Jesca Hoop: The House That Jack Built Review

Cali singer-songwriter, Jesca Hoop returns with her third album of wonderfully twisted indie pop gems.

Of Monsters And Men: My Head Is An Animal Review

If the Icelandic band got your attention with the sparkling horn-happy "Little Talks" they have a treat in store for you on their great debut album.

Races: Year Of The Witch Review

Southern California indie rock sextet, Races offer a delightfully groggy, dreamlike sound on their debut album.

A Lull: Meat Mountain EP Review

The latest offering from Chicago's A Lull will leave you hungry for more than just the steak on its cover.

Now Here This - Lollapalooza Day 3

As diverse as the Lollapalooza line-up is this year, they manage to pile up the Icelandic bands and bluegrass bands on the same day. Wondering what to do? We’ve got your back. Behold, our recommendation for how to spend your Sunday at Lollapalooza.

Now Here This - Lollapalooza Day 3

As diverse as the Lollapalooza line-up is this year, they manage to pile up the Icelandic bands and bluegrass bands on the same day. Wondering what to do? We’ve got your back. Behold, our recommendation for how to spend your Sunday at Lollapalooza.

Now Here This - Lollapalooza Day 2

Saturday serves as the meat in your Lollapalooza weekend sandwich, boasting an impressive line-up of bands to catch. Here are our recommendations for how to tackle it and end up happy.

Now Here This - Lollapalooza Day 2

Saturday serves as the meat in your Lollapalooza weekend sandwich, boasting an impressive line-up of bands to catch. Here are our recommendations for how to tackle it and end up happy.

Now Here This - Lollapalooza Day 1

Looking through the Lollapalooza schedule can be a daunting task. How do you handle the festival without missing out on the best sets each day? Don't worry, we have your back. Follow our daily schedule guide and we promise you will leave Grant Park satisfied at the end of each night.

Now Here This - Lollapalooza Day 1

Looking through the Lollapalooza schedule can be a daunting task. How do you handle the festival without missing out on the best sets each day? Don't worry, we have your back. Follow our daily schedule guide and we promise you will leave Grant Park satisfied at the end of each night.

Commercials Rock - Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE - 'Evo Live'

It might take a moment to realize what song Sprint is using in their latest spot, but odds are you already love it.

The Walkmen: Heaven Review

Veteran indie rock outfit, The Walkmen follow up 2010's gorgeously serene Lisbon with the appropriately titled Heaven.

Zulu Winter: Language Review

The debut album from London's Zulu Winter pits their obvious affinity for new wave against their love of shaggy indie rock.

Now Here This - Week of July 30, 2012

As Lollapalooza lands in Grant Park this weekend, there are a boatload of great concert options before the festival takes over the city. Unfortunately, most of the pre and post Lolla shows are sold out, much like the festival itself, so we are going to skip right over those to avoid cluttering up the calendar.

Gold Motel: Gold Motel Review

Chicago quintet, Gold Motel return with another batch of their retro flavored rock on their self-titled sophomore album.

Commercials Rock - T-Mobile - 'Rooftop'

A rooftop concert seems like a cool setting. T-Mobile's latest commercial makes it seem even cooler thanks to the indie pop powerhouse playing the show.

Chris Price: Homesick Review

Vintage recording processes and an iPhone would seem to be polar opposites, but Chris Price pulls the two worlds together on his solo debut.

Missy Higgins: The Ol' Razzle Dazzle Review

Australian singer-songwriter, Missy Higgins finally returns with her third album five years after, her excellent sophomore release, On A Clear Night.

Cosmo Jarvis: Think Bigger Review

UK singer-songwriter, Cosmo Jarvis returns with his third album of uniquely twisted acoustic rock tunes.

Angus Stone: Broken Brights Review

The brother half of, excellent folk duo, Angus & Julia Stone follows his sister's sophomore solo offering with his own debut.

Now Here This - Week of July 16, 2012

The Chicago summer concert schedule is not letting up any more than the heat.

Everest: Onwerless Review

Everest spice up their brand of blues affected rock n roll with a dash of psychedelic classic rock on their third album.

Right Away Great Captain At Subterranean Review

Packed, sweaty clubs in the middle of a sticky Chicago summer and quiet folk are natural enemies, typically adding up to restless, chatty crowds with short attention spans. The crowd could not have been more opposite Wednesday night in the tiny upstairs stage of Subterranean.

Elle King: The Elle King EP Review

Elle King's raspy, blues-kissed vocals sound like what Adelle might in the wake of an all-night bender. The worn quality in her voice works to her credit, as the raw emotion haunting her more-than-capable pipes makes her infinitely more interesting.

Communist Daughter: Lions & Lambs EP Review

Lots of bands cull lost love and past mistakes into songs, but few do it with the grace and beauty displayed on Communist Daughter's latest EP.

Andrew Bird And Wilco At Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Review

Wrigley Field is not the only ballpark in the Chicago-area holding killer concerts this summer. Music fans might have to head out to Kane County a bit more often for great outdoor concerts in the coming years. If Sunday night was any indication, you might not mind.

