Category: music Page 22 of 183

On 07/13/2019

In chicago, live music, music, photos, show review

As summer in Chicago (finally) starts to fully kick in, the Vans House Parties are just getting warmed up. The last couple of months have seen shows curated by everyone from Vince Staples to The Breeders to Julien Baker, with more on the way from Taking Back Sunday, Anderson .Paak, The Rapture, and Converge. Yeah, it’s a pretty stacked lineup. It all happens at the House of Vans Chicago location in the West Loop, and every show is 100% FREE based on capacity and advance RSVP.

Thursday night’s House of Vans show was headlined and curated by alt-R&B artist BANKS, who also happened to be celebrating the release of her new album |||. It marked her first proper show in close to two years, and she used that gap to recharge, write/record new songs, and compose a book of poetry with illustrations (that’s titled Generations of Women from the Moon and will be out soon). Some of her poetry and artwork was on display as part of a special installation at the venue, which was a nice addition (and complement) to the music itself.

Pick Your Poison: Thursday 7-11-19

On 07/11/2019

There’s plenty to love in today’s edition of Pick Your Poison, but let’s get started with something new from an old favorite, Of Monsters and Men. They’ve got a new record on the way, and you can get a preview of it with the track below. It’s also exciting to share a new song from electro-pop duo SOFI TUKKER, and a song that sounds really cool through my headphones from Strange Ranger. Keep riding beyond the jump for even more music from Eve (ft. Konshens), Isaac Dunbar, Mike Posner (ft. Ty Dolla $ign), NF, Seb Wildblood, Sherwood Marty, tobi lou (ft. Tony Bigz), and more!

Of Monsters and Men – Wild Roses

SOFI TUKKER – Swing

Strange Ranger – Message to You

Pick Your Poison: Tuesday 7-9-19

On 07/09/2019

Blunderbusst – Monarch of the Mountain

After taking a few days to recharge the old batteries and prepare for the second half of the year, Pick Your Poison returns with a special extended edition on a Tuesday. Don’t miss downloads in this set from Blake Banks, Blunderbust, Dan Rico, KPT, and Ryan Traster. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from BANKS, Bassboy, Caleb Giles (ft. Pink Siifu), Campfires, Cousin Stizz (ft. City Girls), Godlands x NXSTY (ft. Lil Traffic), Made By Tsuki, Madeon, Matveï, Party Hardly, RALPH, and Rynx (ft. TMG).

Blake Banks – On Me

The Bright Smoke – The Lion And

Dan Rico – Let’s Go Back

KPT – Gossip

Late Night Versions – Last Night

NORPHLET – Stillbloom

Ryan Traster – Lost in a Sound

Pick Your Poison: Wednesday 7-3-19

On 07/03/2019

One more edition of Pick Your Poison before taking a short break in celebration of the 4th of July holiday. Highlights at the top come from Bonobo, Luke Rathborne, and Sandro Perri, who are all talented artists making their own distinct styles of music. Elsewhere in this set you’ll find music from 03 Greedo x Travis Barker, Brooke Candy (ft. Charli XCX & Maliibu Miitch), Dinamarca (ft. COUCOU CHLOE), Grey, Ivan Ave, Jeezy, Paco Versailles, Peaer, and Rich the Kid x Famous Dex x Jay Critch.

Bonobo – Linked

Luke Rathborne – Depending

Sandro Perri – Time (You Got Me)

Halfway There: 75 Songs From 2019

On 07/01/2019

In best songs 2019, BNM, lists, mid-year, music, playlist

It’s easy to get the impression that 2019 has been a relatively quiet year for music so far. There haven’t been quite as many high profile album releases, and few things have really captured the cultural zeitgeist beyond Lil Nas X and perhaps Billie Eilish. We’re in a pretty weird place, right? If you were to ask me point blank what five of my favorite albums were this year, it’d take me a few minutes to come up with a clear answer. I haven’t been listening to less music overall, there’s just less things managing to grab and hold my attention. Or so I thought.

In reflecting on the first half of the year, I wanted to assemble and share a playlist of about 50 songs that I genuinely enjoyed and/or frequently returned to over these last six months. The rules for the list were simple: only one song per artist, either released as a standalone single or as part of a 2019 LP/EP. The goal was to spread the love around, but I had to reach 50 songs first. It was tougher than I expected, until it wasn’t. What started out at barely 50 songs quickly ballooned to nearly twice that amount after taking a closer look at some release lists. A 100 song playlist would have been too much, but 50 ultimately felt like too little.

