Flock of Dimes’ “It Just Goes On”
Last year, I wrote about Flock of Dimes’ electro-pop jaunt “Two,” which examined the strained desire of wanting companionship while prizing independence. It’s a tension...
S. Carey’s “Break Me Open”
It’s that interminable time of the year when these muted wintry days have gone on too long, the cold refusing to relax its grip. We...
Jesca Hoop’s “Pegasi”
I’ve seen singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop twice in concert, and both times she’s brought me to tears. Some sorcerous combination of her lyricism and voice—a dusky...
Tiny Ruins’ “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round”
New Zealand singer-songwriter Hollie Fullbrook, who performs under the name Tiny Ruins, writes deliciously hushed songs. If you pushed me to sketch a more synoptic...
Field Report’s “Michelle”
Don’t you love it when you go to see one band and end up finding another? That’s been my luck more than a few times,...
A Tale of Two Covers: “Lilac Wine”
The list of artists who have covered “Lilac Wine” is long—and ongoing—but there are two who stand apart: Nina Simone and Jeff Buckley. Their versions,...
Flock of Dimes’ “Two”
For anyone who has purposely cultivated their independence, especially in order to create in some way, shape or form, it can feel tenuous to want...
Weyes Blood’s “Andromeda”
I’ve hinted at, but haven’t talked enough about, timing in music. No, not rhythm. I mean the providence of finding a song (or a song...
Joy Kills Sorrow’s “Books”
Everything gets quieter at winter, stilling to a murmur. As obvious a statement as that sounds, I spent much of my young adulthood in the...
Dan Deacon’s “Become a Mountain”
I highly recommend listening to Dan Deacon‘s ebullient song “Become a Mountain” while driving up an actual mountain. If you don’t have one nearby to...