Cigarette, D.C.’s Chillest Band, Dissects A Kiss On A New Song
Jonathan Howard describes “Window You” — a new song from his band Cigarette — as the “psychological and chemical workings…
Category: Sounds
First Listen: Son Lux, ‘Bones’
Thanks in part to Ryan Lott’s expanding roster of collaborators, Bones is the sound of restless, forward-thinking musicians as they search for something new.
First Listen: Leon Bridges, ‘Coming Home’
A young singer who works in the mode of classic soul, Leon Bridges’ songs are made with deep respect and bottomless affection, and his studied appropriations are so detailed that they come alive.
Premiere: Les Rhinocéros’ Heavy Take On Gnawa Music
If you find yourself in a trance after listening to Les Rhinocéros’ third album, well, that’s kind of what the…
Finally: A Tribute To Skywave, The Shoegaze Band Virginia Ignored
Northern Virginia wasn’t ready for Skywave. At least not from 1995 to 2003, when the noisy shoegaze trio was active…
This New Compilation Wants To Soundtrack Your D.C. Summer
The 10 songs on District Summer, a new compilation of D.C. electronic music, are all tagged “Rooftop Vibes” on Soundcloud….
As D.C.’s Only Malian Griot, Cheick Hamala Diabate Can Get Lonely
Cheick Hamala Diabate is a griot — a storyteller, poet, community historian, counselor and player of the n’goni, a stringed…
Daniel Bachman Wants You To Hear This Traditional Virginia Music
Guitarist Daniel Bachman comes from Fredericksburg, Virginia, a town known for its Civil War history and its biggest college, the…
First Listen: Sarah Cracknell, ‘Red Kite’
Saint Etienne’s urbane singer goes to the country on her first solo album since 1997. Based in quirky orchestration and folk-flecked acoustic instruments, it’s unerringly melodic throughout.
First Listen: Alpine, ‘Yuck’
On the Australian band’s charming second album, a sweetly blithe sound can’t quite mask the doubt and hesitation at the heart of the songs.
First Listen: Richard Thompson, ‘Still’
When the great guitarist takes a solo, it’s a swerving, cathartic, edge-of-the-seat experience. When he doesn’t, the bliss persists, but in highly concentrated doses.
First Listen: Walk Off The Earth, ‘Sing It All Away’
The Canadian pop band’s second album is an impeccable distillation of pop music in 2015: big and bright and cheerful, and expanded rather than confined by everything that came before it.
First Listen: High On Fire, ‘Luminiferous’
Now 17 years and seven albums into its existence, Luminiferous reaffirms High On Fire’s consistent mastery of heavy metal.
First Listen: Heartless Bastards, ‘Restless Ones’
The roots-rock band’s fifth album doesn’t deviate wildly from Heartless Bastards’ wheelhouse, but it does give Erika Wennerstrom and company more room to roam.
Brian Wilson On World Cafe
It’s not hard for the legendary musician and songwriter to pick his favorite Beach Boys song.
Microphone Check Live: Organized Noize
We went to Atlanta to talk to the three-man production team behind some of the greatest songs ever: Ray Murray, Rico Wade and Sleepy Brown.
First Listen: The Deslondes, ‘The Deslondes’
Singer-songwriters Sam Doores and Riley Downing teamed up for a country album inspired by both Woody Guthrie and the Big Easy’s live music scene.
First Listen: FFS, ‘FFS’
U.K. dance-rockers Franz Ferdinand team up with power-pop brainiacs Sparks for an album more than 10 years in the making.
When Nora Jane Struthers’ Identity Was Stolen, She Created A New One
The former English teacher may never have become a singer-songwriter if her identity hadn’t been taken. “I was just ready for a brand new start,” she says. And soon she was on the road to Nashville.
Listen: WAMU’s Metro Connection Covers D.C. Music
WAMU’s Friday/Saturday newsmagazine Metro Connection recently dedicated an hour to D.C. music culture. On last Friday’s show, host Rebecca Sheir…