There’s a certain type of music that’s hard to write about. I’m not complaining (I get paid to do this), but I mention this because last week I was asked to describe the sound of electronic act Operative, my new favorite Portland band. So what do I do? Try to explain the concept of a [...] Related posts:

Just say no to drugs—unless, of course, drugs make your band better. p>by Saxon Baird [PSYCHEDELIC U.K. POP] The music of the Clientele is very English and very sad. Its songs are full of regretful reflections and a longing for the return to fleeting moments of happiness. Despite the somber tone, lead singer and prima

And And And We’ll Be Better Off With The Plants (Self-Released) [WILD BASEMENT POP] It’s hard to follow up a song like “The Great Tide,” the opening track from And And And’s debut record, We’ll Be Better Off With the Plants. That track melds a handful of winning pop strategies—the

A rough breakup prompted Rachelle Schmid to find a new hobby as a booster for Portland music. WW’s series on local radio continues. In the sub-basement of Portland State University’s Smith Memorial Student Union, which houses the studio of the college’s radio station, KPSU, Rachelle Schmid is debriefing ye

WW checks in with the Billboard Hot 100 Black Eyed Peas, “Imma Be” The Black Eyed Peas find themselves in Houston, then wander off into Daft Punk territory. Which part is supposed to get stuck in my head? Young Money, “BedRock” I can see why people like this infectious beat, and Lil Wayne gives it c

White Hinterland’s Casey Dienel turns to modern R&B to find her voice. You wouldn’t know it from looking at her, but Casey Dienel—the self-proclaimed “really small white girl” who performs under the name White Hinterland—can rap along to T.I.’s verse in Justin Timberlake’

Congratulations to PDX Pop founder/ Merc columnist/ All-ages advocate Cary Clarke on landing a position with the Mayor’s office today. Clarke (also a runner-up for WW’s own Skidmore Prize) had been living in Seattle as of late, but he’ll come on back down the I-5 to start his new job on April 15. Clarke&#

Though it’s not an official single, “Amsterdam” is one of my favorite songs off White Hinterland’s astounding new record, Kairos. In the past White Hinterland’s singer-songwriter Casey Dienel has dabbled in rhythm and soul, including her spacey cover of Justin Timberlake’s “My Love,

While Midlake’s newest record hasn’t received the acclaim the Texas outfit is used to, 2006’s near perfect The Trials Of Van Occupanther is a tough act to follow. In fact, had that been the only release of the band’s decade-long career, its existence still would have been more than worth it. But that’s not to

I have to be quite honest up front and admit that most of the tracks on the Cyclops Music Collective’s new compilation (called the Cyclops) haven’t spoken to me. It’s not the earthy, positive message that’s rubbing me the wrong way—I’m cool with that—it’s just not quite my breed of hi

First and foremost, IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!!!
 Birthday wish: To bathe in a kiddie pool filled with Munster cheese (in Munster, Germany right now), nude and outside in the German winter.

 Days when a trans-Atlantic flight deposits you day of show can be a little rough at first. Until of course you remember that Daniels

I’ve always been drawn to subtle and unique lyricism, but on the flipside of that, I’ve always had a mixed relationship with story-songs. It’s possible, when telling a story in song, to get so specific that the listener can’t relate anymore. This would especially bug me when I was a kid: Rock operas

Whaddya get when you cross a little New Order with some Vampire Weekend and a tablespoon of Menomena? God I hate it when people talk about music that way. Let’s start over… There’s a reason record labels often have a “no unsolicited demos” rule. Because unsolicited demos are a fine way to wind

Longtime readers know that I’m fascinated by the Soul P saga. P, born Michael Greene, has gone from Portland underground MC to being hand-picked as the savior of Christian rap. He’s a dynamic emcee, a thoughtful lyricist as prone to talking politics as he is to talking about his own considerable swag (Mr. P is [

Today WW started a five-part series on local radio. The series was born out of an email from a WW writer, asking whether Portland had a cool, go-to station. “I might be missing something,” he said. Seattle has KEXP, Los Angeles has KCRW—and we often sing the praises of local music, so where’s Portland

