The summer of 2009, or the summer of “chillwave” as it were, was a fun, nostalgic trip for indie rock. Debuts from Neon Indian, Washed Out, and Toro Y Moi were the soundtrack to beach trip car rides and backyard parties across the country. Replete with hazy, drug-induced synths, slow-mo dance beats and submerged vocals, the chillwave sound dipped into [...]

Pessimism is an underrated state of mind. Some of the best art comes from a dark place, a distinction not lost on Paul Banks. The Interpol frontman’s deep baritone has become a symbol for the sort of 21st century cynicism the band soundtracked on their 2002 debut Turn On The Bright Lights. It’s been a decade since that seminal album [...]

Mount Kimbie came through Los Angeles a few nights ago on the last leg of their U.S. tour to noodle their instruments at the Icon Ultra Lounge. Right next to the Staples Center downtown, this place had the palpable feeling that, on the previous night, a thousand Lakers fans clutched their third Miller Lite and gyrated around to LMFAO. Still, [...]

[dmalbum path="/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/Sonar - Fox Theater Oakland/"/] What do you get when you take Barcelona’s most progressive festival, wrap up all of it’s acclaimed eccentricity into a roaming tour, and put it on the road in the US? Sónar Festival, more specifically – last Friday at the Fox Theater in Oakland. Boasting a unique lineup of Die Antwoord, Azari & III, Seth Troxler, Paul Kalkbrenner, [...]

Now when it comes down to it, not many artists in the game today have as refined or distinct of a flow as Roc Marciano.  After bouncing around on the rap scene for over a decade between Busta Rhymes’ Flipmode Squad, The UN, and pursuing his solo career, Roc finally made his solo splash in 2010, dropping his critically-acclaimed Marcberg [...]