So here’s the final compromise: 75 great songs from the first half of 2019. They’re arranged in alphabetical order by artist, because official rankings are best saved for a year-end wrap-up. Please enjoy this five hours of music! Play it at your BBQ or just in your car while driving around on a hot day. I hope you discover some tracks and artists you missed earlier this year, or rediscover some fun songs you may have forgotten about over the last few months. Listen through the Spotify embed below, or follow this link. You can also listen to every song (minus Julien Baker & Thom Yorke) on the playlist individually via YouTube by clicking on the title.

Pick Your Poison: Monday 7-1-19

On 07/01/2019

The Empty Page – He’s Very Good at Swimming

Happy July! It’s going to be a shortened holiday week here on the site, but I’m happy to share some new music in addition to a little mid-year review should you have any interest. Basically a lot of this stuff will be great for your BBQs and other random events you might have coming up this week. Don’t miss downloads in this set from Elle Belle, The Empty Page, Modern Native, Monster Rally, and Robert LaRoche. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream tracks from ayokay, Else, GothBoyClique, Kemba, Landon Cube, Kevin George, Niko The Kid & Bipolar Sunshine, Seb Wildblood (ft. Mauv), Souly Had, Trixxie X Cheat Codes, Wildlife, and Yves V (ft. Afrojack & Icona Pop).

Elle Belle – WKND

losLAUREN 718 – Something In Me

Mike Riley – Drug Dealer

Modern Native – Play Any Games

Monster Rally – Menagerie

Robert LaRoche – Drawn to You

S.I.M – Spillin

Pick Your Poison: 6-27-19

On 06/27/2019

Clairo is quickly evolving into one of the most fascinating artists to invade the pop world in recent memory, bolstered in part by her strong lyrics and production work from Rostam. I’m getting the feeling she’ll wind up closer to Sky Ferreira than Billie Eilish in terms of overall success, but it’ll be fun to watch either way. Get another taste of her upcoming debut album via the track below. Few artists possess a voice as powerful and emotionally complex as serpentwithfeet, so we’re always fortunate when he decides to grace us with new material. His new collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign keeps up his streak of great music. Then Portland band Summer Cannibals offer one last taste of their excellent upcoming record (out tomorrow!) if you’re interested in hearing some fuzzed out rock and roll. But wait, there’s more! If you journey beyond the jump you’ll find additional songs from Beach Bums, Clark, Fifty Grand (ft. Kankan & Mixed Matches), The Goa Express, GRAACE, Jacques Greene x Cadence Weapon, Janice Prix, Monomotion (ft. FEYNMAN), and mxmtoon.

Clairo – Closer to You

serpentwithfeet – Receipts (ft. Ty Dolla $ign)

Summer Cannibals – Behave

Pick Your Poison: Wednesday 6-26-19

On 06/26/2019

The cure for your mid-week blues lies within today’s Pick Your Poison. Great tracks in this set start with a new one from The Appleseed Cast. You might remember Kevin Krauter from the band Hoops, but he’s been doing quite well with some solo material lately. “Pretty Boy” is the first song he’s released since last year’s lovely debut album Toss Up. And I’m always in favor of a good cover, so Laura Jean Anderson’s version of “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)” offers an interesting take on The White Stripes original. Roll through the jump for even more music from Ajani Jones, Alex Winston, Chris LaRocca, CODE, Matt Muse, Petite Meller, So Sensitive, Tisoki (ft. KARRA), and Zero (ft. boonn).

The Appleseed Cast – The Journey

Kevin Krauter – Pretty Boy

Laura Jean Anderson – I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet) [The White Stripes Cover]

Pick Your Poison: Monday 6-24-19

On 06/24/2019

BE GOOD – It’s Cool But It Ain’t You

We’re nearing the end of June, and it feels like the weather in Chicago is finally starting to match. Now if it would only stop raining long enough to enjoy the nicer temperatures. Here’s an extended edition of Pick Your Poison to celebrate the start of another week. Don’t miss downloads in this set from BE GOOD, Errant Boy, Jaco, Manwomanchild, and Tummyache. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream tracks from Blood Cultures, Horse Head & YAWNS (ft. Zubin), Laxcity, LICK (ft. Tori Letzler), Maggie Lindemann (ft. Travis Barker), Quinn XCII, TroyBoi (ft. Skrillex), What So Not & Diablo, Wild King, Winona Oak, YK Osiris (ft. DaBaby), and Yung Bae x bbno$ x Billy Marchiafava.

