It's Gold Motel's Vinyl District! | The Chicago Sound

Brooklyn, New York, Austin, and Nashville are all major musical cities with very recognizable musical sounds.

Chicago, however, still seems to be searching for a musical identity that reflects the city's up-beat, classic, easy going nature. There's a smart, quirky pop movement happening in Chicago and the rest of the US deserves to be let in on all the fun we're having.
Here are the five songs I feel best represent the Chicago pop scene:

Sars Flannery

Empty Gun (Mp3)


The Yearbooks

She Did It With Her Eyes (Mp3)


This Is Me Smiling

Mixin' Up Adjectives (Mp3)


The Hush Sound

Love You Much Better (Mp3)


Skybox

Various Kitchen Utensils (Mp3)

TVD Fresh Track | New from The Mynabirds

As much as I'm often loathe to admit it, Pitchfork was spot-on this morning with their review of DC native Laura Burhenn's new release as The Mynabirds, 'What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood.'

A despite the title of the new track, you can count us among the cheer-leading hordes as well.

The Mynabirds - Let The Record Go (Mp3)

TVD Ticket Giveaway | John Doe with Exene Cervenka, Thursday (4/29) at Iota

John Doe's out on the road playing a couple of shows on the East Coast this spring with legendary X band member and former wife, Exene Cervenka, and the first date on the tour stops at Iota this Thursday night - right here in our own backyard.

As a founding member of punk monoliths X, he seized his rightful place as one of the most influential musicians in American alternative music in the 1980’s, clearing a path for the revolution in that genre that would take place a decade later. Since launching his solo career in 1990 with the dusty road-poetry of Meet John Doe, John has produced six stunning roots rock albums of frightening honesty and vision. A Year in the Wilderness, 2008’s highly successful EP, The Golden State, and his most recent outing with The Sadies, Country Club—a record of classic country covers—are no exception.



I know I could write a ton on X and John and Exene, so we'll offer a pair of tickets for Thursday night's show in exchange for your comment in the comments to this post in regard to the legendary duo. The best one (with contact info!) grabs the tickets for Thursday's unique event. We'll choose a winner by 9AM on Thursday morning!

John Doe - The Golden State (Mp3)

It's Gold Motel's Vinyl District! | The Thin White Duke

The Thin White Duke era of David Bowie’s career is by far my favorite Bowie alter-ego and persona. During this period, some of my favorite Bowie material was also recorded (i.e 1976′s Station to Station).

The Duke was not as eccentric as Bowie’s previous personas, nor as conceptual. The Duke was the product of the mass amounts of cocaine Bowie was taking turning this time period, causing Bowie’s personality to become as alarming as it was temperamental. At this point in his life, Bowie claimed to have lived off of “red peppers, cocaine, and milk.”
—Eric Hehr


David Bowie - Golden Years (Mp3)
David Bowie - TVC15 (Mp3)
David Bowie - Stay (Mp3)