Author Archives: L. Manheim, KEXP

Caribou has won Canada’s Polaris music prize, which is meant to honor the best Canadian album of the preceding 12 months. As the Guardian somewhat smugly points out, the album, Andorra, was “written and recorded by a man, with a British passport, in his Islington bedroom.” But Dan Snaith has dual citizenship, allowing Polaris toRead more...

In the spirit of Ricky Gervais, Ben Wolfinsohn (the director of Friends Forever) has created a mock documentary in which its subjects ride “a continual wave of embarrassment” -- but the casting is a bit more eclectic, and the setting’s far from in the office. Members of four LA bands, No Age, Mika Miko, LavenderRead more...

It’s been a tough run of weeks for musicians: Monday marked the passing of another legend, Richard Wright, who was a founding member and the keyboardist of Pink Floyd. Born in London in 1943, Wright was born the son of a biochemist, and he originally began his career studying architecture. The design and construction ofRead more...

On Monday, Jerry Reed, country singer-songwriter and actor, passed away at 71 at his home outside Nashville. Reed, who penned hits for such legends as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, was a masterful guitarist and musician in his own right -- appearing repeatedly on the pop and country charts during the ’70s and ’80s. ReedRead more...

Steve Foley, drummer for the Replacements and Bash & Pop, passed away this weekend in Minneapolis at the age of 49. As reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Foley joined Replacements Tommy Stinson and Paul Westerberg in 1990 when original drummer Chris Mars bowed out. Foley also performed with Minneapolis’ Curtiss A for a decade,Read more...

The brooding quintet The National, who will be taking part in the Co-ops Rock! charitable event at the Moore Theatre on September 19, debuted a new song, “A Thousand Black Cities,” in Copenhagen on Tuesday.  Thanks to The Music Slut for the clip: Listen to a new Franz Ferdinand song, “Lucid Dreams,” at the band’sRead more...

A certain level of hell has just made room for the jerks who stole equipment from Iggy and The Stooges while they were in Montreal earlier this week. The Detroit Free Press reports that among the boosted equipment, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, was “the vintage Gibson bass that had been Mike Watt’sRead more...