By Manal Sheikh
Lana Del Rey’s debut release was anticipated for months. Media hype and significant YouTube attention generated an enormous buildup for a singer with only a few songs to her name. Luckily for Lana, though — and to the delight of her fans — Born to Die does not disappoint. With haunting melodies throughout, Del Rey’s… Continue reading Spun: Lana Del Rey
Are you looking for a cute little indie album that sounds like something out of 500 Days of Summer or Paper Hearts? Look no further than Hello Sadness. Recorded in Spain with producer John Goodmanson, who helped the band with their previous records, the album deals mostly in thematic staples. Love, loss and heartbreak —… Continue reading Spun: Los Campesinos!
James Durbin was a contestant on the tenth season of American Idol. With an inspiring story of overcoming childhood diagnoses of both Asperger and Tourette syndromes, Durbin finished in fourth place. His debut album, Memories of a Beautiful Disaster, is a little less inspired, consisting entirely of standard rock fare. Nothing stands out on the… Continue reading Spun: James Durbin
By Kyle Francis
Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International is an album as diverse, unpredictable and triumphant as the man it pays tribute to. At 76 tracks, Chimes of Freedom is a musical expedition spanning multiple genres and featuring a diverse group of artists. The lengthy roster includes industry heavyweights… Continue reading Spun: Various Artists
By Ben Hoffman
Released a scant six months after Kate Bush’s previous album, 50 Words For Snow is reminiscent of 2005’s Aerial, with a significant exception: it captures not the airy lightness of summer, but rather the melancholy of the cold winter months. With her teenage son “Bertie” as the only other artist appearing on the album, her… Continue reading Spun: Kate Bush
Steve Gates is a singer-songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia and A Bee in Her Mouth is his debut full-length album. It was recorded in a makeshift studio in an apartment with the help of his friends in the East Coast arts community. With roots like that, it’s hard not to develop warm feelings for this… Continue reading Spun: Steve Gates
“Long live the king!”- this traditional exclamation may pronounce a new era of independent music to come as The Decemberists explore new sonic territory. After six weeks of recording at the Pendarvis Farm near Portland, Oregon, The Decemberists completed work on their sixth album, January 2011’s The King is Dead, as well as the more… Continue reading Spun: The Decemberists
The virtual band Gorillaz came into existence in 1998 at a time when English creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlitt grew increasingly tired and frustrated about the quality of music played on MTV. Fourteen years later, the four animated members — 2D, Noodle, Russell and Murdoc — now make up one of the most creative,… Continue reading Spun: Gorillaz
The Lost Lovers Brigade may have talent, but this group of indie rockers out of Vancouver is still searching for an identity. In a failed attempt to showcase their originality and musical range, Little Skeletons comes across as a mediocre debut album.Over the course of 11 songs, The Lost Lovers Brigade visits what seems like… Continue reading Spun: The Lost Lovers Brigade
Kevin Hearn is the keyboardist for the Barenaked Ladies. Although he is best known for his work with the Canadian alt-rockers, Hearn has worked on an extensive list of side projects, including Thin Buckle, the Cousins and the Rheostatics. Cloud Maintenance, however, is only his second solo album.Before I go any further, I’d like to… Continue reading Spun: Kevin Hearn