Tag Archives: the national

Sharon Van Etten Shares the Love

MP3: Sharon Van Etten – “Don’t Do It”
MP3: Sharon Van Etten – “Love More”

Sharon Van Etten‘s 2010 effort, Epic, wound up on more year-end lists than she could count on two hands — winning over influential outlets like NPR, The LA Times, Stereogum, and The Washington Post. But while Van Etten was surely happy to receive the praise, the Brooklyn songstress was also busy doing other things, like recording a new soon-to-be best album of the year in the garage of The National‘s Aaron Dessner.

Van Etten credits her success to a “relentless” 2010 touring schedule, and she plans for 2011 to be no different: she recently confirmed a headlining U.S. tour that includes a European stint with The National, three days at SxSW, and a gig at San Diego’s Soda Bar. More information on her new album is yet to be released, but for the full list of tour dates, see below. Continue reading…

Owl and Bear’s Best Albums of 2010


Owl and Bear writers’ favorite albums of 2010. Continue reading…

Bonnaroo 2010, Part 2: Friday & Saturday

Friday kicked off with an acoustic set by Dr. Dog — a good start to any day. O&B favorites Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros put on a standout performance that had the entire crowd singing and foot-stomping along to “Home.” Unfortunately, their set was unusually short — clocking in at just over half an hour.
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Review: The National; May 23, 2010; Spreckels, San Diego

Photos by Natalie Kardos

It’s official: The National are a great band.

The Cincinnati group’s newly released LP, High Violet, is their third stellar album in a row, completing the astonishing trilogy they began with 2005’s Alligator and 2007’s Boxer. Like those records, High Violet finds the band in peak form, maintaining a calculated mastery of their material that begins when the needle drops and doesn’t let up until the final track fades away. Continue reading…

Poetic Memory: Red Wire Black Wire (List)

Red Wire Black Wire are originally from Connecticut but now call the hip streets of Brooklyn their home.

Drawing from a palette of new wave influences that includes Depeche Mode and The Human League, the six-piece use synth-heavy, melancholic rock songs to paint a surrealistic picture of life in the big city. The success of their first LP, Robots and Roses, has helped the band build up a solid fan base in New York. Red Wire Black Wire are currently preparing an as-yet-untitled EP of remixes and B-sides for release this year.

Lead singer Doug Walters recently gave us a peek at the music that has shaped his band’s sound. His Poetic Memory is below. Continue reading…