Even long-time fans of Iron & Wine, who have observed as Texas-based folkie Sam Beam has taken in more rock and country influences on his past two discs, couldn't have seen this album coming.
Sometimes one song can tell you everything you need to know about an album. Spirit if ..., the new disc from Broken Social Scene's founder Kevin Drew, has one of these songs.
The purists who cried "Judas!" at Bringing It All Back Home must be fuming at the state of folk music these days.
As the ambassadors for the latest and greatest possibly non-existent genre of British rock music, new rave, Klaxons have a lot of weight on their shoulders.
After her single "Smile" hit number one on the British charts last July, Lily Allen became the subject of close attention from MP3 bloggers and pop cognoscenti of all stripes this side of the Atlantic.
In the 1966 smash-hit "These Boots are Made for Walkin'," Nancy Sinatra charged "You keep samin' when you oughtta be a-changin'." The same could not be said about Lee Hazlewood, the pop auteur who wrote and produced the song.
Isobel Campbell released an album with Mark Lanegan in March that is already justifiably being praised as one of the best albums of the year.
Since 2002, Rod Stewart has had three top-10 entries in the Billboard album charts, and he's made it look so easy.
Indie-pop powerhouses The Decemberists have garnered much well-earned acclaim during their five-year existence, due mostly to bandleader Colin Meloy's melodic prowess and imaginative lyrics.
