Lunar Boulevard

Did you know one millions Earths could fit into the sun? You've probably heard that before but if you haven't then now you know.  That is one big ball of gas.

As if a new album this year wasn't enough, Switchfoot has now graced us with a seven-song EP of songs that didn't make the cut of the album Fading West but managed to make their way into the film. While watching the documentary I remember thinking that it was a shame the unreleased songs weren't released along with the album. Leave it to Switchfoot to read my mind and now this digital release allows us to experience them for ourselves. The laid-back groove of "Fading West" is pleasant and arguably the most upbeat song in this collection along with the EP's title track. Tracks like "Against the Voices" and "Skin and Bones" are quintessential Switchfoot, exploring the struggle between the physical and the spiritual. The moody atmospherics of "Slow Down My Heartbeat" recall The Flaming Lips, which is pretty cool and a nice change of direction for the band. "Liberty" incorporates a danceable beat that is incredibly ...

As soon as the opening notes of "All the Rage Back Home" kick in, there's something strangely comforting about Interpol's post-punk sensibilities and frontman Paul Banks' melancholy yet energetic voice. After a four year absence El Pintor is akin to visiting an old friend: it's a warm and driving experience that does exactly what you expect it to do. Interpol has had the unfortunate case that many successful bands have after delivering a stunning debut, and that's living in the shadow of early success. Each album has been them grow and expand while never straying too far from the original template that made them critical darlings. I've enjoyed each record but have to admit that their 2010 self-titled effort was a plodding and depressing affair that showed some brilliant moments lost in a wave of uncertainty and turmoil. With this record the band sounds rejuvenated, with tracks like "Anywhere" and "My Desire" being among the ...

Back in March I complained about U2 stalling and not releasing new music after 5 1/2 years of telling us that new music was on the way. I'm thankful to say that, as always, my favorite band came through with a surprise (!) release yesterday. If you have an iTunes account then Songs of Innocence is FREE and can be found automatically in your library. If it's slow or doesn't show up just look in the iTunes Store at your Purchases link and you'll find it, where you can choose to send it to your library.  This is the kind of marketing and strategy I've been wanting the band to embrace for a long time, and they did it bigger and better than I could have dreamed. It's good to have them back.

Did you know Mars has the biggest dust storms in the entire solar system? If not then you do now. They can last for months at a time and cover the entire surface of the planet. These extreme seasons are caused by the planet's elliptical orbit around the sun.  It makes our weather here seem better by comparison.  

Six years after their last album of original material, Counting Crows are back. Somewhere Under Wonderland is a solid comeback for the band, even if it feels a bit disconnected at  the seams. Palisades Park is an ambitious opener, complete with a jazzy intro and shifting dynamics. The band still has the ability to take an eight minute song and make it feel completely effortless. Frontman Adam Duritz can still weave an engrossing story as tracks like John Appleseed's Lament and the rock-flavored Dislocation clearly demonstrate. The aggressive tones of Dislocation and Elvis Went to Hollywood recall some of the band's earlier work on records like Recovering the Satellites, yet it's the folk-driven narratives of God of Ocean Tides, Scarecrow and Cover Up the Sun that manage to keep the record interesting. Most of these tracks recall stories of traveling and life on the road, giving the record an undercurrent of dislocation and late nights. The piano-dr...