013 Release

Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta Announces New Band Zavalaz

LISTEN: Sims Releases New Track “This Is The Place” Featuring Astronautalis

LISTEN: Zola Jesus Streams Live Band Version of “Trust Me”

Kanye West Reveals Album Details via Projections Around the World

Anamanaguchi Announce Summer 2013 Tour Dates Following Successful Kickstarter Campaign

WATCH: Queens of the Stone Age Release Video for Song “My God Is The Sun”

On The Scene In...

This Week: Queens of the Stone Age @ Wiltern 5/23 - Los Angeles

Eleanor Friedberger at Empty Bottle, 6/7 - Chicago

This Week in Chicago (May 20-26) - Chicago

CCS @ Union Transfer 7/02 - Philadelphia

HARD Events Presents Flying Lotus with Thundercat & Teebs @ HOB Sunset Strip 6/1 - Los Angeles

Check Yo Ponytail 2 w/ Tilly and the Wall, Rainbow Arabia @ Echoplex 6/20 - Los Angeles

Local Natives @ The Electric Factory 9/28 - Philadelphia

Tricky @ Stubbs 06/22 - Austin

Editorials

13 Things to Remember for Coachella 2013

February 11th, 2013 By Brett Padelford

Now that the lineup is out for Coachella, it’s time to start getting excited for dusty lungs, burned necks and rubbing up on salty, sweaty strangers. That’s right, Coachella 2013 is nigh.

Whether or not you remember last year (for whatever reason, no judgment) or are planning your first trip out, here are 13 things I learned last year so you’ll be prepared for the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Read more…