Spirit Freed

Andrew Bird’s Noble Beast

Most works of western tonal music are characterized by the regular recurrence of rhythmically patterned pulses. Andrew Bird's eccentric cross-pollination of gypsy ballad violin and folk infused art-rock is defined by it. The importance of meter and repetition is clear on Noble Beast , even thematically, as whistled motifs emerge in defiant contrast to already established themes. Noble Beast is Bird’s fourth solo album and it made its debut this past January as a live stream on NPR....

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

You know how when you want to see a movie before anyone else has the chance you go on opening night at your local theater? Afterall, it’s the only place you can see it, and you’ve got to be the first... This windowed model of exlusivity is rapidly becoming a new form of early distribution for artists hoping to capitalize on an alternative way to deliver their art to fans who care intimately about a direct connection with the musicians they love. It’s also the latest distribution method used by B...

Nine Inch Nails Album Is Free Online

For the second time, Nine Inch Nails has released an album off of its website. The newest album, titled "The Slip", is entirely free. Says Reznor on the site, "thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years - this one's on me." This represents the first time an artist has distributed an entire album without providing fans any...

For Emma, Forever Ago

Justin Vernon's debut album, "For Emma, Forever Ago" is steeped in mysticism, romance, and the deep spirit of nature. Vernon sings under the pseudonym "Bon Iver" a slight modification of the French bon hiver, meaning "good winter", and indeed there is an intimate presence of the cold and dark penetrating nights of winter pulsating throughout the album. In making the album, Vernon retired himself to an isolated log cabin during a Wisconsin winter for what he called a period of "hibernation". I li...