Dec 05, 2014 By Hays Davis Laetitia Sadier

Five years since Stereolab was set aside, Laetitia Sadier has released an album that seems to be a personal peak of sorts. After several albums with Monade and two previous solo releases, Something Shines offers a collection of songs that is not only likely to connect with fans of her earlier work but even moved Sadier herself during its creation to want to share it with friends.

Dec 04, 2014 By Frank Valish Issue #51 - September/October 2014 - alt-J

The Rentals’ first album was called Return of the Rentals, released in 1995 when frontman Matt Sharp was best known as the bassist for Weezer. He might as well have saved the album title for today. Lost in Alphaville, The Rentals’ long-awaited third album, comes 15 years after his last effort.

Dec 02, 2014 By Matt Fink Issue #51 - September/October 2014 - alt-J

It has now been 10 years since punk rock has-been “Handsome Dick” Manitoba forced Dan Snaith to drop his Manitoba moniker and rebrand himself as Caribou. It’s difficult to know what effect, if any, that rebranding has had on the evolution of his creative persona, but it has taken Snaith 12 years and six studios albums to get to the point where he feels comfortable enough to insert himself into his music as its central character.

Dec 01, 2014 By Matt Fink Caribou

Though he doesn’t sound like a man who lacks confidence, Dan Snaith says he has spent much of his career hiding. Lacking confidence in his voice, he spent his early records hiding his vocals under layers of reverb and densely-textured psychedelia.

Nov 26, 2014 By Cody Ray Shafer Web Exclusive

The Flaming Lips have always been a little strange, but if five years ago someone said that in 2014 they would be most known for working with Miley Cyrus and releasing an indie star-studded full length cover of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, even that would seem like a stretch of the imagination.

Nov 24, 2014 By Hays Davis Web Exclusive

These days, the piano probably serves as an inspirational springboard for German musician/composer Nils Frahm as much as it does as a primary instrument in his work. Spaces, his 2013 live album recorded in multiple venues over the course of two years, offers a full range of Frahm’s directions, from minimalist exercises to classically-influenced passages and lushly beautiful pieces.

Nov 19, 2014 By Melody Lau Mia Maestro

Mia Maestro began acting in 1998 in the dance drama Tango and she hasn’t stopped since, continuing with a recurring role on Alias and a part in the final two Twilight movies, among others. The actress, whose latest role is the vampire slaying Centers for Disease Control worker Dr. Nora Martinez in the FX series, The Strain, has another passion, though: singing.

Nov 18, 2014 By Laura Studarus Karin Park

As a child, Swedish singer-songwriter Karin Park made herself a promise — to never take a “normal” job. Having used music as a way to cope while adjusting to a move back home after living in Japan for three years, Park says the idea of doing anything else with her life never occurred to her.

Nov 17, 2014 By Lily Moayeri Johnny Marr

It is after midnight and Johnny Marr has come off the stage at De La Warr in Bexhill, U.K. This is the third date of the legendary guitarist’s tour in support of his second solo album, Playland, the rapid follow-up to 2013’sThe Messenger.