The music is restrained without losing a sense of emotion, in a way that only someone who has complete control of the craft would be able to do.

Austin, Texas is widely called the live music capital of the world and continually boasts a very well regarded music scene. Last Wednesday night Minneapolis was able to see two examples of the prowess that the city has to offer when White Denim and Brazos rolled into the city for a show at the 400 Bar.

I think that if you took a poll of music fans, you would find that a majority would say that the best National album is their 2007 record Boxer. I would disagree.

Astro Coast is a very strong debut album that has all of the makings of a band that is about to be heard by a large number of people. Like Cymbals Eat Guitar did earlier in the year, the band liberally take a pastiche of benchmark influences and adds their own dynamic to make a really strong record.

Video footage of Minneapolis’ Red Pens performing a series of new songs as well as coverage of Gospel Gossip, Telepathos & the Sun and the Satellite at the 501 Club.

Mark Lanegan’s voice combined with the ethereal sound textures laid down by the Soulsavers team makes for one of the most dramatic and arresting collaborations of the decade.

The best of the month of October as chosen by Culture Bully contributors.

Michigan was relatively straightforward when compared to its much ballyhooed follow up, Illinois, but the album packs quite a punch.

For all the attention paid to multiple Canadian indie rock bands, there is one that has seemingly slipped through the cracks: Plants and Animals.

When the lead single “a happening” from L.A.’s hyperstory hit my stereo, I was intrigued to find that, among other, more traditional pop institutions, I heard a little bit of the Damon Albarn side project Gorillaz.

Even for people like myself who absolutely loved portions of his debut, I think it is safe to say that no one expected something so amazing out of James Murphy when he released Sound of Silver.

The album ultimately succeeds because the band writes great, scuzzy rock and roll songs and plays the hell out of them. When you got that down, you don’t need any of the extra stuff.