I’ve been in love with Joanna Newsom since the release of her 2004 album, The Milk-Eyed Mender.  I still remember the yellow album artwork with its cross-stitched designs, and how perfectly it fit the whimsy of her songs.
Like most listeners, my initial reaction was to her jarring vocals — the squeaks and cracks of her voice were irritating, and yet something I had never heard before.  Something kept me listening to this classically trained harpist, and by about the third listen, I was captivated. She had this tiny little voice that …

After a small South American tour, a line-up change, and a relatively quiet 2009, British band Los Campesinos! return with Romance Is Boring, the follow-up to 2008’s We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed. Formed four years ago at Cardiff University, Wales, Los Campesinos! consists of seven members (none of whom are Welsh, strangely enough) who have all adopted the last name Campesinos! (Spanish for “country person”) along with a knack for writing upbeat indie pop.
Los Campesinos! is signed to one of my favorite labels, Arts & Crafts (Canada), alongside such …

The Drums, originally from central Florida, hearken back to the days of surf and sun with their incessantly catchy brand of jangle pop and 50’s rock. Their debut EP “Summertime!” landed firmly in WCWM’s A-list upon its release, and beyond campus the band has been burning up the ears of critics worldwide. Recently, the BBC shortlisted the band as one of the top 15 bands to watch in 2010, while NME declared them “New York’s coolest new band.” Lead singer Jonathan Pierce was courteous enough to take some time to answer a few questions while the band finishes their debut LP for 2010.