A couple weeks ago, I stumbled upon an NPR interview with emerging British group Mumford & Sons which began by posing a question of labels. The interviewer asked the group if the classification ‘folk-rock’ was an appropriate label for their music. Lead singer and band namesake, Marcus...

After the holidays every year there always seems to be a lull in the music scene. Whether it is little new music coming out or a lack of live performances, this time of year can be a challenge for the avid music listener. Luckily for me, I stumbled across a musical gold mine recently and am ashamed to...

I’m not afraid to toot my own horn - Valentine’s Day went particularly well in my household this year. In the absence of roses, chocolates, jewelry, or even a simple card (gasp!), I pulled it off bigger and better than ever before. V Day 2010 required more work than usual, but it was worth...

Ever come across something that harkens back to your youth?  I’m sure you have at some point.  One day, as I’m rummaging through stuff at a friend’s house, I came across this.  I saw the words “indie rock coloring book” and was immediately hooked.  Like a little kid,...

Last Summer, I recommended the second book by New York writer Malcolm Gladwell, titled Blink. Before Gladwell published his three best-selling non-fiction works, he reported for the Washington Post and then, in 1996, began writing essays for The New Yorker. A few months ago, Gladwell released a selection...

Winter has a way of dragging along… a way of trapping us in her ongoing, colorless frigidity. Longing for an escape from the drabness, I have been rescued by the band The Soft Pack. The Los Angeles garage-punk rockers from San Diego issue a reminder that summer is just around the corner with their...

One starry night, after a few drinks on a front porch somewhere, my buddy Jacob asks, “If you could see a show by any band, past or present, in any location in the world, what would it be?” Jacob asks great questions, and people who ask good questions deserve good answers. Many quiet moments...

From the first few notes of Midlake’s third full-length album, The Courage of Others, you can tell there is something different than the bands previous releases.  Dark.  Deep.  Gentle.  These are a few descriptions that aptly fit with the elegance that brews on this album.  It is easy to see...