What do you get when a soprano sax, a violin, and a Hungarian tárogató walk into a studio? The Glissotar. Invented by Daniel Vaczi, it doesn’t just play notes—it slides through them with a magnetic strip that replaces tone holes. It’s not just an instrument, it’s a new way to feel music.
‘The Sound of Seattle’ Traces 101 Songs That Built a Music Mecca
This rockin’ paperback explores the musical evolution of Seattle through the lens of 101 songs spanning 80 years, examining the most prominent and important music and musicians to come out of our corner of the country, with a foreword by Pearl Jam legend Mike McCready.
KEXP DJ and musician Eva Walker and music writer Jake Uitti take readers on a musical journey, exploring the songs and artists instrumental to developing the “Seattle sound.” The authors have curated the ultimate playlist for the Emerald City. It all begins in 1942 when Washington-born Bing Crosby records what will become the world’s bestselling single of all time, “White Christmas.” From there, readers will delight in a sensory trip through jazz, rock, punk, riot grrrl, pop, rap, grunge, indie, emo, and more, deepening their knowledge and love of the songs that shaped Seattle, and in the process, each of us.
Both a love letter and love song to the city, The Sound of Seattle is a visual guide organized by decade, with seminal songs profiled and paired with inventive design reminiscent of a favorite zine or concert poster. Includes interviews with Seattle legends like Heart’s Nancy Wilson, as well as sidebars showcasing musical landmarks throughout the city.
How has the Emerald City’s musical output changed and evolved? What is the connective tissue between Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, and Kenny G? Between Melvins, Sleater-Kinney, and Foo Fighters? Between Sir Mix-a-Lot, Macklemore, and Travis Thompson? We’re gonna find out!
Moon Unit Zappa Explores Fame, Family, and Frank in Memoir ‘Earth to Moon’
From Moon Unit Zappa, the daughter of musical visionary Frank Zappa, comes a memoir of growing up in her unconventional household in 1970s Los Angeles, coming of age in the Hollywood Hills in the 1980s as the “Valley Girl,” gaining momentum as an accidental VJ on a new network called MTV, and finding herself after losing her father, then her mother, and the testing of her most important relationships.
How can you navigate life as the “normal” child of an extraordinary creative? What is it like to live in a hothouse of individuality that on one hand fosters freedom of expression, and on the other tamps down the basic desires of a child for boundaries and affection? Should you call your parents Frank and Gail from birth?
For Moon Unit Zappa, processing a life so punctuated by the whims of genius, the tastes of popular culture, the calculus of celebrity, and the nature of love, was at times eviscerating, at times illuminating—but mostly deeply confusing. Yes, this is a book about growing up in the shadow of Frank Zappa. Moon and her family were a source of constant curiosity, for their unique names and for their father’s reputation as a musical savant and fierce protector of the First Amendment, even though he was never a commercial success.
Searching for her own path, first as her father’s inadvertent musical collaborator and public sidekick with their surprise mega radio hit, then as an actress, an artist, a spiritual person, a wife and mother, Moon Unit calculates ever-changing equations of fame, family, death and ultimately legacy when dealt the shocking news that Gail’s will established an unequal distribution among the remaining, tight-knit Zappas, catalyzing a quest for meaning and redemption.
With love, humor, and humility, Earth to Moon reminds us that every family is faced with problems that are unique to their particular makeup, but the journey to growing into yourself with grace is as universal as it gets.
10 Of The Most Powerful Performances At Woodstock
Woodstock was not simply a music festival. It was a moment, a movement, and a muddy miracle of sound and spirit. Held in August 1969 on a dairy farm, it became the most famous gathering of music lovers in history. The artists who stepped onto that stage did more than perform—they changed the weather, the rhythm, and the very idea of what music could do. They played like the world was listening. Because it was.
Here are ten of the most powerful performances at Woodstock, in alphabetical order, like the vinyl rack of your coolest friend’s basement.
