Artists Archive
Vampire Weekend’s Afro-Pop Influence
January 5, 2014
As their eponymous debut shot up the indie charts upon release in 2008, Vampire Weekend became the mainstream face of indie-pop. Understandably, most music fans are not keenly aware of current and fading stylistic trends in independent music. Most have no clue about the likes of chillwave, jangle-pop revivalism, or the plethora of other movements
Widespread Panic’s Variety of Influences
January 4, 2014
Widespread Panic released their first album in 1988, several decades after the first jam bands rose to prominence. Their approach was initially labeled by critics as simply more of the same jam-band fare, despite delivering a melodic punch of Southern-rock with hints of jazz, blues, and even Celtic folk. Widespread Panic were not The Grateful
Why The Who’s ‘Tommy’ Was Such an Influential Release
January 3, 2014
Rock operas are a very daunting undertaking, rampant with historical failures and bloated reputations that make their creation somewhat of a rare occurrence. However, those actually daring enough to write a rock opera often look to The Who’s Tommy for inspiration. It’s the consummate rock opera, filled with a touching plot that incorporates music in
They Might Be Giants: A Template for Rising Indie-Rock Groups
January 3, 2014
Indie-rock mainstays They Might Be Giants released their 16th studio album, Nanobots, last year. It continues the group’s trend of short songs – often under three minutes – that pack an impressive mixture of experimentation and infectious hooks. The band’s scope of experimentalism has altered slightly throughout their 30+ year career, from early shows featuring
Iron Maiden Uses Illegal Downloads to Map Out Tour Schedule
December 30, 2013
Reports suggest that Iron Maiden planned their South American shows using MusicMetric’s analysis of illegal downloads in the area in an attempt to transform non-paying fans into paying ones. As Musicmetric’s CEO put it, “If you know what drives engagement you can maximize the value of your fan base. Artists could say, ‘We’re getting pirated
How Supernatural Introduced Santana To An Entirely New Generation
December 22, 2013
Carlos Santana’s place in Latin rock folklore had already been cemented. Arguably one of the most talented guitarists of his generation, the Mexican and his ever-changing backing band was widely hailed as the standout performer at Woodstock, was a constant fixture on the 70s music scene and even managed to sneak in a few hits
How Child Porn Charges Affected R. Kelly’s Career
December 21, 2013
“Bump N Grind,” “Sex Me,” “Half On A Baby” – Robert Sylvester Kelly had built his entire 90s career on presenting himself as the kind of smooth lothario who could send women into a frenzy with just a single raunchy chat-up line. However, his loverman routine attracted headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2002
Mana and the Rise of Visual Kei
December 20, 2013
The style of visual kei remains unknown to many western audiences, whose concept of ‘weird’ may not be enough to fully grasp the movement’s appeal. Artistic in nature, its participators are marked by elaborate costumes and make-up, often of an androgynous appearance. Some insist visual kei is strictly a fashion term, but those aware of
Def Leppard Mount Second Las Vegas Run in 2014 for ‘Pyromania’
December 19, 2013
Def Leppard have revealed that a second Las Vegas residency may be in the works for 2014, and it doesn’t stop there; apparently, the band are also working on an album of brand spanking new material. Def Leppard fans: if you were waiting for the right time to do it, yes, it’s now officially time
Tracing Leonard Cohen’s Relationship History Through Song
December 17, 2013
Few artists have written songs as fiercely personal as Leonard Cohen, the legendary folk artist whose discography includes stunning lyrical themes that touch on love, depression, and political tyranny. Considering that Cohen has been releasing music for about 46 years, most of his life has been chronicled by songs that range in clarity from subtle
