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Monday, Jan 23 2017, 6AM
According to interviews, the inspiration of "Pictures of You" came when a fire broke loose in lead singer, Robert Smith's home. After that day, Smith was going through the remains and came across his wallet which had pictures of his wife, Mary. The cover of the single is one of the pictures.
Formed by Rob Dickinson (vocals and guitar), Brian Futter (guitar), Dave Hawes (bass), and Neil Sims (drums) in 1990, Catherine Wheel's single "Black Metallic" snagged the attention of the American public and became their first single to break through the UK charts.
Slowdive just dropped their first single in 22 years! And...they just announced a mini-tour of the U.S.! No Seattle date...yet?
San Francisco's Film School was formed in 1998 by lead singer Greg Bertens.
"Where You Been" is the fifth studio release from Dinosaur Jr. This was the only Dinosaur Jr. album between 1988's "Bug" and 2007's "Beyond" to be recorded entirely with a full band. During Dinosaur Jr's major label years, J. Mascis performed most of the instruments himself on record.
“All right, you want to hear a stupid pop song I wrote in about a minute?” That’s how Elliott Smith introduced “I Figured You Out” before reluctantly performing the obscurity by request at an intimate 1997 gig. This track outtake will be included on the upcoming "Either/Or" Expanded Edition on March 10th to celebrate the album's 20th anniversary.
Jose Gonzalez of Junip covering The Knife's infectious "Heartbeats" single. Gonzalez stopped by our new home last Spring and delivered an amazing concert...relive it here: www.youtube.com
Damien Jurado and Richard Swift recently unveiled a collection of "Other People's Songs, Volume 1" including this track, "Hello Sunshine" originally by Relatively Clean Rivers. Check out Damien Jurado LIVE on KEXP: www.youtube.com
“The songs on this record are about celebrating musicians and music, about misogyny, the long shadow of history,” says former frontman of American Music Club on the themes of his new album, Ferryman (set to drop on January 27th!). “Also oceans, blood, skies, hearts, gay pioneers, carpenters, weeping women, and how death waits for you even in the happiest place on earth: Las Vegas.”
Shearwater dropped their fierce "Jet Plane and Oxbow" album a year ago yesterday! They stopped by this past April to perform some tracks from the record and cover some Bowie: www.youtube.com
Arcade Fire and Mavis Staples just dropped this heavy single on Thursday. The song was issued with a jointly signed statement from the band and Staples: “It’s never been more important that we stick together and take care of each other.” On the subject of new Arcade Fire album, Win Butler states, "The future is unwritten".
Spoon is back with "Hot Thoughts"! Their ninth full-length will be released on March 17. Can't get them off of your mind? Me neither. Watch their 2014 KEXP session here...www.youtube.com
Interpol's "Turn On the Bright Lights" turns 15 this year! To celebrate, the group is heading out on tour and are playing the record from start to finish. European dates have been announced so far. And...new music in 2018!
Halcyon Digest is the fifth release by Athens, GA based Deerhunter. The final track, "He Would Have Laughed" was recorded separately by frontman, Bradford Cox at Notown Sound in Marietta, Georgia and is a tribute to the late Jay Reatard.
"Leaders of the Free World" is the third studio album from English outfit, Elbow.
Pela released "Anytown Graffiti" in 2007. Former Pela and Augustines frontman William McCarthy recently announced his solo project after the split of Augustines. "“I am starting 2017 with new eyes and a fire inside. Sharing my music with you all is my core, it’s my being and it’s likely how we met," says McCarthy, "There will be new music and am working right now my first solo album.”
Coming to The Crocodile on February 8th! The trio just released their second album last week, "Apocalipstick". Frontwoman Clem talks about her track, "Told You I'd Be With the Guys": "The most important thing in my life is that I've realized I need to work for solidarity. That song's both hopeful and dismal!”
Madder Rose formed in 1991 in a Greenwich Village apartment, after Billy Coté, the band's songwriter, was informed by a mutual friend, after Coté had written a bunch of songs, that a woman named Mary Lorson was looking for a project.
London post-punkers Desperate Journalist return with their second release on March 24th titled "Grow Up".
Menace Beach just unleashed their fuzz-rock filled "Lemon Memory" last week.
Pavement released their debut album in April of 1992. The title "Slanted and Enchanted" is taken from the title of a cartoon made by Silver Jews frontman David Berman.
Mark your calendars kids! International Clash Day is on February 7th! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAVIN!
Cloud Nothings are LIVE on KEXP on February 17th at 1 PM and YOU can be there! More information at KEXP.org. Also, they will be playing at Barboza on February 17th and 18th! Also, they drop their new album "Life Without Sound" this Friday!
