Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan: Hawk

Artist: Isobel Campbell & Mark LaneganTitle: HawkRelease date: August 24Label: VanguardIsobel Campbell, who left Belle & Sebastian nearly a decade, is from Scotland but has made, perhaps, my favorite Americana record of the year. On Hawk, she has teamed with former Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 8/19 Issue

This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. How does 19-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen demonstrate everything wrong with his generation? What does JRC, owner…

Groove Candy Hip-Hop Night Returns Aug. 26

After more than a year of occasional one-offs and special events, one of the PHX’s best hip-hop nights is making its return as a weekly. Groove Candy, the ultra-fly affair starring Power 98.3’s DJ M2 makes its comeback on August 26, offering the same swanked-up selection of neo-soul, reggae, and…

Album Stream: !!! – Strange Weather, Isn’t It?

[jump] All four !!! albums have their own standout moments (“Feel Good Hit of the Fall,” “Hello? Is This Thing On?” and “Must Be The Moon,” respectively) and Strange Weather is no exception. The heavy-handed-yet-insanely-funky “Even Judas Gave Jesus a Kiss” is one of the strongest tracks amid a strong…

Street Sweepers Social Club: The Ghetto Blaster EP

Artist: Street Sweepers Social ClubTitle: The Ghetto Blaster EPRelease date: August 10Label: Street Sweepers Social ClubWhile the singer for Rage Against the Machine clings to relevancy by lending what little celebrity weight he still has to the civil rights cause in Arizona, the guitarist is still bashing out those Rage-y…

Hey, Super Slow Justin Bieber Does Sound Just Like Sigur Rós!

Maybe you’ve seen this little gem floating around the interwebs: When Justin Bieber’s “U Smile” is slowed down by 800% it sounds just like Icelandic post rockers Sigur Rós. And you thought that kid was a bratty little douchenozzle because of this stupid haircut!(Or the way he fucked over a…

Belle and Sebastian, “We Are The Sleepyheads”

Song: Belle and Sebastian, “We Are The Sleepyheads” Context: Pondering the new Belle and Sebastian record which, according to Pitchfork, will be called Write About Love. I’m 99% sure this reality show this is a complete put-on though. Belle and Sebastian – We Are The Sleepyheads by MyCB ♫♪ Music…

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin: Let It Sway

Hell, a lot has changed with indie rock/pop since 2005. Where Broom captured the innocence of a slowly building scene, Let It Sway finds itself mired in a chronological crisis — struggling to find its footing with these modern times. Fans of the band will mostly appreciate the band’s tweaking…

Lissie: Catching a Tiger

Artist: LissieTitle: Catching a TigerRelease date: August 17Label: Fat PossumI’m declaring a moratorium on the word “douchebag.” It’s now the most overused word of the year, and it’s time to give it a rest. Thank you for your consideration.What’s better than the word douchebag is the California-via-Illinois singer Lissie, who…

John Mayer May Be Hot, But His Stage Faces Are Just Plain Douchey

There are way too many reasons to count why John Mayer is sort of a douchebag — a gorgeous douchebag, but a douchebag, nonetheless. Whether he’s making racist remarks, sharing way too much of himself on Twitter or going through Hollywood starlets like they’re yesterday’s trash, Mayer always manages to…

21 Questions: JRC

Welcome to 21 Questions, a regular feature where PHXmusic.com goes to the favorite hangout of a notable Phoenician and asks the “big” questions. This week we met up with The Trunk Space’s JRC at Baiz Market in Phoenix. Walking into Baiz Market, I’m blown away by the bustling indoor oasis of…

Black Sabbath, “Warning”

Song: Black Sabbath, “Warning”Context: Did you know Black Sabbath’s debut was released on Friday the 13th? Me either. Records normally come out on Tuesdays, so that took a bit of extra effort.  Warning – Black Sabbath…

Jimmy Eat World: Invented

Artist: Jimmy Eat WorldTitle: InventedRelease date: September 28Label: DGC RecordsCan any good come from my criticizing the work of hometown heroes/local legends/scene benefactors/all-around nice guys Jimmy Eat World? Answer: No. They’re more important than me, richer than me, more musically talented than me, and have millions more fans than me. When…