The Westar – the band formerly known as Vic Kingsley – formed at the University of Miami in 2007. Recently reduced to a duo, Vic Garcia and Ethan Carlson are relocating to Los Angeles, where they’ll face the challenges of breaking into a treacherous industry while maintaining their independent dignity.

Manchester Orchestra: Mean Everything To Nothing

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A friend of mine bought Manchester Orchestra’s Mean Everything to Nothing at Target, and the older Hispanic cashier told him how pretty their music is. Something tells me she was confusing the Manchester Orchestra with the London [...]

Death Cab For Cutie: The Open Door EP

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Death Cab For Cutie’s Narrow Stairs made pretty much everyone’s Best of 2008 list, and in turn left everyone wanting more from the Washington-based quartet. The Open Door EP was released in April [...]

Beirut: March of the Zapotec

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I first heard of Beirut in an interview on NPR in which mastermind Zach Condon was explaining that he’s too young to write songs about his own personal experiences, so he makes up characters with lives more interesting [...]

On Keep It Hid, Dan Auerbach is a gritty modern bluesman mired in traditions ranging from Southern gospel, Roy Orbison meets mid-70s era John Lennon, modern folk, and Mississippi Delta blues. Auerbach’s songs are soulful and rootsy, but maintain a modern sophistication. Auerbach’s natural voice, delivery, and songwriting create a distinctive brand of indie-blues-rock. Those familiar with The Black Keys will find Keep It Hid to be a bit more accessible and succinct, but certainly not lacking in interesting content.

2008 was a pretty damn good year for music, considering recent history. Instant classics were released by artists like Fleet Foxes, The Tallest Man on Earth, MGMT, Sigur Ros, Conor Oberst, Death Cab For Cutie, Coldplay, The Raconteurs, TV on the Radio… but Anathallo’s Canopy Glow was my favorite album of 2008. Even though 2009 is more than half over, I needed to put Anathallo somewhere on this site.

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…the hosting service I was using was hacked by a delightful Saudi Arabian fellow; luckily I have everything saved and will be back up and running in a jif.