• #songoftheday = SLEIGH BELLS: “I CAN ONLY STARE”

    Well, well, well… What have we got here? A BALLAD from Sleigh Bells? Yes, indeed. “I Can Only Stare.” It’s probably not what anyone wanted from Sleigh Bells, but now it exists and if you listen to it with an open mind and try to forget the fact that it’s Sleigh Bells then you just…

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  • CONCERT REVIEW: PHANTOGRAM AND THE RANGE: BOSTON, MA 10/21/16

    CONCERT REVIEW: PHANTOGRAM AND THE RANGE: BOSTON, MA 10/21/16

    review by Michael McCarthy all photos by Joshua Bernard Electronic producer/artist The Range – real name, James Hinton – opened the show, taking to the stage at 8:05 with “New Lots.” He delivered a high energy set of songs mostly taken from his recently released sophomore album Potential and its predescesor Nonfiction. Although he played…

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  • An Exclusive Interview with Michael Clayton Arbeeny of Tyketto

    An Exclusive Interview with Michael Clayton Arbeeny of Tyketto

    interview by Michael McCarthy Tyketto is one of those bands who debuted in the early ’90’s and happened to be good looking, long-haired guys so they were lumped in with hair bands when in reality they were more like a Journey or Night Ranger or Styx. Of course, there were some similarities to hair bands,…

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  • An Exclusive Interview with Chip Z’Nuff of Enuff Z’Nuff

    An Exclusive Interview with Chip Z’Nuff of Enuff Z’Nuff

    interview by Michael McCarthy It’s no secret that Enuff Z’Nuff is my favorite band.  My favorite solo artist is Butch Walker, but my favorite band is easily Enuff Z’Nuff.  The band debuted in the late 80’s and had three modestly successful albums then you could say they vanished into obscurity.  However, they proved to be…

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  • THE RANGE ON THE LINE: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JAMES HINTON

    THE RANGE ON THE LINE: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JAMES HINTON

    interview by Michael McCarthy The Range is the moniker of choice of James Hinton, a super talented quote “electronic musician.” I use the quotes because when many people think of electronic musicians they tend to think of sterile music that lacks the human touch. This is where The Range’s music differs substantially. Rather than just…

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  • AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH BELETH OF NOCTEM

    AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH BELETH OF NOCTEM

    interview by Michael McCarthy Back in 2014 we interviewed Beleth and Exo of Spanish extreme/black metal band Noctem regarding their brutal and mind-blowing album Exilium. Their follow-up album Haeresis was just released in late September and is equally brilliant, jam-packed with shrieked and growled vocals that come at you like a rabid wolf, an onslaught…

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  • NIKKI YANOFSKY: THE LOVE IS POP INTERVIEW

    NIKKI YANOFSKY: THE LOVE IS POP INTERVIEW

    interview by Michael McCarthy Nikki Yanofsky’s “Miss You When I’m Drunk” was recently a song of the day here on Love is Pop and we are now pleased to present you with the following interview with the woman herself. Nikki started off her career almost by accident when she performed at a jazz festival when…

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  • #songoftheday = VALERIE RENAY: “LIVING IN GERMANY”

    “Living In Germany” is the solo debut of the always brilliant Valerie Renay, who you should know from Noblesse Oblige, the dark duo for which she is the singer. Each time Valerie releases something, it seems to be darker than the last and I’d dare say that’s the case with “Living in Germany,” a shockingly…

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  • AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SARAHJANE GIBSON OF STREETS OF LAREDO

    AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SARAHJANE GIBSON OF STREETS OF LAREDO

    interview by Michael McCarthy On October 21st folk rockers Streets of Laredo will release their sophomore album, WILD, via Dine Alone Records. The album is a spectacular set of tunes rich in kaleidoscopic color with lyrics that are inspiring as they inspired. With several different percussive instruments, horns, bass, electric and acoustic guitars and both…

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  • #songoftheday / album review = TYKETTO: “REACH”

    Today’s #songoftheday, “Reach” by Tyketto, was released in late August, but we’re featuring it now on October 14th because their new album of the same name was released today via Frontiers records and in my humble opinion it’s the best album that’s come out during the past couple of weeks. There have been some great…

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  • CONCERT REVIEW: ELOHIM AT THE SINCLAIR, CAMBRIDGE, MA: 10/11/16

    CONCERT REVIEW: ELOHIM AT THE SINCLAIR, CAMBRIDGE, MA: 10/11/16

    This past Tuesday night, October 11th, 2016, I was fortunate to catch the young woman who calls herself Elohim live. The mysterious singer/songwriter/electronic musician is currently out on tour with EDEN, but I’d had insomnia the night before and was too tired to stay and check out his set. I was admittedly unfamiliar with his…

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  • #songoftheday = CHRISTIAN O: “LUCY’S LAIR”

    #songoftheday = CHRISTIAN O: “LUCY’S LAIR”

    Today’s song of the day, “Lucy’s Lair,” is the final song — but first single — from Christian O’s fantastic 8 song EP Shiva’s Dance.  I’m in love with its potent beats.  I couldn’t tell you if they’re programmed beats or live percussion because they sound like both, which I suppose is the point, to…

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  • CATCHING UP 8.0: BANKS, OPERATION: MINDCRIME, BLONDE REDHEAD, LA SERA, DALSHABET, UTADA HIKARU, SONG JI EUN

    CATCHING UP 8.0: BANKS, OPERATION: MINDCRIME, BLONDE REDHEAD, LA SERA, DALSHABET, UTADA HIKARU, SONG JI EUN

    by Michael McCarthy Time sure flies, doesn’t it? These days, mine is taken up by doing interviews for Love is Pop and working on my novel Book of Shadows 2. Yeah, I know, the first book hasn’t even been published yet, but if I can’t find an agent to get me a publishing deal soon…

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  • #songoftheday = DAWN RICHARD: “RENEGADES”

    I’ve been a fan of Dawn Richard since the first time I heard her debut solo album, Goldenheart, which was an almost sci-fi take on R&B with flourishes of avant-garde style pop. She continued to explore these styles on her follow-up album, Blackheart, which she announced as the second album in a trilogy. Well, now…

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