listening to | volcano choir, repave

If you are a fan of Justin Vernon's work and you have been missing some of the sounds we heard with Bon Iver's For Emma, then the latest album from Vernon's band Volcano Choir might just do the trick. Set to release September 3rd, Repave creates the familiar mysterious, but expressive sound and lyrics that are reminiscent of Bon Iver and "work wonders in arrangements that swell and boom."

NPR's First Listen once again lets us have a sneak peak at this latest body of work and I highly recommend pressing play right now...

passion pit!

I am super excited to be heading to the Passion Pit concert tonight and NPR must have been tuned in because this Tiny Desk concert featuring the band just came out-perfect timing! I am actually going to be volunteering with RadioMilwaukee prior to the show, so if you're local and checking out the show be sure to swing by the 88.9 booth for a chance to win some free "swag" :)

In the meantime, check out this stripped down Passion Pit performance
to get your morning started off right! 

listening to | sharon van etten "serpents"

I just started listening to Sharon Van Etten in the past few months and I definitely like what I am hearing! I have a whole handful of friends who have been fans for years and I wish I had tuned in earlier...but glad to have some new music to listen to now :) Take a listen to "Serpents" from her latest album Tramp....

You can also check out more of her music here from NPR's World Cafe interview over the summer!

listening to | mumford & sons

Very excited that Mumford & Sons released their new album, Babel, yesterday. Since they are one of my favorite bands, I figured we could all start out day with one of their new songs, "Whispers in the Dark". If you like what you hear, you can check out more of their live performance (and an interview) on WFUV...I know I will! 

Now if they would only come to Milwaukee for a show, fingers crossed!

listening to | lorde

The past few weeks I keep hearing the hit song "Royals" by the New Zealand native, Lorde aka Ella Yelich-O'Connor and it has managed to completely get stuck in my head (in a good way!) Apparently, Lorde is the first woman in 17 years to top the alternative songs chart AND she is only 16 years old-nuts! 

Have a listen and see for yourself why some call this the real "song of the summer"...

listening to | Beach House: Bloom

NPR just released a "First Listen" of Beach House's fourth album, Bloom....I am in love. There is just something so effortless and dreamy about their music. I encourage you to check out the album, you can listen to it in its entirety here as well as pre-order the album via iTunes or Amazon.  My personal favorites are "Wild" and "Other People" I have had it on repeat for a few days and can't wait to have it for my own! 

excerpt from NPR: 

The band's fourth album, Bloom, is unquestionably a Beach House record, and one that on the surface feels more like a continuation than the product of evolution. That is, until you go back and hear how far this band has truly come. Through its first three records, Beach House's development has followed an almost imperceptibly subtle yet linear path: The murky production has become cleaner and less hissy. The vocal lines shine brighter through the haze. The aching, dreamy melodies are more memorable.

listening to | edward sharpe "40 day dream"

one of my favorite videos, brought to you by the talented Ms. Kaliya Warren