The Bees (known as “A Band of Bees” in America) – British indie rock band’s feet firmly planted in 2000s with sprinkles of ’60s garage and psychedelia.
White Denim, “A Place to Start”
Ragged but right Austin, Texas combo that patches together a soulfully scatterbrained rock & roll assault.
Brazos, “Day Glo”
Austin-based jazzy, folky alternative rock band fronted by singer/songwriter Martin Crane.
Fleet Foxes, “In the Hot Hot Rays”
An overlooked gem from their early days.
Whitney
Dreamy folk rock out of my sweet home Chicago. This is music that grows on you like a vine as songs evolve into multi-instrumental soundscapes of reverie. Listen to their debut album, Light Upon the Lake. You’ll feeler cooler in no time.
Around the World
While by no means a definitive list, here are some international gems for your listening pleasure: Algeria Made In Medina, Rachid Taha (2000) Argentina Artaud, Pescado Rabioso (1973) Australia Lonerism, Tame Impala (2012) Austria Black Sea, Fennesz (2008) Bahamas Exuma, Exuma (1970) Belgium Djangology, Django Reinhardt (1949) Bermuda Oyster, Heather Nova (1994) Bosnia and Herzegovina…
Papooz
French duo’s slinky debut Green Juice is a subdued dance album that’ll make you want to boogie on a terrace in Paris with a cig on your lip. Give them a listen if you want to be hip.
Out of Our Heads: Rock ‘n’ Roll Before the Drugs Wore Off
Just finished this fascinating book by George Case. Highly recommend it as a breezy summer read. “Take a trip through rock ‘n’ roll’s haziest, craziest period, beginning with the Beatles and Bob Dylan “turning on” in a New York hotel, and continuing on through two-decades of wonderful, colorful, history-changing music. From psychedelic Woodstock warriors like…
Andy Shauf, “The Magician”
Dylan at 75
“Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves Let me forget about today until tomorrow.” –Mr. Tambourine Man Of all the artists who have walked this earth, none have spoken to my…