Cascade Community Radio looks to change the way you listen to music. On a plush couch in the back of Northeast Portland bar Tiga, Jeff Hylton Hylton Simmons asks if I know what time it is. “About 10 till 10,” I tell him. He opens his laptop. “All I’ve got to do is turn this thing [...] Related post

Five places you can’t throw a rock without hitting a member of the MarchFourth Marching band. Crystal Ballroom on Thursday, March 4We celebrate our birthday…with YOU! The bike laneOne right (wrong) turn and you may run one of us over. Last Thursday on AlbertaEven if we’re not playing, we are there, man. Go

Mimicking Birds Self-Titled (Glacial Pace) [SOFT PSYCH POP] I don’t envy the task of transforming Nate Lacy’s spiraling, naturalist and homemade acoustic pop songs into fully produced album form. So strange and singular are those songs (which he’s been recording on his own for the past four years as Mimic

p>FORMED: 1997 in Southern California, before relocating to Lawrence, Kan. SOUNDS LIKE: A marching band being pulled into a black hole; snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef (while high). FOR FANS OF: Explosions in the Sky, Sunny Day Real Estate, Battles, My Bloody Valentine. WHY YOU CARE: In the beginning, you shouldn’

The former Beulah frontman overcomes illness and bad luck to release his debut solo album. [RECOVERY ROCK] In the six years since his beloved indie pop band Beulah split up, Miles Kurosky has been through a lot. He married his girlfriend. He had two surgeries on his shoulder, where eight screws were inserted to repair a [..

The press material for Nick Jaina’s upcoming album, A Bird in the Opera House, goes out of its way to mention the house that he recorded it in. Jaina—who might be Portland’s preeminent folk troubadour at this point—can make any song sound like a home, and there’s no question that location and physical

When Tu Fawning went from being a duo (founding members Joe Haege and Corrina Repp) to a quartet (adding Lisa Rietz and Toussaint Perrault), everything changed: The live shows got more exciting; the music became more layered and earthy; the anticipation for a full-length album became harder to bear. Basically, the band star

The next album from the Builders and the Butchers is going to feature nothing but vibraphone, xylophone, and vocals. OK, that’s not exactly true, but the day I peeked in on them recording at Type Foundry, they were just wrapping things up with a few vibes and vocal tracks. So I just had them mess [...] Related posts

Sure, some blogs just TELL you that Pickathon has a great lineup this year. Maybe they even tell you this information “in a timely fashion.” But here at LocalCut, where our slogan is “You Read Here Because We Let You*,” you’ll take your Pickathon news two weeks late and loaded with YouTube clip

Because this is marginally music-related, we have the joy of rebroadcasting it here for you. This segment went up a week or so ago on KATU’s YouTube page. We got a kick out of it (for so many reasons). That is all. Related posts:Music and Reebok Pumps: A Love Story “IfLC News Roundup Since Jay-The Thermals&#

The worst feeling for a band is recording an album and then waiting in limbo for its eventual release. Way back in February of last year, the delicate folk-pop quartet Y La Bamba recorded its debut full-lenth, Lupon, with the help of the Decemberists’ Chris Funk. Though many people in the local music scene and [...]

I’ve been hearing about Tope’s solo album for a few years now, so the anticipation has built up to fever level. How stoked was I, then, to get a brand new cut in the mail today with the promise of a full-length arriving later this week? Very. Adding to the excitement is that Tope has [...] Related posts:

Has it been a year already? Well, no, but the fine folks over at PDX Pop Now! (side note for those who are new to Portland or haven’t paid attention these last seven years: PDX Pop Now! is Portland’s annual all-local, free and all-ages music festival, and it’s a blast) are already getting us warmed [...]

Four Tet The music of Kieran Hebden has always been difficult to pin down. Since arriving in the early ’90s as a member of post-rock outfit Fridge, Hebden has left an imprint on the musical landscape by consistently sidestepping expectations and exploring genres like free jazz, kraut rock and pastoral British folk. A

Sue Graham Mingus and the Mingus Big Band keep a legend alive. When legendary jazz composer/bassist/pianist Charles Mingus died 31 years ago, he left his wife, Sue, with very specific instructions. “I want to be cremated. In India,” Sue quotes him as saying in her 2002 memoir, Tonight at Noon. “I don’