4,992Shows
249,891Spins
Wednesday, Jun 20 2018, 6AM
From the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, which won the 2001 Album of the Year Grammy. Compiled by T. Bone Burnett.
Brand new record from Mr. Damien Jurado, called by Pitchfork among the most incisive, yet complicated songs Jurado has written yet. High praise, and remarkable for a songwriter over two decades into his career.
Seeing Elliott Smith perform this song at the Oscars remains a surreal viewing experience. Mr. Smith also repeatedly defended Celine Dion from detractors, saying she was a very kind individual: www.youtube.com.
The process of recording Into the Wild was described by Mr. Vedder as a "factory," and only took several weeks for its completion. Vedder reportedly doesn't remember much of the sessions.
From a sometimes undervalued Leonard Cohen album, New Skin for the Old Ceremony. This could be due to its more prominent orchestration, but it features a number of wonderful Cohen tracks nevertheless.
Playing Yakima, WA on July 28th. The acclaimed local band's new record, Edge Markings, is available on their website.
Alejandro Escovedo's much loved fifth record A Man Under the Influence, was made with many great collaborators, including Mitch Easter, Chris Stamey, Mac MacCaughan, and Ryan Adams.
Blind Boys of Alabama have been performing together in various formations since 1939. Founding member Jimmy Carter still heads the group. This comes from their 2001 album Spirit of the Century.
Ben Harper recently released a new record, titled No Mercy in This Land, with Charlie Musselwhite. This comes from Diamonds on the Inside.
Going out to Mr. Kiwanuka's parents on this World Refugee Day. Over 16 million were displaced this past year in ongoing global turmoil.
Released on Motown subsidiary Tamla Records in 1971, and remains just as relevant today. What's Going On remains one of the most acclaimed albums of all time, and for good reason.
Track from Childish Gambino only released just over a month ago, which seems hard to believe. The alternately upsetting and joyous video is a much watch experience. Be forewarned about violent content, however: www.youtube.com.
Another painfully relevant track on World Refugee Day. And quite the bassline: www.youtube.com.
Some gorgeous new music from Ms. Laura Marling and Mike Lindsay, which combines Marling's singular voice and lyrics with layers of synth and distortion sometimes absent from her solo work. A quite interesting new dimension to Marling's music.
Washed Out's debut record, Within and Without, came out in 2011 on Sub Pop Records. Spearheaded the "chillwave" movement.
Getting all Adult Swim in here. Still such a jam though-- among the best Neon Indian tracks? He has quite nice hair in the video: www.youtube.com.
Maribou State featuring Houston-based instrumental group Khruangbin, who have been getting more attention since 2018's Con Todo El Mundo. New track from the collaboration.
Jury is still out on whether Massive Attack is Banksy or not. They will always be Banksy in my heart. Now a duo comprised of Robert Del Naja and Daddy G. This track with Young Fathers came from 2016's Ritual Spirit.
Film samples from The Prophecy and The Thin Red Line on this track from UNKLE's sophomore record. Also samples James Asher's "Fairground Ghost" and The Undisputed Truth's "Ball of Confusion."
From the fourth Public Image Ltd record. First without Keith Levene and Jah Wobble. As always, here is John Lydon offering you some sweet butter: www.youtube.com.
Single from TR/ST came out last year, which was the musician's first since the great Joyland record. Playing Capitol Hill Block Party, which should be a fun culture clash to say the least.
New record from Holy Esque conjures synthed out post-punk of past eras to good effect. It is Television/ Sweet, and is available now.
New record from Johnny Marr, which always begs the question of what shenanigans Morrissey is up to. Record is called Call the Comet.
An uplifting, pro-immigrant punk anthem could sound incongruous, but the new track for Idles is necessary listening. New album titled Joy as an Act of Resistance: www.youtube.com.
2014 track from UK-based rapper Afrikan Boy, who collaborated with M.I.A. on the song "Hussel" on her wonderful Kala record. Originally from Nigeria.
A new album from Gorillaz will be released on June 29th, which is a quite fast turn around after 2017's Humanz. It features fewer collaborators than on past albums by the band.
Let us all hope the artist formerly known as Sinead O'Connor is doing well this morning. She legally changed her name last year, following much documented (and ongoing) struggles with mental health.
Still waiting for the Michael Stipe beard Instagram account. A quite lovely song from the Life's Rich Pageant album, which was R.E.M.'s most successful album yet.
New music from the collaboration between Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck. Mr. Buck spoke with KEXP about addiction, songwriting, and their new LP: www.kexp.org.
More songs going out in honor of World Refugee Day. Bob Marley was a refugee during his own lifetime, forced to flee his native Jamaica. This track came from the Uprising album.
From the second self-titled Paul Simon solo album. Was a Number 1 hit in South Africa, and peaked at No. 4 in the US. Simon is currently underway on his farewell tour.
New record just out from the very talented musician and guitarist Bombino. It is titled Deran. Born in Niger, Bombino was forced to flee his native country as a child. He remained displaced for a number of years, and his guitar playing has been viewed negatively by Niger's government for its ability to incite rebellion.
Ms. Sharon Jones sounding amazing as always. Here is the exuberant footage of Ms. Jones's performance at KEXP's Grand Opening event in 2016: www.youtube.com.
Track vocally supporting immigrant rights and the plight of refugees, while also spotlighting musical traditions of displaced peoples: www.youtube.com
Track from K'naan's 2009 record Troubadour, which proved to be quite the success for the Somali-Canadian rapper. K'naan and his family moved to Canada following continuous political turmoil in their native Somalia.
From the debut Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars album, titled Living Like a Refugee. The group is made of a group of refugees who were displaced from their native Sierra Leone to Guinea during the Sierra Leone Civil War.
Always delightful track from Ms. Patti Smith. From her Dream of Life album, which was Smith's last before a long break from making albums following the deaths of Robert Mappelthorpe, Fred "Sonic" Smith, and several other individuals close to her.
U2's third album, War, was their first to reach No. 1 in the United Kingdom. Lyrical subjects concern a number of ongoing humanitarian struggles, including the plight of displaced individuals.
Sub Pop #SP844. The third and most recent album from Greg Dull's Twilight Singers, featuring Joseph Arthur, Mark Lanegan, Petra Haden, and Ani DiFranco, among many others.
SP#845. The gorgeous breakthrough album from Beach House was released in 2010. Their latest, 7, came out earlier this year. www.kexp.org
The new album from Young Fathers, Cocoa Sugar, was released back in March. This track comes from their debut Dead, which won the Mercury Music Prize.
Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation of Millions will be broken down sample by sample tomorrow (6/21). The accompaniment to Spike Lee's wonderful Do The Right Thing: www.youtube.com.
Track from the collaborative album between Nas & Damian Marley, which was released in 2010. Nas just released a new LP as well.
Song from local artist Brandi Carlile, who recently put out a quite acclaimed new album, By The Way, I Forgive You. Called "a gentle masterpiece" by Rolling Stone. Carlile is a vocal and loyal supporter of KEXP.
From the Nobel Prize winning Bob Dylan. Patti Smith performed this song at the ceremony, which was quite wonderful: www.youtube.com.
Track going out in honor of World Refugee Day, which is currently being acknowledged in the KEXP Gathering Space with an exhibit of works from artists who have undergone displacement.