I don’t want to presume too much, but there’s a good chance you already know Meshell Ndegeocello…regardless, given the remarkable span of her roughly 20 year career and her moving new Joe Henry produced album, Weather, she bears re-introduction.
A 10 time Grammy nominee, the sultry voiced, critically acclaimed bassist and singer-songwriter, has worked with a spectrum of artists ranging from John Cougar Mellencamp to Madonna, from The Rolling Stones to (this writer’s favorite collaboration with) Basement Jaxx.
A stalwart KCRW favorite and in so many ways emblematic of the eclecticism that is woven into …

Pavement and Stephen Malkmus fans take note! He will be appearing live on Morning Becomes Eclectic this coming Wednesday, August 24 with his band the Jicks. In the meantime, check out a stream of his 5th solo album “Mirror Traffic”, produced by Beck, on our Album Preview page.
As KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox says, it’s funny that “these once indie posterboys for the Slacker Decade have proven to be anything but slouches, working consistently while circumventing convention and now making some of their finest music nearly two decades later.”
Read more of …

Weeks ago, Jason Bentley got a sneak preview of the new Thurston Moore album. When I spoke to him on the phone afterwards, he seemed like he was in a slight state of shock. I could tell the album wasn’t what he was expecting – but in a good way.
Produced by Beck, “Demolished Thoughts” is an introspective, acoustic affair. (in fact, a lot of reviewers are bringing up Beck’s “Sea Change” in talking about the overall sound of the album.) KCRW DJ Marion Hodges describes it as “subtle eclecticism at …

Many singers don’t sing with an accent. I’m SO glad James Allan, frontman for Scottish rock band Glasvegas, does. Aside from the swirling, epic sounds of the music, I can recognize a Glasvegas song in under 10 seconds. And I mean that totally as a compliment.
James wrote the latest album, “Euphoric Heartbreak”, around the corner from KCRW, on the beach here in Santa Monica. I can’t help but listen for elements of California sunshine making their way into the anthemic tracks. Frankly, I’m not sure it cheered him up much, …

KCRW is streaming the new solo album by Dinosaur Jr’s  J Mascis as part of our Album Preview series and when we were looking for a DJ to do a write up, we knew it had to be Henry Rollins.
Weeks ago he premiered a song of the album that he himself had procured, so it was clear he was exciting about the impending release of “Several Shades of Why” on Sub Pop.
From Henry:
“When so many others with multiple releases behind them have resorted to merely stringing riffs together, making records …

Gang of Four’s latest album “Content” is streaming in its entirety as part of KCRW’s Album Preview series.
From KCRW DJ Gary Calamar:
“Back in the day (late 80′s) I used to manage an overly talented but highly underrated band called The Balancing Act. We had released a few albums on IRS Records. The band was doing pretty well back when college radio was king. When we started to think about the third album we decided we wanted to fine tune our sound and find a great producer. The plan was to …

With a name like “Delicacies,” it’s hard to resist Simian Mobile Disco’s new album. And after I read that DJ Dan Wilcox called it an “unrelenting techno tour-de-force,” I was hooked!
The band spent most of this year creating a series of 12” singles named after exotic delicacies James Ford and Jas Shaw discovered while touring around the world and this album is a compilation of all those tracks. But, like Dan says, “with the shortest jam clocking in at 7:09, these are less finger foods and more 7-course …

It’s looking to be a rainy weekend LA – a great time to catch up on new tunes (wherever you are, really!). I recommend spending some time on our Album Preview page. Our newest addition is from Brooklyn-based duo Home Video. You can stream their album, “Automatic Process,” and read about why Jason Bentley is a fan HERE. Here’s an excerpt:

“The new album’s cover, featuring still photographs of David and Collin submerged in water fully clothed, opposite gatefold panels of hypnotic spirals, suggests that by exploring this record …

Wow, a new album from The Greehornes. When they released their EP “East Grand Blues” I did not yet work at KCRW, though I was an avid listener and that is most definitely how I discovered the band. I remember nights driving around listening only to those 5 songs on repeat.
I would have been anxious for new material if the rhythm section hadn’t been a part of so many great releases over the past few years, including Loretta Lynn’s  Van Lear Rose album as well as albums by The Raconteurs …

Black Dub is a new-ish band from uber-producer Daniel Lanois, but KCRW already has a long history with them. DJ Chris Douridas hosted their worldwide radio debut earlier this year and now we have their entire self-titled album streaming as part of our Album Preview series.
From Chris:
“It’s easy to recognize a project by Lanois: Shimmering guitar lines, earthshaking bass thumps and soulful, spirited drumming are all trademarks. But what’s most immediate is the visceral reaction you get from his work. I’m always moved by his music.”
Read his …