Drake Baer

Fiona Apple, ‘The Idler Wheel…’ – Album Review
If you’ll forgive the amateur psychoanalysis, permit the following observations: For all of her complexities, Fiona Apple is simple. She wants to be loved and accepted. Intensely intelligent and continually wounded, her finest work — like the present ‘Idler Wheel’ — traces the complexities of relationships within and between us. These 10 lean songs exhibit a genius at her most restrained, most eff

Gotye, ‘Eyes Wide Open’ – Song Review
With a bassline made with a gigantic musical fence (only in Australia!), Gotye‘s ‘Eyes Wide Open’ is arguably more tense than ‘Somebody That I Used To Know,’ though it lacks quite the same charge as the song that (has almost) made he and Kimbra stars. Nonetheless, ‘Eyes Wide Open’ is a sincere, exciting cut, not destined to conquer charts, but sure to make its home in more than a few hearts.
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Counting Crows Release Free Songs on BitTorrent
The Counting Crows’ new album is all covers — and the long-lasting alt-rock band’s giving away a sampler via BitTorrent. Grab the download bundle of ’Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation)’ here.

The Royalty, ‘Please Lie’ (Demo) – Free Download
Nicole Boudreau’s problems are her listeners’ pleasure: The sunny-voiced singer leads the Royalty, an El Paso, Texas-based band that plays ’60s-centric soul songs alive with heartbreak. Boudreau draws easy comparisons to Amy Winehouse, but with less vamp and more lamp, and like the late siren she wears her vulnerablities on her sleeve. Her verses sound like diary entries detailing a night out with

Skrillex to Ride the Rails for 2012 Summer Tour With Diplo, Grimes
Trains, raves, and Canada: while those three things may not seem interconnected, they’re about to be in union, as Skrillex, Grimes, and Diplo plan to travel across the Great White North with a six-stop Canadian tour in July 2012 — check the dates below.

Ben Folds Five Launch Crowdsourcing Initiative to Fund New Album
Ben Folds Five have launched a crowdsourcing campaign to fund their new album — and reached more than 85% of their undisclosed goal only six hours in, with more than 1,200 pledges. Check a track from the forthcoming record on the campaign’s site and make a donation if you wish — surely beginning your week with good indie rock karma.

Beastie Boys’ Website Posts Statement Regarding Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch’s Death
After almost three years of fighting cancer, Adam Yauch — aka MCA — passed away. He’s deeply missed by his Beastie Boys brethren, with tweets aplenty pouring out from rock stars and fans alike. And now comes an official statement post on the band’s official website, beastieboys.com. Check it out below: