Jul 28, 2014 By Austin Trunick Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands

When it came time for Caroline Polachek to embark on her first solo record, she opted to follow a non-traditional route. Rather than emblazoning her own name—or that of Chairlift, her well-known band—across the front of the LP, she released Arcadia under the alias Ramona Lisa. More

Jul 24, 2014 By Gary Knight Summer 2006 - The Dears

For this Throwback Thursday we revisit our 2006 article on Grizzly Bear, our first print magazine interview with the band (we did interview them a year earlier on our website about their debut album,Horn of Plenty). Read on as Ed Droste discusses the band's sophomore album, Yellow House, and his hope for some hometown recognition.   More

Jul 23, 2014 By John Everhart Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands

Wye Oak's stunning new album Shriek, at the surface, lies in stark contrast to their earlier work. The duo of Jenn Wasner (synths, bass, guitar) and Andy Stack (percussion) have eschewed their trademark guitar and drums sound in favor of something more silvery and abstract, no doubt informed by Wasner's foray into electronic textures on her 2013 side project Dungeonesse.  More

Jul 22, 2014 By John Everhart Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands

Growing stronger with every record, while incrementally increasing its audience for a good part of the past decade, Wye Oak well could've trodden the beaten path and continued with its trademark guitar and drums sound, one that had endeared it to a progressively mainstream audience, including appearances of 2011's Civilian's title track on the likes of The Walking Dead, Being Human, and Safety Not Guaranteed. More

Jul 17, 2014 By Marcus Kager Issue #26 Spring 2009 - Bat For Lashes

For this Throwback Thursday we revisit our 2009 article on Depeche Mode. Read on as Dave Gahan and Andrew Fletcher discusses their 2009 album The Sounds of the Universe, their classic album Violator, their legacy, and Martin Gore's triumph over addiction. More

Jul 15, 2014 By Matt Fink Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands

One of the hardest questions a band has to answer is, unfortunately, probably one of the most common ones they are asked: what kind of music do you make? For Slow Club's Rebecca Taylor, that question came recently when she was making a routine stop at the hairdresser. More

Jul 14, 2014 By Matt Fink Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands

Slow Club's Charles Watson tells a story about the British band's 2009 American tour with Norwegian synthpop band Casiokids, explaining how he and co-leader Rebecca Taylor would stand at the side of the stage and marvel at how the audience would dance in unison during their tourmates' set, as if surrendering themselves to the music. More

Jul 10, 2014 By Matt Fink Summer 2005 - Death Cab for Cutie

For this Throwback Thursday we revisit our 2005 article on Sufjan Stevens. Read on as Stevens discusses his acclaimed 2005 album Illinois, the seemingly since abandoned 50 states project, his relationship to the press, and his discomfort with all the attention he was receiving at the time. More

Jul 09, 2014 By Matt Fink Issue #50 - June/July 2014 - Future Islands

When I ask Lykke Li if her songwriting process is cathartic, she seems to feel insulted. It's a lazy question, I admit, one that's almost guaranteed to elicit a certain answer from a songwriter who writes songs so full of insecurity, restlessness, and self-reproach.  More