Cocteau Twins

Hamilton Leithauser of the Walkmen recalls his early experiences with the DC punk scene

The Walkmen were one of the most successful bands that came out of the so-called post-punk revival of the turn of the century. With catchy melodies more bright than the dark and brooding variety favored by many of its contemporaries, this New York-based act also endured changes in tastes a little be ... More >>

Oliver Ackerman of A Place to Bury Strangers on the joys of creating Total Sonic Annihilation

A Place to Bury Strangers makes the kind of guitar rock that doesn't just carry melody but is rather a palpable, elemental presence in the room. From early on, the act drew immediate comparisons to My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, the Cure and Big Black, as critics searched for adequate an ... More >>

Neil Halstead on playing solo without a setlist and being able to react to the audience

Neil Halstead was one of the guitarists and singers in pioneering shoegaze and ambient band Slowdive in the late '80s and early '90s. Taking guitar sounds and often blurring the sonic signature with synths through creative use of delay pedals and loops, Slowdive was more of a dream-pop band through ... More >>

M83 at Ogden Theatre, 4/30/12

M83 @ OGDEN THEATRE | 4/30/12 See Also: Q&A with Maria Linden of I Break Horses The familiar strains of "Intro" from 2011's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming probably should have been our clue that the band was coming on. But instead someone dressed up as the creature from the album insert walked on like a ... More >>

Maria Linden of I Break Horses on My Bloody Valentine and why fans are more like soulmates

I Break Horses (due tonight with M83 at the Ogden Theatre) started out as the bedroom project of Maria Lindén. Chances are, if she hadn't been in contact with Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins and Bella Union fame (the label that also released a few albums by the Czars from Denver), we never would ha ... More >>

Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells: "I just wanted it to sound like a gang of ferocious women."

Since forming in 2008, Sleigh Bells (due tomorrow night at the Ogden Theatre) have issued three records, a debut EP on M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. Recordings in 2009, followed by two full-length albums, 2010's Treats and its latest offering, Reign of Terror. The band's combination of heavy, expansive guitar r ... More >>

Review: The Skeleton Show at Bar Bar, 1/7/12

Tom MurphySara Century with Tana Thornock on tamborine​THE SKELETON SHOW at Carioca Café ("Bar Bar") | 1/ 7/12Halfway through her set, after hitting who knows what chords and wailing about being hatched from a witch's egg and flying high, Sara Century held up the guitar she was playing and a ... More >>

Veteran Denver musician Andy Monley on gigging in 2011

Earth, Deca, DeVotchKa, Mogwai, Hindershot, Warsaw and Adele top our weekly playlists

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" Whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

The National, Bassnectar, Sleigh Bells, the Slits filled our playlists this past week

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" Whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Kurt Feldman of the Depreciation Guild expresses his love for Tears for Fears

Seraphim Shock in top form at Gothic Theatre over the weekend

Tom MurphySeraphim Shock's Charles Edward looked like a vampire superhero turned pop star.​ SERAPHIM SHOCK The Siren Project • Lola Black 08.27.10 | Gothic Theatre, Englewood Used to be you could count on the opening bands at a Seraphim Shock show to be pretty awful. But in the last severa ... More >>

Ghostand Observatory, Jonathan Tyler on our playlists this week

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" So whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff, Kinetix and Broken Social Scene top our weekly playlists

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" So whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of ... More >>

Over the weekend: The Siren Project at the Church

​The Siren Project Sunday, November 1, 2009 The Church Better Than: The Project has been in a long time. Having a show at the Church is a bit of a losing proposition not because it's not that a cool place to have a show -- although it's a beautiful building inside and out and the sound system is ... More >>

Ode to the Marionette at the Meadowlark

Mile High Music Festival Q&A: The Duke Spirit

Steve GullickForming in London in 2003, the Duke Spirit has evolved a sound that brings together elements of garage rock, soul, the blues and swirly, noisy atmospheric rock. Rather than sounding like's trying to do too many things at once, act's music sounds rich with textures and emotional landscap ... More >>

My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields talks Loveless and the influence of bands like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr.

Glasvegas

Thursday, April 9, Bluebird Theater, 303-830-8497.

Torche Proves Metal Doesn't Have to Be Generic

Drawing equally from the Melvins as it does from My Bloody Valentine, this Florida metal quartet sets itself apart.

Ulrich Schnauss

Tuesday, July 8, Fox Theatre, 303-443-3399; Wednesday, July 9, the Falcon, 303-781-0414.

Mini Reviews

Good Housekeeping

Kind as Summer EP
Self-released

Eyes Caught Fire

Eyes Caught Fire

Old Curtis Street

Welcome

Sirs
Fat Cat

Midlake

After a tour with the Flaming Lips and loads of hype, the only thing this quintet is missing is confidence.

Asobi Seksu

Thursday, October 12, hi-dive, 720-570-4500.

On the Attack

Massive Attack is more dangerous than ever.

Headlights

Tuesday, April 11, Larimer Lounge, 303-291-1007.

Various Artists

Left of the Dial: Dispatches From the '80s Underground (Rhino)

The Beatdown

Lost in cyberspace

Perfect Landing

A voyage of discovery leads to Han Kang.

Hollywood Squares

After taking a tour of both L.A. and South Park, Toddy Walters rediscovers her musical muse.

Critic's Choice

Czars

South By So What

Unknown bands can't expect much from SXSW, just ask the Czars' Chris Pearson.

Cocked and Loaded

British punk pioneers the Buzzcocks invade America -- again.

Feedback

Leading the Attack

England's Massive Attack is still making the Nineties more interesting.

Playlist

The Final Frontier

Denver's Space Team Electra takes its music to new places.

Playlist

Mood Swingers

The Czars make some of Denver's most beautiful noises.

Feedback

Lush Life

HERE COMES THE FUZZ

YULE'S GOLD

THE GOOD, THE BAND AND THE UGLY CHRISTMAS ALBUMS FOR 1994.

REVENGE OF THE GEEK

LISA GERMANO TAKES ON HER DEMONS--AND WINS.

TWINS SPEAK

AFTER YEARS OF SILENCE, THE COCTEAU TWINS DISCOVER THAT THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

PLAYLIST