Frazey Ford’s solo debut album Obadiah was released last week to praise from critics and fans alike; today Obadiah enters the Canadian Top Current Album Chart at #74 with 729 albums sold and lands at #6 on the Overall Digital Album Chart, putting Frazey among such artists as Eminem, Sheryl Crow and Jack Johnson, and ahead of Drake and M.I.A. Obadiah also appears on six different regional charts. Frazey also came in at #44 in the US on the Billboard HeatSeeker.  Read more...

 Read more...

ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! It’s the sound of The Suzan, a boundlessly energetic all-girl band from Japan making their international debut with “Home.” Their irresistible charm captivated Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John (who they convinced to produce their record with a MySpace message!) and tastemaking indie Fool’s Gold, who have previously introduced the world to artists as diverse as Kid Sister, Kid Cudi and Treasure Fingers.  Read more...

 Read more...

By J. Brown

“O plunge your hands in water
Plunge them up to the wrist;
Stare, stare in the basin
And wonder what you’ve missed

[…]

O stand, stand at the window
As the tears scald and start;
You shall love your crooked neighbor
With your crooked heart.”  Read more...

 Read more...

As lead singer and songwriter of San Francisco duo Two Gallants, Adam Stephens (with band mate Tyson Vogel) released four critically acclaimed albums and toured incessantly over the past five years. A well-deserved break was finally taken, providing Adam with a chance to write material for a new project. After forming a band and playing various west coast shows over the past year, Adam went into Sunset Sound and Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles and recorded his debut solo record with producer Joe Chiccarelli (My Morning Jacket, The Shins, White Stripes).  Read more...

Australian rock-n-roll export Wolfmother returns to the U.S. this summer with select performances kicking off at Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 8th. The tour makes its way through ten cities with stops including the annual Sturgis Rally in South Dakota, and the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco (full tour dates below).  The psychedelic rockers are also set to perform on Lopez Tonight, August 16th.  Read more...

 Read more...

 Read more...

By J. Brown

“You calm me down when the world makes me angry / So don’t ever leave me, I’ll always be true.”—excerpt from the song “On the Wind”  Read more...

By Myles Crawley

Given the current sentiment surrounding oil companies, this new video is extremely timely and poignant. When you dive deeper, you realize exactly how relevant this video and song really are. The track, “Ballad of the Black Gold” was written and recently released by Reflection Eternal, which is made up of two talented writer/producer/artists named Hi-Tek and Talib Kweli. Hi-Tek wrote the music on the eve of Barack Obama’s presidential victory. Talib Kwali wrote the lyrics after a trip to Nigeria, where he realized just how much the oil business controls segments of our world. He likened it to “hitting you right in the face.”  Read more...

Project Rhythm Seed would like very much to introduce you to Elizabeth Powell. She is the writer, vocalist and guitar player for the Canadian band Land of Talk and she is a marvel to behold. Her vocals are arresting and her guitar playing is fluid and moody. Its a package perfectly made for the American audience she is now poised and ready to attack.  Read more...

By J. Brown

Sultry and intense, Kay Pettigrew’s take on blues and jazz-influenced indie folk demonstrates that she is just one artist who is part of the talented music scene in Toronto with a bright future. Pettigrew is an independent musician born in Southern Ontario in Canada and has already garnered rave reviews for the musical goodness she has released thus far—an output that includes songs showcasing an effortless range of styles, as well as an inventive and creative take on bluesy folk melodies. Pettigrew particularly shines on heavily blues-based tracks that give the listener a taste of her powerful and impressive voice, such as “Lunatica” and “Ornithology.” The singer was kind enough to grant me an interview and answer some questions about her plans, motivations, favorite music and more.  Read more...

By Myles Crawley

As a country, New Zealand hasn’t exactly been prolific in turning out music stars. But when they do, you can usually bet they will be guilty of producing some of the hookiest, down right infectious melodies known to man. Such is the case with Kids of 88. Jordan Arts & Sam McCarthy make up the band. They hail from Auckland, New Zealand. McCarthy covers vocals and programming, and is known for “complaining too much”. Arts is in charge of synthesizers and programming, and it’s been said that he “doesn’t complain enough”. I suppose that’s what makes them such a competent working duo. Yin and Yang – opposites attract!
 Read more...

With California’s budget crisis wreaking havoc on the poor, some of the hardest hit are youth in foster care and their guardians. Having experienced eight foster homes between the ages of four months and 15 years old, Grammy nominated producer Kashif, knows on a personal level the dilemma such a crisis can cause.  Read more...

By Myles Crawley  Read more...