Now Here This - Week of July 9, 2012

We would recommend easing yourself back to work this week, but the concert calendar is relentless in its rockness this week.

Top 25 American Songs

With Independance Day upon us, we wanted to take the time to salute America in song.  While we could have eailsy dove into the world of sappy country and found a boatload of overly sentimental patriotic slush, or dipped into the world of punk for biting anti-American sentiment, we chose to hold our criteria to simply being a great song and having some form of 'America' in the title.  What we came up with was a list so tight that not even James Brown's "Living In America" sould shimmy its way in.  We're shocked too.

Now Here This - Week of July 2, 2012

If you tire of blowing stuff up and roasting meat over an open flame, the city has plenty of sonic excitement in store this week.

With the year half over, we thought it was time to reflect back on some of the excellent releases of the year. Behold, our alphabetical list of the twenty-five best albums released so far in 2012.

Admiral Fallow: Tree Bursts In Snow Review

We are suckers for Scottish indie rock, so getting our hands on the sophomore album from Admiral Fallow was a must.

Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser... Review

 

While you may want a new Fiona Apple album more frequently than she delivers it, there is a sense on her fourth studio album that neither you nor her could handle it if she did.

Mindy Smith: Mindy Smith Review

Folk-leaning singer-songwriter, Mindy Smith strikes out on her own for her fifth studio album, ditching Vanguard Records in favor of self-releasing her latest.

Now Here This - Week of June 25, 2012

As you ramp towards fireworks, drinks, and barbecues, the city offers a wealth of great live music to pick from this week.

Walk The Moon: Walk The Moon Review

The major label debut from, Cincinnati indie rock sensations, Walk The Moon arrives as the danceable cure for your summertime blues.

Margot & The Nuclear So And Sos: Rot Gut Domestic Review

Indianapolis indie rockers Margot & The Nuclear So And Sos' fourth studio album is a gruff, dense listen that balances their excellent songwriting chops against their desire to crank up the distortion for a heavier sound.

Yawn: Happy Tears EP Review

Chicago's Yawn proves anything but boredom-inducing on their latest five-track EP.

Atlas Genius: Through The Glass EP Review

Australian indie rock sensations, Atlas Genius burst onto the scene earlier this year with "Trojans".

The Mynabirds: Generals Review

When The Mynabirds' sophomore album thumps to a start, with the distant organ and heavy beat over a moody vocal from Laura Burhenn for "Karma Debt", you may be wondering where all the country soul of the first album went.

Hortlax Cobra: Night Shift Review

You have to expect dazzling beats from an album by Peter, Bjorn And John drummer John Ericksson, and he happily obliges with a set of playful, beat-driven indie pop.

The Dirty Heads: Cabin By The Sea Review

Book-ened with tracks announcing your arrival and departure from the titular 'Cabin By The Sea', SoCal reggae outfit, The Dirty Heads attempt to take you on a sonic vacation on their sophomore album.

Glen Hansard: Rhythm And Repose Review

The Frames and The Swell Season front man, Glen Hansard offers a stripped-down sound on his debut solo outing.

Now Here This - Week of June 18, 2012

The good news is that there are a ton of great shows this week. The bad news is that the majority of them are sold out.

Stepdad: Wildlife Pop Review

Candied synth and boatload of gooey, summer-ready hooks is how, Chicago indie pop outfit, Stepdad roll on their fantastic debut album.

The Hundred In The Hands: Red Night Review

New York duo, The Hundred In The Hands kicks a little more dirt on their shadowy after-hours electro-pop for their sophomore album.

Top 25 'Father' Songs

With Father's Day fast approaching, we decided to dig into the vaults to uncover the finest 'dad' songs around. Much like our 'Mother' list, the list is not based on sentimentality. Rather, the criteria for hitting the list is simply that it the title has some form of the word 'dad' in the title, and be a great song. We dug through everything from 3rd Bass' "Pop Goes The Weasel" to more classic country than we care to mention, but we boiled it down to this tight set of twenty-five gems.

Motion City Soundtrack: Go Review

Minneapolis pop-punk outfit, Motion City Soundtrack return to the indie label circuit following their damn-fine major label debut, My Dinosaur Life.

Right Away, Great Captain!: The Church Of The Good Thief Review

We beg Manchester Orhcestra's Andy Hull, please stop releasing albums with such regularity. It seems every time a Hull production hits our iPod, it ruins our ability to listen to anything else for weeks on end.

Metric: Synthetica Review

Emily Haines and crew offer a more serene, synth-drenched sound on their fifth studio album. 

Wintersleep: Hello Hum Review

The fifth album from, Canadian indie rockers, Wintersleep is a dazzling set of stadium-ready guitar-fueled rock.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: Here Review

After breaking through with the ever-present "Home" landing on more commercials than we thought humanly possible, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros return with their follow-up.

Now Here This - Week of June 11, 2012

Another week, another excellent batch of live shows in Chicago.  With most of next week's offerings sold out, we recommend jumping on your tickets to these shows early - and taking a peek at our list of upcoming shows we think will sell out at the bottom. 

