By Katrina Nattress
Foals have been busy lately. After releasing their highly acclaimed Total Life Forever, the Oxford quartet has been continuously touring and producing music videos.

The fourth video off the record is for the whimsical, meandering ballad, “2 Trees.” The video was created by Adam Bizanski as part of his “Singalong Paul,” series, which also includes music videos for Radiohead’s “You and Whose Army,” and Alan Arkin’s “I Like You.”  Read more...

By Katrina Nattress

Maps & Atlases’ debut LP Perch Patchwork is an extremely well thought out, and equally executed, collection of music. Identifying itself as math rock, each note played by the Chicagoan quartet is precisely planned out, resulting in a 12-track album that sounds more like one 36 minute long piece. Although the band members themselves consider their recorded and live material as two separate entities, I was a bit wary of how the new material would translate in a live setting. The songs on the record flow almost too well, making it hard for me to visualize the band plucking individual tunes from the mass.  Read more...

By: Katrina Nattress

When you listen to Dr. Dog, you would swear that you’ve heard the song before. Paul McCartney crooning those melodies, Brian Wilson producing those harmonized chorales, all backed by The Band’s Americana guitar riffs. But this is not imitation; this is homage; this is nostalgia.

Though the woodsy Pennsylvanian quintet channels the greats of yesteryear in its sixth LP, Shame Shame (first on indie Mainstay Anti-), the influences are scattered sparingly enough that the sound is still original. And with co-producer Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith) calling the shots, Dr. Dog has released yet another catchy, hook-savvy indie pop record.  Read more...

By: Katrina Nattress

Since its inception in 2004, Maps & Atlases has managed to release two EPs on the indie label Sargent House, but had yet to produce a full-length album…until now.

After deciding to part ways with Sargent House, the quartet signed with the prestigious Northwest indie label Barsuk, which is home to the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Mates of State and Menomena. After playing a slew of new tunes at their live shows, the boys decided to record their long awaited debut. The album, entitled Perch Patchwork is set for a June 29 release.  Read more...