Aug 22, 2009 By Mark Redfern Web Exclusive

Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes is currently in his Athens, Georgia, home studio working on the band’s tenth album, which will be titled False Priest and is tentatively due out next spring. We briefly spoke to Barnes this past Wednesday about his progress on False Priest, which he says is influenced by Parliament and the ‘80s No Wave scene. “We’re kind of making this psychedelic, No Wave, funk album,” says Barnes. More

Aug 20, 2009 By Mike Hilleary Issue #26 Spring 2009 - Bat For Lashes

Harlem Shakes singer Lexy Benaim says that while working on the band’s full-length debut, Technicolor Health, he and the rest of the Brooklyn-based quintet would often laugh about the level of self-scrutinizing. “It wasn’t like we came in there punk-rock style and banged it out,” says Benaim. “We pay a lot of attention to detail.” Often joking that the band’s multifaceted compositions could only be fully appreciated by “stoners,” he says, “[It’s for] the kids that have big headphones on, in their dorm room…those people that really dig into the details of your music. You just love that—when people notice hidden harmony or little things that are super subtle like that.” More

Aug 20, 2009 By Marcus Kagler Web Exclusive

It’s been over three years since Midlake made a splash with their sophomore effort, The Trials of Van Occupanther, a smooth lilting slice of ‘70s influenced soft rock littered with Laurel Canyon harmonies and slow rolling beauty. Currently putting the final touches on their third full length, The Courage of Others, guitarist Eric Pulido took a little time out to answer some email questions about the three-year hold up for what sounds like a vastly different, and difficult to record, new album. Midlake has been working on the album for several years now and were actually interviewed in both Under the Radar‘s “Most Anticipated Albums of 2008” and “Most Anticipated Albums of 2009” issues. Pulido promises less piano and “more guitars, flute, and incense.” More

Aug 15, 2009 By Laura Studarus Web Exclusive

Reflecting on a recent show at Los Angeles’ Bordello Bar, Ed Harcourt sounds a bit flustered. “I always seem to be having a bad time on stage,” he moans. “And then I get off stage, and I’m shocked when people say it was good.” Although, when later expounding on a desire to smarten-up his stage act, Harcourt warns, “I don’t think it’s ever going to be too slick—I just can’t do it.” In his head, it’s clear that he can envision the perfect performer—or rather a stereotype to avoid. “You can’t just be standing there in jeans and a t-shirt, looking at your feet, pressing a few guitar pedals. It gets boring after awhile.” More

Aug 11, 2009 By Chris Tinkham Web Exclusive

With his third feature film Beeswax, Bujalski abandons the lighthearted romantic miscues that lent humor to his first two films, in favor of slow-building dramatic tension. More

Aug 07, 2009 By Frank Valish Web Exclusive

On August 25th, Danish band Mew will release perhaps the most ambitious (and ambitiously-titled) album in the group’s decade plus history. No more stories/Are told today/I’m sorry/They washed away/No more stories/The world is grey/I’m tired/Let’s wash away marks a sonic left turn from the more aggressive guitar-based textures of the band’s last album, 2005’s And the Glass Handed Kites. Mew’s Jonas Bjerre talked to Under the Radar about the band’s new album, continuing without bassist Johan Wohlert, and being invited to support Nine Inch Nails on that band’s final U.S. tour. More

Aug 05, 2009 By Matt Fink Issue #27 Summer 2009 - Jarvis Cocker

He’s made a career out of examining every thread in the tapestry of British life, so it should surprise no one that Jarvis Cocker likes to ask questions. More

Aug 04, 2009 By Kyle Lemmon The Thermals

Portland, Oregon’s The Thermals may dub their fourth release, Now We Can See, “post-power-pop” but that doesn’t mean they’re so over the ‘90s. In fact, they embrace everything from “Basketcase” to Pinkerton, on or off stage. Now with a new record label (Kill Rock Stars) and yet another new drummer (Say Hi‘s Westin Glass), Kathy Foster and Hutch Harris are making the festival rounds this summer. More

Aug 03, 2009 By Lorraine Carpenter Iggy Pop

At 62, Iggy Pop is the last wild man of rock ‘n’ roll standing, and rarely standing still. More