Monthly Archives: August 2010

Chris Cornell

ChrisCornell_F2

Originally finding success as the frontman of Seattle’s Soundgarden, rock vocalist Chris Cornell forged a successful career after the band’s 1997 demise, both with the supergroup Audioslave and as a diverse solo artist. Born in Seattle on July 20, 1964, his music career didn’t take shape until he was a teenager, when he began playing drums in
…read more on “Chris Cornell”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Chester French

ChesterFrench_F2

Named for Lincoln Memorial sculptor Daniel Chester French, the L.A. via Boston duo Chester French — consisting of vocalist/songwriterD.A. Wallach and multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Maxwell Drummey– mix classic songcraft and power pop hooks with arrangements and beats that nod to synth pop and rap. Originally from Boston, Drummey began music lessons when he was three, moving from classical piano
…read more on “Chester French”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Chemical Brothers

ChemicalBros_F2

The act with the first arena-sized sound in the electronica movement, the Chemical Brothers united such varying influences asPublic Enemy, Cabaret Voltaire, and My Bloody Valentine to create a dance-rock-rap fusion which rivaled the best old-school DJs on their own terms — keeping a crowd of people on the floor by working through any number of groove-oriented
…read more on “The Chemical Brothers”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Chairlift

ChairLift_F2

Hailing from Brooklyn, NY (by way of Boulder, CO, where the trio originally came together in 2006), the avant-pop outfit Chairlift formed for the unusual purpose of crafting music for haunted houses. After finding that their work transcended its original purpose, bandmates Aaron Pfenning, Caroline Polachek, and Patrick Wimberlypulled up stakes and headed east, eventually settling in that
…read more on “Chairlift”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cee Lo Green

CeeLo_F2

Multi-talented and flamboyant, Cee-Lo initially made a name for himself and his trademark crooning as part of pioneering Dirty South rappers Goodie Mob before he broke away in the early 2000s for a colorful solo route. Along with fellow Atlanta rappers OutKast, Goodie Mob laid out the blueprint for the Dirty South style during the mid-’90s, making serious
…read more on “Cee Lo Green”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cardigans

Cardigans_F2

One of the most pleasing pop groups of the ’90s, the Cardigans specialized in sugary confections that would grow annoying very quickly if they weren’t backed by solid musicianship and clever arrangements. The band’s 1995 breakout album, Life, reflected the Cardigans at their most saccharine — the sunny disposition of vocalist Nina Persson being the major argument
…read more on “The Cardigans”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Brandon Flowers

BrandonFlowers_F2

Brandon Flowers was the most popular frontman of the new wave revival, which swept through America and England during the early 2000s. As frontman of the Killers, he helped popularize a genre that hadn’t been fashionable for nearly two decades, drawing influence from a number of ’80s synth pop bands — including New Order, Echo & the Bunnymen,
…read more on “Brandon Flowers”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Blur

Blur_F2

Initially, Blur were one of the multitude of British bands that appeared in the wake of the Stone Roses, mining the same swirling, pseudo-psychedelic guitar pop, only with louder guitars. Following an image makeover in the mid-’90s, the group emerged as the most popular band in the U.K., establishing itself as heir to the English guitar
…read more on “Blur”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Bird And The Bee

BirdToTheBee_F2

Multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin and doe-eyed vocalist Inara George draw upon a fondness for jazz standards and ’60s tropicalia to deliver the stylish tones of the Bird and the Bee. The two musicians were introduced in 2004 by mutual friend Mike Andrews, whom George had enlisted to produce her solo debut, All Rise. Needing someone to contribute piano to several tracks, Andrewscalled
…read more on “The Bird And The Bee”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Biffy Clyro

BiffyClyro_F2

Assembling in the late ’90s, in the town of Kilmarnock, near Glasgow, in Scotland, Biffy Clyro comprises a three-piece lineup, fronted by vocalist and guitarist Simon Neil along with James Johnston (bass) and drummer Ben Johnston. Playing loud combinations of pop/rock, inspired by the music of bands like Weezer, Biffy Clyro first started by playing their aggressive pop tunes
…read more on “Biffy Clyro”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ben Folds

BenFolds_F2

Singer/pianist Ben Folds (born September 12, 1966, in Winston-Salem, NC) is best known as the leader of the power pop trio Ben Folds Five, but has also struck out on his own as a solo artist. Despite playing in bands in high school, his musical career didn’t really get off the ground until the late ’80s,
…read more on “Ben Folds”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Beck

Beck_F2

Initially pegged as something as a voice of a generation when “Loser” turned into a smash crossover success, Beck did wind up crystallizing much of the post-modern ruckus of the ‘90s alternative explosion, but in unexpected ways. Based in the underground anti-folk and noise-rock worlds, Beck encompassed all manners of modern music, drawing in hip-hop,
…read more on “Beck”

Posted in Artists | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment