Music

It’s stunning, the difference between a singer like Jesy Fortino, who writes and sings her own songs under the name Tiny Vipers, and a singer like Jessica Simpson or even Amy Winehouse.

After two tours and an instrumental album under the name mansbestfriend, Tim Holland is ready again to reprise the role of Sole, ranting, rambling rapper extraordinaire. Ever the picture of unorthodoxy, Sole reappears this time accompanied by Orlando three-piece Skyrider and a record he calls his “comeback.”

In collaboration with string group Spectratone International, folksy songwriter Mirah‘s latest work is a concept album of sorts — and in an age of digital downloads and iTunes singles, a concept album this well developed is hard to come by.

On We Are Standard‘s debut album, 3.000V-40.000W, the chorus to “The Pill Song (Wowee)” reads like an abridged mission statement: “We play it loud so you can feel us / To turn you on and turn you loose / We all got those ups and downs / But we’re here so feel the groove / We don’t want to take you down / We want you to dance around.”

Sunburned Hand of the Man, the genre-defining psych folk collective lead by John Moloney, is ready for yet another release this year. Not surprised? That’s probably because Sunburned Hand of the Man can’t go more than six months without putting out a new album. Maybe this will surprise you: their new album, Fire Escape, was produced by Kieran Hebden of Four Tet.

Some of my finest childhood memories are from the days I would opt out of school. I would either be sick or exaggerate the mild discomfort I felt, con(vinc)ing my mind and my parents that I was really ill.

Like a gooey plate of macaroni and cheese or re-runs of “The Simpsons,” there’s something comforting about a bright and bouncy pop record. Manners Matter, the debut full-length album from Brooklyn trio Mancino, is a prime example of this with all its jangling guitars, playful rhythms, two-part harmonies, and familiar yet vibrant joys.

This Sunday, July 22, experimental jazz legend John Zorn will hold a benefit for vocalist Jewlia Eisenberg, the leader of musically and ethnically diverse act Charming Hostess (shown left), at his New York club, The Stone.

When we told you last week of the news concerning Southwestern indie heroes DeVotchKa — the release of How It Ends in Europe and tour dates both in the U.S. and abroad — there was not yet word of work on a forthcoming full-length album. But as you can tell from this here update, that’s no longer the case!

Colossal Youth has cast a long shadow. Kurt Cobain was one of Young Marble Giants‘ more public fans, but their influence travels from their seminal — and sole — full-length album through such descendents as R.E.M., Yo La Tengo, and Belle & Sebastian to cause a shudder traveling up the post-punk spine.

Okay, show of hands: who in the past year or so has had a friend or relative come to them with an article proclaiming the death of the music business? It’s usually followed by comments like, “I think you should really reconsider this music thing. Take that job with my uncle doing carpet installations. People always need carpet.”