Errant Boy – A Downpour

Innes Wilson – Of Love and Lost

Jaco – Shoe

LP Giobbi – Slither In (ft. hermixalot)

Manwomanchild – Bellwether

Niilo Smeds – Light a Candle

Tummyache – In Between

Pick Your Poison: Thursday 6-20-19

On 06/20/2019

Today’s Pick Your Poison is overflowing with goodnewss, so I’ve chosen to highlight three songs at the top that hit hardest on my emotional register. If you’re not deep into Cuco already, “Feelings” is a great entry point into his world. I’ve always admired Kelly Lee Owens for her introspective take on electronic music, because it’s clear she puts a lot of time and care into generating nuanced and beautiful songs you can also dance to. Then there’s Luke Temple, who’s back recording and releasing music under his own name after projects like Here We Go Magic and the pseudonym Art Feynman. His song “Wounded Brightness” is simply stunning folk music. Keep going past the jump and you’ll find even more songs from artists such as Bronze Whale, Fly Pan Am, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Lil Nas X, Poppy, Saint Daniel, Sunbathers, Youth Sector, and more!

Cuco – Feelings

Kelly Lee Owens – Let It Go

Luke Temple – Wounded Brightness

Pick Your Poison: Monday 6-17-19

On 06/17/2019

Desolate Moon Phases – The Doubting Men

The official start of summer is only a few days away (Friday is the Summer Solstice), yet a weird flux in the weather has been holding Chicago hostage in some sort of early spring vortex for the past month. Lots of rain and below normal temperatures. It’s not been fun exactly, so let’s try and get past it with an extended edition of Pick Your Poison. Make sure to check out downloads from Biglemoi, Grace Savage, Holy Beach, Kazyak, and Ryan Traster. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Allies For Everyone, Big Gigantic (ft. Nevve), Black Grapefruit, Feint & Laura Brehm, Manu Dia (ft. Panama), mimi bay, Qnete, QUIX (ft. Sanna Martinez), Showtek & Sultan + Shepard, YBN Cordae (ft. Chance the Rapper), YUMI, and more!

Biglemoi – Decipher

Grace Savage – CRACKS

Holy Beach – It’s the Fear

Jusky – At the Bar

Kazyak – Camouflage

Ryan Traster – New Again

Sonny Santos & Billie Marten – swear 2 g-d

Pick Your Poison: Thursday 6-13-19

On 06/13/2019

A fresh track from Bazzi leads off today’s Pick Your Poison, which also includes a guest spot from 21 Savage. Keeping the guest parade going is Common, who shares a new song with Daniel Caesar and J Dilla that’s also a sequel to his classic “I Used to Love HER”. Rounding out the highlights is a song from Editors, who I’ve felt are sort of like the UK cousins of Interpol. Follow along through the jump for even more new music from notables like Alec Benjamin, Bad Honey, Burna Boy, Duncan Fellows, Justice Skolnik (ft. Sarah Reeves), Kamandi, Kevin George, LYAM, and Pat Lok (ft. Luke Burr).

Bazzi – Focus (ft. 21 Savage)

Common – HER Love (ft. Daniel Caesar & J Dilla)

Editors – Frankenstein

Pick Your Poison: Tuesday 6-11-19

On 06/11/2019

Honestly, there are so many great tracks in today’s Pick Your Poison that just the three highlights at the top won’t cut it. You need to dive deep into this thing, and absorb all of the greatness. But if you push me to choose, a new track from Free Nationals (who you may know from their work with Anderson .Paak) bwith special guests Mac Miller (RIP) and Kali Uchis should definitely be worth your time. It’s great to have Maria Usbeck back with the first taste of a new record due out later this summer. And who could turn down a song from Tycho, who brings Saint Sinner in as a special guest. Again, you should explore beyond the jump for more music from Angela Perley, Carmen Villain, Cold Hart, EMBRS (ft. All Tvvins), Flume (ft. London Grammar), Joey Ochoa, Rose Dorn, Tuxedo (ft. Benny Sings), and Watgood.

Free Nationals – Time (ft. Mac Miller & Kali Uchis)

Maria Usbeck – Amor Anciano

Tycho – Japan (ft. Saint Sinner)

Pick Your Poison: Monday 6-10-19

On 06/10/2019