Under the Radar | Music Blog for the Indie Music Magazine

On Consolation E.P. Detroit scum-rockers Protomartyr collaborate for the second time with R. Ring members Kelley Deal (also of The Breeders) and Mike Montgomery to create a four-song Black-Lodge-dream of personal and political apocalypse.

Melody’s Echo Chamber
Bon Voyage

Jun 18, 2018 Web Exclusive

With a more plunderphonic aesthetic than was present on her debut, Melody Prochet returns to the psych rock fray with a compact seven-track record, entitled Bon Voyage. Here, the Echo Chamber takes on a homegrown sound: with audio samples and spoken word, more nods to French '60s and experimental rock, and less homage paid to her Tame Impala ex-partner/producer, Kevin Parker.

Lykke Li
so sad so sexy

Jun 18, 2018 Web Exclusive

For quite some time now, Lykke Li has specialized in soundtracking a particular kind of moment. So often on her previous releases, she has perfectly encapsulated a crossroad between being disillusioned with love whilst also being completely submissive in its presence.

Classic Interviews

CHVRCHES
Synth Pop Sanctuary

Jul 12, 2013 Issue #45 - Winter 2013 - Phoenix

CHVRCHES' euphoric electro pop can't be shaken. The Scottish trio blends floor-rattling synths and rhythm loops with sweet, wide-eyed vocals. Ahead of the release of their first EP, Recover, and forthcoming debut album, The Bones of What You Believe, the band, which uses the 'v' rather than 'u' to make their name easier to find on search engines, has already earned comparisons to Purity Ring and The xx. Singer Lauren Mayberry had only been recording with keyboardists Iain Cook and Martin Doherty for less than a year before two of their early tracks, "Lies" and "The Mother We Share," took off online in mid-2012.

Comic Book Reviews

Sabrina
Drawn & Quarterly

May 17, 2018 Web Exclusive

Drnaso beautifully weaves an intricate story-simultaneously a riveting character study and a parable about the dangerous spread of misinformation and doubt-that blooms wider with every subsequent panel.

Book Reviews

John Andrew Fredrick
Fucking Innocent: The Early Films Of Wes Anderson

Apr 10, 2018 Web Exclusive

Full of erudition and insight, John Andrew Fredrick's book on the early films of Wes Anderson also has a great feel for the auteur's characters, and for Anderson himself.

News

Kurt Vile Announces November and December Tour Dates

Jun 19, 2018 Christopher Roberts

Full on election season is approaching with midterm elections this fall and Kurt Vile has announced that he's hitting the campaign trail in November and December. In other words, he's announced some tour dates in an amusing way, with endorsements from various venues across the land. He is partnering with PLUS1 to donate one dollar from every ticket sold to the ACLU.

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Interviews

Wye Oak on “The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs”

Jun 19, 2018 Issue #63 - Courtney Barnett

You pour your heart into it. You dedicate hours, long nights, lingering years to it. You strive until your muscles and mind and emotions sear from the strain. And finally, when it's in your grasp, and yet you still have to wrestle with it... well, then what?

Tune-Yards on “I can feel you creep into my private life”

Jun 18, 2018 Issue #63 - Courtney Barnett

When Merrill Garbus began work on Tune-Yards' I Can Feel You Creep Into My Personal Life in January 2016, she had a difficult decision to make. How should an artist—especially one who tries to use her life and work to contribute to dialogs surrounding difficult topics in her native Oakland, California—react to the era of Black Lives Matter and President Donald Trump?

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Pleased to meet you

Caroline Rose on Finding Herself, Buying Crocs, and Complex Pop Music

Jun 13, 2018 Issue #63 - Courtney Barnett

Picture the opener of Caroline Rose's new album, LONER: you've been invited to an old crush's party, and you can't relate to anyone in the room. The chicks hang back against the wall with their cutesy shorts and other clothes you definitely can't afford, while the dudes slug beers and guffaw at the ping-pong tables.

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Lists

Beach House - 10 Best Songs: Ranking the Best Tracks from Teen Dream to 7

May 23, 2018

With their latest album 7, Beach House has now released eight albums (seven studio albums and one rarities and B-sides release) and 83 songs. Distilling these 83 songs down to a 10 best was a daunting task but one that was met with an enthusiastic glee. Not much is better than revisiting Beach House's entire catalog of their signature dream-pop formula of airy guitars, hushed indie-rock beats, and ethereal vocals. From their self-titled 2006 debut to the recently released 7, their sound shimmers with lush and gossamer melodies, catchy beats and softly soaring guitar riffs. Of course it proved too difficult to pick just 10 tracks, so below is list of the top 14. A 10 best and four honorable mentions.

Of course all of this is subjective, this is simply the opinion of one writer. No doubt you have your own list of favorite Beach House songs. And yes, we are aware there are no songs from the band's first two albums, 2006's Beach House and 2008's Devotion; we feel they truly came into their own with their third album, 2010's Teen Dream. By Matt the Raven

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