Pomegranates: Heaven Review

Cincinnati indie pop quartet, Pomegranates return two years after, their excellent 2010 offering, One Of Us.

Kelli Scarr: Dangling Teeth Review

California singer-songwriter, Kelli Scarr's sophomore album is an elegant piece of country-leaning folk, ripe with whispery cool vocals and lightly speckled backing that lulls into a false sense of calm.

Freebie Friday - June 8, 2012

For our inaugural Freebie Friday sampling of free tracks, we dive in with a handful of excellent music to get you through the weekend. 

Top 25 Vampire Songs

With the return of, HBO's amazing guilty pleasure, True Blood on Sunday, we decided to dip into the vaults to find the best songs with vampire-related words in the title. While some of the songs are about the bloodsuckers, it was not part of the criteria. It took quite a bit of time to dig through all the blood, vampire, and bite named tunes, but we think the results were worth the trouble. What we came up with was a list of tracks so strong that even Arcade Fire's "Vampire/Forest Fire", Pearl Jam's "Blood", and seemingly shoe-in Rick James' "Cold Blooded" did not make the cut.

River City Extension: Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Your Anger Review

New Jersey's River City Extension trade the seaward folk stylings of their fantastic debut album for a more grounded sound on their sophomore album.

Crocodiles: Endless Flowers Review

San Diego's Crocodiles serve up a third helping of their hazy indie pop cool on Endless Flowers.

Scott Lucas & The Married Men: Blood Half Moon Review

Local H front man, Scott Lucas returns with the sophomore album from his side project.

The Temper Trap: The Temper Trap Review

Australian indie rock quintet, The Temper Trap return a couple of years after grabbing your attention with thier lush "Sweet Disposition" in the trailer for 500 Days Of Summer.

Now Here This - Week of June 4, 2012

Shake off the blues of another five-day work week with some excellent live music. Nearly every day this week offers a great show or two to head out to; except Tuesday. Who likes Tuesdays anyways?

Cadence Weapon: Hope In Dirt City Review

Fans of genre-twisting hip-hop artists like Kid Cudi and Childish Gambino will find, Edmonton rapper, Cadence Weapon's third album right up their alley, while those who frequently dismiss hip-hop out of hand may find it changing their perception of the genre.

Kinch: The Incandeza Review

Phoenix quartet, Kinch are one of those bands where it only takes one song to become a huge fan.

Great albums too often come and go without ever reaching their audience. With that sad fact in mind, we wanted to take a look back at some of our favorite albums you may have missed over the last decade. We held the list to anything at least a year old, and to those bands and artists still playing the smaller venues in the city. We are not quite arrogant enough to say that we have heard everything released in the last decade, so we will do without the 'Most' or 'Best' qualifier, but we do consider these twenty-five offerings some of our favorite albums released in the last decade.

Julia Stone: By The Horns Review

The female half of brother-and-sister duo Angus & Julia Stone returns with her second solo offering.

Big Science: Difficulty Review

Genre-bending indie rock outfit, Big Science announce themselves as a force to be reckoned with on their wonderful debut album.

Ease back into the work week with some excellent weekday shows, including a local band on the verge of breaking out, before getting slammed with more worthwhile shows than should be legally allowed this weekend.

JBM: Stray Ashes Review

Montreal's JBM makes a strong bid to become your new favorite singer-songwriter on his stunning sophomore album.

Young Man: Vol. 1 Review

The second in Colin Caulfield's planned trilogy of albums is a vast improvement over 2011's Ideas Of Distance.

The Cult: Choice Of Weapon Review

Longtime UK post-punk quartet, The Cult pull in Bob Rock (Metallica, The Offspring) and Chris Goss (Queens Of The Stone Age, The Duke Spirit) to handle production duties on their ninth studio album.

Archie Powell & The Exports: Great Ideas In Action Review

The garage punk of Chicago's Archie Powell & The Exports explodes out of the speakers with shaggy riffs, infectious hooks, and smart songwriting on their excellent sophomore album.

Garbage: Not Your Kind Of People Review

With the reemergence of dance music, it seems fitting that the return of Garbage's electro-dipped rock would follow closely.

Kimbra: Vows Review

The female half of Gotye's mega-hit "Somebody That I Used To Know", New Zealand pop star, Kimbra finally lands stateside with her debut album.

Porcelain Raft: Strange Weekend Review

Living somewhere in the hazy cool between cheery indie pop and mellow shoegazer rock

Now Here This - Week of May 21, 2012

Start your holiday weekend off on Wednesday with the first of two back-to-back excellent shows this week. We did not find much in the way of worthwhile shows this weekend, so use that time to recover from the PS I Love You and Dry The River goodness, and rest up for next week.

Thirteen Picks - Lucky Boys Confusion

With the sad news of guitarist Joe Sell's passing this week, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate his life as a musician and share what we consider to be Lucky Boys Confusion's finest musical moments.

Sarah Jaffe: The Body Wins Review

When an artist makes as large a sonic shift as Texas singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe does from debut to sophomore album there is a fear that it will backfire as a massive misstep. Jaffe faces no such issue on her excellent, electro-kissed second album.