Music

Dan Snaith, the man currently known as Caribou and formerly known as Manitoba, has concocted an elegant mix of whispy pop, acoustic beauty, and psychedelia for his newest record, Andorra. With elaborate, flush melodies dripping from every pore of his person, Snaith has earned himself a place in the upper echelon of modern songwriters and arrangers with its release.

O’Death, maestros of fiddle-filled folk, blistering bluegrass, and melancholy Americana, have announced two weeks worth of U.S. tour dates with semi-orchestral act Rock Plaza Central.

Successful sophomore releases are crucial events for musicians, and Eisley has stepped into a haze of tiresome songwriting.

The DuPree family rock band from Tyler, Texas, consisting of four siblings and one cousin, showcased great potential earlier in its career. A handful of EPs (notably Laughing City and Marvelous Things) held gentle harmonies by guitarist Sherri and keyboardist Stacy that welcomed orchestrated arrangements.

Morbid, bluesy swamp rocker Dax Riggs — formerly of Deadboy & The Elephantmen and Acid Bath — will tour with ALARM cover artists Queens of the Stone Age for twelve dates in September.

Vancouver five-piece You Say Party! We Say Die! has released a sophomore album, Lose All Time, that is a true dance-punk commotion.

The band’s two-part genre consists of a quasi-global sound. A basic concoction of synthesizers and dance-floor rhythms quickly capture listeners’ attention regardless of their country or continent or origin.

Absurdist dance artist/composer Dan Deacon is wrapping up a DVD with collaborator/visual artist Jimmy Joe Roche, and in their concoction of buzzing, ’80s-flavored psychedelia, the two have employed one serious secret weapon: Arnold Schwarzenegger.

With Best War, their full-length debut, fuzzy indie rockers Baby Control have provided a tonal treat for fans of said genre.

On September 18, disparate psychobilly outfit Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers returns with Swampblood (cover shown left), the final installment in its “Tent Show Trilogy” for Yep Roc Records.

Idiot Pilot, a duo from Bellingham, Washington, made their name performing live with nothing but a laptop and guitar, recording their debut album on Pro Tools, and merging influences like U2, Aphex Twin, , Jeff Buckley, and Blood Brothers…all before reaching drinking age.

By singer/songwriter Ezra Furman‘s third or fourth album, comparisons to Bob Dylan and Violent Femmes probably will cease. Until then, he’s stuck with them. It’s a shame because his debut album with accompanists The Harpoons doesn’t ape Dylan’s influences as often as it cites them.