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This generation of dream-pop artists are more successful than most genre revivalists, which aside from great songwriting can be attributed to dream-pop’s straying from anything resembling “outdated”. In the realm of electronic pop, Erasure’s debut album, Wonderland, was one of the catchiest releases of the ’80s. But it was also marked by production that, by [...]

If Lil’ Wayne tells a burgeoning artist to stop giving their songs to other people and start recording them for their own sake, that is advice they would do best to heed. Shanell, aka SNL, can testify as such. First a former backup dancer for NeYo, then a steady collaborator with Lil' Wayne, and now a female vocalist for Young Money, the songstress stands ready and willing to break out on her own. This interview takes a look at the fascinating entertainer, who boasts more of a presence than most pop stars nowadays.

We are giving away FIVE sets of the new "PiiQ" headphones from Sony. Currently running in five different styles ranging from $15 to $100, the design beckons urban culture more than hip independence, but the universal appeal for sound quality is loud and clear. To enter, simply reply to this post with a sweet recommendation.

by Josh Taylor Julian Shah-Tayler, out of the UK, was born to make music. Putting out an EP every few months and pumping out 50-70 songs a year is no easy feat, unless you show prevalently the aspects of a well-rounded musician. His robust musicianship is responsible for his versatility as an artist. What I [...]

In crafting what is deemed personally nostalgic, Dan Lopatin and Joel Ford share a fondness with many others in their late 20s or early 30s. Young enough to remember the ’80s peaks, yet too old to concern themselves with the decade’s abundance of conformity, their songwriting recalls the more innovative attempts at stylistic fusion during [...]

Ferraby Lionheart‘s presence in the LA scene has always been appreciated, if only for the vintage blend of folk and pop he is able to present to revivalists. His performances are always marked by a grandeur that is both fun and whimsical, coming across simply as an appreciative participant of music’s constructive power. The accessible [...]

The gulf has been plagued by some tragedies in the recent past. First Katrina and now the biggest oil spill in history. Yikes. Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard of very many bands coming out of the area either. I don’t blame them; it must be tough to make music when you have other things on your mind. Then again, there are bands like Youth Sounds that use it as a strength.

Summer is now officially in full swing. With the hottest season usually comes a venerable “hot” slew of music to go with the temperature. In the spirit of the season, here’s a list of songs I’m listening to that will inevitably define summer 2010 for me. It includes artists from Black Mountain and Big Boi to Of Montreal and Wavves.

As Kula Shaker's first album in three years, Pilgrims Progress shows the band at their very best since releasing their 1996 debut. On paper, the template for album number four is much the same as their previous three efforts. But where Pilgrims Progress really shines is in its rare ability to present the sounds of another era in a setting that feels mature, fresh, current and progressive.

For the thousands of indie-rock cuts recorded in a home studio, the desperate insertion of ambiguity is a common plague. As DIY techniques continue to grow more popular in both rock and hip-hop, some artists are keen on lowering their standards in an effort to make their image that much more captivating. In most instances, [...]