Music

Sheer, unpredictable joy emerges from the speakers when the five fine gentlemen of Through The Sparks launch into their captivating romp across what is sure to be one of the most satisfying records all year.

During the spoken-word intro of “Every Little Bit Helps,” the last song off Julius Airwave’s new album The City, The Forest, there is a moment when songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rick Colado says, “objects in motion tend to stay in motion” while “objects at rest tend to stay at rest.”

This British Columbia quintet, pounding out the abrasive circus-rock anthems made popular in recent years by bands like Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, comes close to perfection with its fourth album. The opening blast beats (drum beats rapidly alternating between snare and cymbal) of “Idle Songs” set the hyperactive tone for the rest of the album.

The members of Missouri-based quartet Bockman come across like a group of kids standing on their toes, desperately trying to reach the height requirements for a rollercoaster. Delivering an assortment of mid-tempo prog pop muddled by portentous, imagery-laden lyrics, the band can’t hide their strained attempt to be something bigger than they really are.

Label-mates Cursive also start a tour tonight, May 1, with co-headliners Mastodon and Against Me!

The highly regarded professor of religion is back with another album of social commentary set to music.

One half of the Benevento Russo Duo will have live material issued as a post-mortem celebration of New York City jazz club Tonic.

The long-time icon of inventive pop music will perform for Late Night with Conan O’Brien one week from tonight.

The group’s unique brand of gypsy rock can be witnessed tonight, April 27, at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

In addition to performing at the Futuro Presente Festival, Sakamoto has accepted a free download from Kraftwerk for his Stop-Rokkasho Project. Wildly prolific and talented composer/pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto will perform at the third edition of the Futuro Presente Festival, which is set to honor Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci from May 3-12 in Rovereto, Italy.

The semi-somber eccentricity of Man Man, featured in ALARM’s forthcoming summer issue, hits the road today in the United States.

I walk into Schubas and it feels like all eyes are on me. Out of about fifty people in the room, not only was I one of the youngest, but I was the only girl.