Let's call this the comeback! Stockholm, Swedish outfit Shout Out Louds released the delightfully titled, "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff" in 2005.
Montreal post-punk outfit, Heat recently dropped this single, "Sometimes" from their debut "Overnight" which just dropped this past Friday. "We were heavily influenced by jangle pop guitarists like Johnny Marr and Roger McGuinn," the band said in a statement. "Through studio experimentation we incorporated some heavy '80s sounds too. Lots of big snares, subtle synths, and circular bass riffs."
Request for Kat! The late, great Sharon Jones performed at our New Home Grand Opening and it was amazing. Check it out here: www.youtube.com
Ray Charles covers Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" live on the Johnny Cash Show in 1970.
"A Boy Named Sue" is a song written by Shel Silverstein that was made popular by Johnny Cash. He recorded the song live at California's San Quentin State Prison at a concert on February 24, 1969.
"Our First 100 Days" is releasing a new song each day for 100 days and Angel Olsen kicked it off with "Fly On Your Wall". The program has announced a new slate of contributing artists: Ty Segall, Joey Purp, Protomartyr, KAMI, Waxahatchee, and Porches. They join Mitski, Whitney, Toro Y Moi, Will Oldham, the Mountain Goats, How to Dress Well, and more.
The trio deemed The Wild Reeds will be releasing their soaring record, "The World We Built" on May 15th.
Middle Kids will be LIVE on the Morning Show on Tuesday, February 21st at 9:30 AM. That night they will be playing the Barboza. The outfit recently signed to Domino Records and are releasing their debut on February 17th.
Duluth, Minnesota outfit, Low released their 11th album, "Ones and Sixes" in 2015. Low's Alan Sparhawk had this to say about the album's process, “In our 20+ years of writing songs, I’ve learned that no matter how escapist, divergent, or even transcendent the creative process feels, the result is more beholden to what is going on at the moment. "
Icelandic artist Junius Meyvant performed "Color Decay" live on KEXP, check it out here: www.youtube.com
The RAA will be playing the Tractor Tavern on February 24th to roadtest new material before their new album!
At the opening of "Song For Zula," Phosphorescent's lead singer Matthew Houck gives a shout out to June Carter and Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" ("Some say love is a burning thing, that it makes a fiery ring"). Catch this track live on KEXP: www.youtube.com
Minnesota kind of Monday with Twin Cities' Jayhawks! "Hollywood Town Hall" is the third full-length of The Jayhawks released in 1992.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah returns on February 24th with "The Tourist".
Sting talks about "So Lonely": "People thrashing out three chords didn't really interest us musically. Reggae was accepted in punk circles and musically more sophisticated, and we could play it, so we veered off in that direction. I mean let's be honest here, 'So Lonely' was unabashedly culled from 'No Woman No Cry' by Bob Marley. Same chorus. What we invented was this thing of going back and forth between thrash punk and reggae. That was the little niche we created for ourselves."
Foals released their powerful sophomore album, "Total Life Forever" in 2010. "Before, I was almost hiding in the music," singer, Philippakis said in an interview with The Guardian about Foals transition in sound on their second album,"I used music to build a fortress around myself. But I realized I needed emotional catharsis. Music can be a soothing balm."
Playing the Crocodile on June 16th! Hurray for the Riff Raff returns with "The Navigator" on March 10th. Check out their 2014 session here: www.youtube.com
If only we could dance like Thom Yorke: www.youtube.com Radiohead is coming to Seattle on April 8th to play Key Arena.
The xx will be playing WaMu Theater on April 24th! They just released their new album, "I See You" a couple of weeks ago.
Don't forget to clap! "Station to Station" was released by the late, great David Bowie on this day 41 years ago!
While most Ramones songs were based on three chords and a memorable melody, "Rock 'n' Roll Radio" is a complex song with the saxophone leading the charge on this track and soaked with influence from 1950s pop songs the band grew up listening to.
Formed in 1991, Rage Against the Machine consists of rapper and vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk. "The Battle of Los Angeles" was released in 1999.
Playing the Neptune on March 18th! Japandroids return with "Near to the Wild Heart of Life" on January 27th!
French Style Furs is the supergroup of Cold War Kids frontman Nathan Willet and bassist Matt Maust alongside We Barbarians drummer Nathan Warketin. They released their debut, "Is Exotic Bait" in 2014.
Austra LIVE on KEXP Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 12:00 PM and later that night at the Crocodile. Want to attend the In-studio viewing at KEXP? Here's how: blog.kexp.org.