George David’s “Chequers” is a Deliberate Story
There’s a fine line between being deliberate and being slow. You shouldn’t have to reach too far into your experience to know what I mean by “slow.” The DMV is slow; Monday mornings are slow; your 10th grade math class was slow. Slow things take more time than is their due: one might say they’re […]
The 5 Best Violins for Beginners
Want to skip the long read and get straight to the point? Here’s a list of my favorite picks for 2023’s beginner-friendly violins! I personally think that the sound of the violin is the most beautiful out of all other musical instruments. But it’s also just as challenging to play! And sadly, many aspiring players […]
Mae Deline’s “Black Hole” is a Galaxy-themed Masterpiece
It’s not hyperbole to say that Mae Deline’s new song “Black Hole” is a work of art. Musically, it has the pensive feel of French composer Erik Satie’s Gymnopédie #1 – and the poetic metaphors and intimate vocal are right up there with Brit legend Kate Bush at her best. Like many other artists, Deline […]
Colin Parker’s “With the Wind” & Embracing Peace
Colin Parker’s latest single, “With the Wind” makes me nostalgic. Some of the harmonies take me back to my youth, where I was First Aid Kit, Fleet Foxes-obsessed kid, discovering Bon Iver for the first time on La Blogotheque harmonizing in the foyer of a Paris apartment building. In fact: confession. My older sister has […]
“Oh, Shadowless” is Neko Case’s Loudest Lullaby
Neko Case’s voice comes from a world where birds are stronger than windows, and always get where they are going. Her first, unaccompanied words in “Oh, Shadowless” make the silence they break feel like something solid, a windshield with night behind it. “Oh” is the roundest of sounds – but when she sings it, it has […]
Ahn Heesu’s “Always With You” & the Power of Karaoke
South Korean singer-songwriter Ahn Heesu (안희수)’s new single “Always With You” is a soft pop rock ballad of hope for love lasting, and disbelief for having found it in the first place. At the start of the song, he confesses to feeling like he’s in a movie, wondering how love could be real in his […]
6 Best Electronic Drum Sets in 2023 (All Budgets)
Before we get into the specifics, here’s a list of my favorite electronic drum kits to buy in 2023. Since you’re reading this article, you’re probably ready to upgrade your drumming game to the next level. And since we’re living in the era of tech, why settle for a lame traditional kit with its inferior […]
Mark Quinn’s “Mrs. Daydream” is a Melodic Gem
Songwriter/artist Mark Quinn lives in Liverpool, but don’t expect him to get teary-eyed about The Beatles. Like many younger musicians, he isn’t as impressed with The Beatles as many Boomers are. Still, there must be some magic in the Mersey that enables artists to pen melodic, ultra-memorable songs. One spin of Quinn’s “Mrs. Daydream” and […]
Scott McMicken and THE EVER EXPANDING Say it’s Time to Begin with “What About Now”
If Scott McMicken’s name, voice, or preoccupation with long-distance transportation seem familiar, you probably recognize one or all of these things from his time in Dr. Dog. His new project, Scott McMicken and THE EVER EXPANDING, release their debut album, Shabang, this March 31st. Out ahead of its release is the first song off the […]
Death Cab For Cutie Ponder Movie Stars, Eternity, and Pop Perfection on “Here To Forever”
For more than twenty years Ben Gibbard has been honing the sound of Death Cab For Cutie, trying to distill what they do to a set of musical fragments that, when played together, make up a melodic whole. On “Here To Forever” he may just have mastered that technique. To my mind, modern Death Cab […]
