XPN CD of the Month - June, 2013

The anticipation for Modern Vampires of the City (XL Recordings), the third album from Vampire Weekend, has been building for quite a while now. The band has given us a little taste of what to expect through some calculated live performances and online videos, but this week the full scope of what's been brewing for the past few years finally comes to realization. A band always tied to high expectations and hype, Vampire Weekend consider Modern Vampires of the City to be the final piece of a trilogy that began with their 2008 self-titled debut and their Billboard topping follow-up Contra in 2010. This new album doesn't just follow in the footsteps of their first two albums, it challenges both its predecessors to be musically more creative and lyrically more stimulating.

XPN CD of the Month - May, 2013

There is a breeziness, a coolness and an ease that casts itself over this collection.

Much is made of the evolution of Sam Beam and his musical endeavors as Iron & Wine. A career that started over a decade ago as a delicate solo songwriter, Beam has matured into a band leader with robust artistic vision.

XPN CD of the Month - April, 2013

The Lone Bellow sing every note like it's their last, and do so with honesty and integrity. These songs offer up just the right mix of roots, rock, country and soul, and plenty of emotion.

CD of the Month, March, 2013

These songs make you think, they make try to answer questions you may not ultimately know the answer to, but best of all they make you listen.

CD of the Month, February, 2013

2013 is shaping up to be a great year for Philadelphia and the musicians who craft the soundtrack for the city. One early indicator is the new album from Philly singer-songwriter Birdie Busch and her band The Greatest Night. Birdie’s fourth full-length album further embraces her charming storytelling, but amidst a sonic backdrop that is all at once more confident and dynamic.

CD of the Month, January, 2013

It’s not always easy for young bands to channel their youthful exuberance and still come away with a finished product that’s as representative as their intentions. For most bands, it usually takes a few records. But in the case of Kids Raising Kids, the debut full-length from the Nashville based Kopecky Family Band, the highly energized six-piece hit their target and then some. And that’s not to say that the Kopecky Family Band hasn’t taken some time to formulate their sound.