And on lead vocals …

It's rainy and chilly outside Seidenfadens on Breckinridge at 1 a.m. on a recent Sunday morning, but inclement weather can't stop the beat. Inside, four friends are huddled together belting out the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." (1/5/09) More

Local Karaoke

Jazz bassist Haden returns to country

After a career on modern jazz's cutting edge, bassist Charlie Haden acknowledges being scared before recording his first country-music album at a Nashville, Tenn., studio. (1/5/09) More

Music

Year in music provided distractions sweet & sour

What a strange, terrible year 2008 was. Music seemed off its game. Unless you lived in Louisville, there wasn't a galvanizing album that demanded attention. Around here, of course, My Morning Jacket ruled its hometown with a velvet death-grip — and for good reason. (1/2/09) More

Album Review

Broadfield Marchers can trip you out

If Syd Barrett and Robert Pollard got together to program an AM radio station, they'd have the Broadfield Marchers in heavy rotation and playing live at every office party. (1/2/09) More

Sound Effects

As Follow the Train passes, songwriter charts new course

The space between Dennis Sheridan and his music is so indiscernible it may as well not exist. The space operas, zombie wars and adult lullabies circle inside his head at all hours, wrestling with phone bills, day jobs and diapers for his attention. (1/2/09) More

Katy Perry fills pop's quirky-girl void

Don't get Katy Perry twisted: She absolutely loves being pop's quirky poster girl, the wild child who doesn't censor herself and causes raised eyebrows with songs such as "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl." But she says she has more to offer than kitsch. (1/2/09) More

Music

The Year of My Morning Jacket

For the guys in My Morning Jacket, this time last year offered some of the last peaceful moments they would enjoy before a fuse was lit and the ensuing explosion changed their lives. Everything changed in March when the band performed at Austin's South By Southwest music festival. (12/28/08) More

Digital Downloads

Best of the best ofs

All of your major music blogs have posted their best of 2008 lists, with tons of links and some free downloads. You can do a double shot of Scotch-Nog and click away until you pass out. Here are a few you don't want to miss, but this is by no means definitive. (12/27/08) More

Sound Effects

Cornbread Mafia reunion could be hazardous to your health

Back in the day, a Cornbread Mafia show was some dangerous fun — an orgy of pills, alcohol and rock 'n' roll that tested your limits. Singer Scott Mertz frequently got naked, and blood was occasionally spilled. In the 1990s, this was called a good night out. Catch their reunion show. (12/26/08) More

Music video games' popularity benefits original artists

"Rock Band 2," along with "Guitar Hero," is rocking bars and living rooms across the country. Many songs' sales have more than doubled after release in one of the games, and well-known bands have started lining up to provide new music direct to the game makers. (12/26/08) More

Album Review

'Cadillac Records' soundtrack pales beside Chess originals

"Cadillac Records — Music From the Motion Picture" gathers the film's key songs, all of them sung by the actors. Although Jeffrey Wright, Mos Def, Beynocé Knowles and Columbus Short completely sell their performances, there's no replacing the originals. (12/25/08) More