Junip: Fields

Artist: JunipTitle: FieldsRelease date: September 14Label: MuteI admit to being one of those swept up in Jose Gonzalez fever in the wake of that TV ad (circa 2003) with all the colorful balls bouncing all over San Francisco. My then-fiancée bought Veneer, the debut album by the Swedish guitarist, and…

Toubab Krewe – Sirens

Song: Toubab Krewe, “Sirens”Context: Just got word that Toubab Krewe will be opening for the Yo Gabba Gabba! live show at Comerica Theatre in December. I wasn’t expecting to see them play Phoenix in support of TK2 since the Valley isn’t a hotbed for jazz-and-Afro influenced instrumental acts, so this…

Beyonce Not Preggers After All

Yesterday Us Weekly reported that Beyonce and Jay-Z have a baby on the way. However, Beyonce’s mother Tina Knowles shot down those rumors, according to Billboard. TMZ has a clip of the pre-recorded Ellen show, which will air today, in which Tina denied any gorgeous kids are on the way…

Are the Newly Serious Gorillaz Any Less Fun? Naw

If Gorillaz ever took themselves completely seriously, would it spell doom for their infectious virtual-band whimsy or make for some iconic, classic postmodernism? Originally just a playful side project for Blur frontman Damon Albarn, the animated quartet captured creative lightning in a bottle with the hip-hop-infused synth pop of 2001’s…

Sufjan Stevens Forsakes His Christian Fans to Create Art

Here’s a summary of nearly all the too-long-didn’t-read reviews you’ll see of Sufjan Stevens’ electro-beat-y new album, The Age of Adz: “He’s not doing the state thing anymore. Something about the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. This album is weird. Where’s the banjo?” Sure, most critics will throw around big words and dance…

Kelley Stoltz: To Dreamers

Artist: Kelley StoltzTitle: To DreamersRelease date: October 12Label: Sub PopSan Francisco’s recent resurgence in the world of garage-y indie rock (Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Fresh & Onlys, Sonny and the Sunsets) is probably in some part due to the work of Kelley Stoltz, who’s been dabbling in mid-fi ’60s-influenced…

Weezer- The Good Life

Song: Weezer, “The Good Life Context: I’m loving the re-issue of Pinkerton. They say my promo copy is water-marked, so I’ve resisted the temptation to upload one of the extra cuts myself. But, trust me, it’s worth buying. Weezer – The Good Life by jhowlett…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 10/21 Issue

T his week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. Is selling two minutes of silence the weirdest thing Thom Yorke has ever done?What are…

Incoming: Combichrist, Buddy Guy, John Mayall, EPMD, Warren G

​It’s a lighter load for this week’s incoming shows — mostly due to the fact that we had two different sets of incoming shows last week. That’s not to say that there aren’t some doozies amongst this week’s announcements, though. For those fans of old-school hip hop, we have EMPD making…

The Fall Frontman Got Feisty at Electric Picnic Festival

The Fall’s frontman Mark E. Smith allegedly threw a bottle at Mumford & Sons at a festival in Dublin last month, according to NME.Way to get aggressive, Mark. And for what? It turns out he simply didn’t like the way Mumford & Sons played during their sound check. Smith also…

Kings of Leon: Come Around Sundown

Artist: Kings of LeonTitle: Come Around SundownRelease date: October 19Label: RCAI think it’s funny that people are getting all bent out of shape over the supposed “selling out” of Kings of Leon, saying their new record sucks worse than that sucky one that sold a bajillion copies a few years…

Jay-Z – Justify My Thug (Flaming Lips Mix)

Song: Jay-Z – Justify My Thug (Flaming Lips Mix)Context: This was the last song on The Black Album I still had rated below three stars on iTunes — before I heard this. The Flaming Lips have announced they’ll be playing The Soft Bulletin in it’s entirety on New Year’s Eve…..

Band Plays Subway Concert Only Using iPhones

Brooklyn band Atomic Tom thought incorrectly when their latest video would be just another blog post, according to Billboard.Atomic Tom performed their song “Take Me Out” on their iPhones three times while riding a New York City subway. The concert was intended to be a publicity stunt, and considering most…

Kings of Leon: Come Around Sundown

A judge on Iron fucking Chef. Just look at him. What the fuck happened to this band? What the fuck happened to Caleb Followill? I sure as shit don’t know, but I give up.Since Kings of Leon were first embraced by UK fans, who lead them down this terrible path,…

The Extra Lens: Undercard

Artist: The Extra LensTitle: UndercardRelease date: October 19Label: MergeIn “Cruiserweight,” John Darnielle (best known for his work with The Mountain Goats) sings “I get better as I get more worn down.” You’ve gotta love anyone growing old in the rock ‘n’ roll game who can make such a statement — and…

Sarah McGuinness, “Mama Can You See Me Now”

Song: Sarah McGuinness, “Mama Can You See Me Now”Context: This song if off the soundtrack to Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story, which McGuiness wrote and produced on her own. 02 Mama Can You See Me Now (Original Version) by Matthew Walker…