Monthly Archives: August 2010
Primal Scream
12th Aug 2010
Primal Scream’s career could in many ways be read as a microcosm of British indie rock in the ’80s and ’90s. Bobby Gillespie formed the band in the mid-’80s while drumming for goth-tinged noise rockers the Jesus and Mary Chain, who were the exact opposite of Primal Scream — the latter specialized in infectious, jangly pop on
…read more on “Primal Scream”
Posted in Artists
Tagged bobby gillespie, britpop, indie, Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream
Leave a comment
Pharoahe Monch
While a member of the New York City duo Organized Konfusion, Pharoahe Monch developed a reputation as one of underground hip-hop’s pre-eminent lyricists, crafting intricate and intelligent raps with partner Prince Poetry. After recording three albums together from 1991-1997, the two split up amicably, and Monch pursued a more aggressive solo style with the terrific independent label
…read more on “Pharoahe Monch”
Pete And The Pirates
Hailing from Reading, England, Pete and the Pirates make frenetic and thoughtful indie rock with a bent toward early-’80s post-punk. Featuring the talents of vocalist Tommy Sanders, bassist/vocalistPeter Cattermoul, guitarist David Thorpe, guitarist/vocalist Peter Hefferan, and drummer Jonny Sanders, Pete and the Pirates released their debut album, Little Death, in 2008. www.peteandthepirates.co.uk
The Noisettes
Playing ragged but energetic garage-influenced indie rock with the ferocity of punk but with a soulful, bluesy edge, the Noisettes were founded by guitarist Dan Smith and singer/bassist Shingai Shoniwa, who previously worked together in the band Sonarfly. While the pair already had a working relationship, in the spring of 2003 they began getting together to write songs,
…read more on “The Noisettes”
N.E.R.D.
The acronym N.E.R.D. stands for “No One Ever Really Dies,” but childhood friends Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams, and Shay most certainly used the group to proudly emphasize the nerdier aspects of their musical personalities. Before this side project took shape,Hugo and Williams — as the Neptunes — had established themselves as giants in the field of pop production, whether they
…read more on “N.E.R.D.”
Posted in Artists
Tagged chad hugo, Electro-Pop, Hip-Hop, N*E*R*D, n.e.r.d, Neptunes, pharrell williams, spymob
Leave a comment
Mystery Jets
The Syd Barrett-worshiping indie outfit Mystery Jets formed in the early ’90s when the group’s shock-headed frontman, Blaine Harrison, was only 12. The band was initially called the Misery Jets, in honor of the Heathrow-bound jets that habitually roared over their native Eel Pie Island, but they changed their name when Blaine (who, again, was very young at
…read more on “Mystery Jets”
Muse
Muse’s fusion of progressive rock, glam, electronica, and Radiohead-influenced experimentation is crafted by guitarist/vocalist Matthew Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolstenholme, and drummer Dominic Howard. Bored by the sleepy life provided by their hometown of Teignmouth, Devon, the three British friends began playing music together. They started the first incarnation of their band while only 13 years old, changing the name
…read more on “Muse”
Miss Li
Linda Carlsson had been a singer her whole life, exploring everything from rock to blues, jazz, Broadway, even opera and metal, and performing in a variety of shows and bands, but it wasn’t until 2006 that the then-24-year-old Swede launched her career in earnest, transforming herself into Miss Li and embarking on a string of
…read more on “Miss Li”
MGMT
Finding an unlikely middle point between Suicide‘s hostile, proto-electro punk art noise and the sardonic, pop-friendly sound of the Flaming Lips, MGMT started as electroclash musical terrorists but quickly grew into an eclectic, brainy pop group with psychedelic overtones. MGMT first formed in 2002, during Ben Goldwasser andAndrew Van Wyngarden‘s freshman year as art students at Wesleyan University
…read more on “MGMT”
Metric
Metric are a band who have embraced an eclectic and adventurous outlook — the group’s music encompasses elements of synth pop, new wave, dance rock, and electronic, while the group has collectively been based in Toronto, Montreal, New York, Los Angeles, and London over the course of their existence. Metric‘s story began when vocalist and keyboard
…read more on “Metric”
Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson is a sought-after turntablist who’s worked with such diverse artists as Macy Gray, Jay-Z, and comedian Jimmy Fallon. The stepson of guitarist Mick Jones of Foreigner, Ronson spent the first eight years of his life growing up in England. Having played guitar and drums from an early age, it wasn’t until moving to New York City with his
…read more on “Mark Ronson”
Posted in Artists
Tagged Amy Winehouse, Bang Bang Bang, DJ, Hip-Hop, Mark Ronson, Mark Ronson & The Business Intl, mndr, POP, q-tip, Record Collection
1 Comment
Lykke Li
The Swedish indie pop artist Lykke Li Zachrisson (better known as Lykke Li) grabbed the attention of international bloggers in the early 2000s with a handful of catchy, retro-chic singles made available on her MySpace profile. Armed with sensuous, barely there vocals and backed up by a quirky, bass-heavy, electro dance sound (courtesy of producer Björn
…read more on “Lykke Li”