Canned Heat
Canned Heat brought the blues and the boogie to Bethel with an unstoppable groove and sunglasses that could see through time. Their performance of “Going Up the Country” became the unofficial anthem of the festival, floating through the crowd like a warm breeze. With harmonicas howling and guitars glowing, they turned mud into magic. They were a jam band before jam bands were a genre.
Country Joe McDonald
With nothing but a borrowed guitar and a whole lot of nerve, Country Joe took the stage solo and delivered a performance that was equal parts protest and punchline. His infamous “Fish Cheer” had the crowd chanting in unison before he even strummed a note. Then came “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag,” which turned satire into solidarity. No band, no backup, just pure, unfiltered folk fury.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
They played in the middle of the night, well after most of the cameras had stopped rolling, but Creedence Clearwater Revival still brought the swamp-rock storm. With John Fogerty’s raspy wail echoing through the dark, songs like “Born on the Bayou” and “Bad Moon Rising” sounded like prophecies. It was tight, relentless, and louder than the generators. A headline performance the sun never saw.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix played the final set of the festival, but he was not just a closing act—he was a cosmic event. His rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” bent the national anthem into a cry of protest, beauty, and electricity. With feedback and fury, he turned his guitar into a voice of its own. Fewer people saw it live, but everyone remembers it.
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin did not take the stage—she took over the sky. With a bottle of Southern Comfort and a howl that could melt steel, she poured her soul into every note. “Piece of My Heart” was not simply sung—it was torn out and offered up. Janis made pain sound like poetry and turned vulnerability into power.
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane woke the festival up with a sunrise performance that felt like a psychedelic sermon. Grace Slick commanded the stage like a cosmic general, delivering “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit” with laser-like focus. The band was tight, the sun was rising, and suddenly everything felt possible. It was the perfect soundtrack for a morning that no one had slept through.
Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker’s cover of “With a Little Help from My Friends” did something wild—it took a Beatles song and made it even more emotional. With his spasmodic movements and soul-soaked voice, he gave everything he had and then kept going. His raspy wail turned the lyrics into gospel. It was one of the festival’s most beloved moments, and rightly so.
Richie Havens
Richie Havens opened the festival with a performance that was not even supposed to happen—but thank goodness it did. He played for nearly three hours while the crew waited for other acts to arrive, strumming until his fingers bled. His improvised song “Freedom” became an instant legend, sung with urgency and grace. He did not just open Woodstock—he opened its heart.
Santana
Before the world even knew his name, Carlos Santana stepped onto the Woodstock stage and delivered a performance that felt like lightning in rhythm form. With his band behind him and his guitar practically breathing fire, “Soul Sacrifice” became a full-body spiritual experience. Drummer Michael Shrieve—only 20 years old—played like a man possessed, and the whole set pulsed with wild, Latin-infused rock energy. Santana came in as a relative unknown and left as a legend carved into the very mud of Max Yasgur’s farm.
Sly and the Family Stone
At 3:30 in the morning, most of the crowd should have been asleep, but Sly and the Family Stone made sure that no one could even think about closing their eyes. Their blend of funk, soul, and rock exploded into the night, lifting spirits and shaking hips. “I Want to Take You Higher” was not just a lyric—it was a mission. And it succeeded.
Woodstock was three days of peace and music, but it was also a collection of performances that still ripple through time. These artists did not just play songs—they made statements, sparked revolutions, and created a blueprint for what live music could be. Muddy boots, fried amps, and all—it was pure electricity.
Turn on, tune in, and remember: the best sets do not always go on at the best times. Sometimes they go on when the world needs them most.
10 Of The Most Influential Women In Rock
Rock and roll may have started with a swagger and a sneer, but some of its fiercest fire came from women who took the stage like they owned it—because they did. These trailblazers did not wait for permission. They kicked down the doors of the boys’ club, turned the amps up to eleven, and rewrote what it meant to be a rock star. They did it their way—with eyeliner, distortion pedals, and lyrics that still echo today.
Here are ten of the most influential women in rock, listed alphabetically like your favorite record store bin, but packed with thunder and legacy.
Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde walked into the punk scene with a leather jacket and a razor-sharp pen. As the leader of The Pretenders, she gave rock music both elegance and grit, all while playing guitar like it was an extension of her soul. Her songs spoke of longing and rebellion in equal measure, sung with a voice that sounded like a romantic punch to the gut. She proved that you could be poetic and powerful—and she never blinked.
Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry made punk glamorous and made glam dangerous. With Blondie, she bridged New York’s underground scene with disco, new wave, and art-pop brilliance. Her bleach-blonde look was iconic, but her voice and swagger were the real stars. Debbie sang with cool detachment one moment and wild ferocity the next—and through it all, she made it very clear who was in charge.
Grace Slick
Grace Slick did not just front a band—she led a psychedelic revolution with Jefferson Airplane. Her voice could float like a feather or tear through the fog like a battle cry. “White Rabbit” was more than a song; it was a challenge to wake up and question everything. Grace brought surrealism, power, and unapologetic intellect to a generation ready to get weird and get loud.
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin poured every ounce of her being into every note she sang. Her voice was gravel and gold, pure emotion pushed through a mic and into history. She took blues and made it electric, made it dangerous, made it hers. Janis did not just perform—she howled, she wept, and she set stages on fire with the sheer force of her presence.
Joan Jett
Joan Jett loves rock and roll, and she made sure the world knew it. She started with The Runaways, took on the industry that said no, and came back with a sound so fierce it refused to be ignored. With her leather-clad look and snarling riffs, she became a symbol of defiance. Joan made it clear that girls could rock just as hard—and maybe even harder.
Kim Gordon
Kim Gordon did not need to scream to shake the ground. As bassist, vocalist, and co-founder of Sonic Youth, she created noise that felt like art and made art that sounded like rebellion. She turned dissonance into beauty and cool detachment into strength. Kim redefined what it meant to be powerful onstage—intellectual, experimental, and utterly untouchable.
Patti Smith
Patti Smith is the poet laureate of punk. With a battered guitar and a stack of Rimbaud poems, she exploded onto the scene with raw truth and fearless soul. “Horses” was a manifesto disguised as an album, and her voice remains an anthem for the outsiders and dreamers. Patti did not just influence rock—she rewrote its DNA with words and wisdom.
Polly Jean Harvey (PJ Harvey)
PJ Harvey makes intensity feel intimate and art feel like confession. With every album, she shapeshifts into a new persona—vamp, warrior, chronicler of war and womanhood. Her music is fearless, often unsettling, and always brilliant. PJ built a career on reinvention and honesty, and her influence can be heard in every whisper and wail across modern rock.
Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks floats through rock history in a haze of chiffon and stardust, but do not be fooled—her songwriting hits like a spell. With Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist, she created emotional anthems that feel both mystical and grounded. Her voice, instantly recognizable, is the sound of heartbreak, hope, and magic all at once. Stevie is not just a rock icon—she is a rock sorceress.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner roared her way from R&B beginnings to full-blown rock royalty. Her performances were volcanic—she did not walk onstage; she erupted. With every shake, stomp, and shout, she embodied survival and strength. Tina’s voice was pure power, and her influence stretched across genres, genders, and generations.
These women did more than play music. They inspired, innovated, and ignited a fire that keeps burning through amps, headphones, and festival fields. They are not just part of rock history. They are its heart, its edge, and its future.
Now go turn it up.
Radio Bristol Celebrates 10 Years With Exclusive ‘Farm and Fun Time’ Vinyl
Radio Bristol, a vital voice in the Appalachian region and a tastemaker in both the music and community spheres, is excited to mark its 10th anniversary with the release of “10 Years of Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time,” a special 12-song vinyl collection. The unique compilation features live performances from Farm and Fun Time, the beloved show that began as a modest, low-power FM broadcast and streaming platform. Over the years, it has captured the hearts of fans across the country, growing into a nationally syndicated, Emmy-nominated series available on more than 140 PBS channels across the U.S. The album celebrates a decade of incredible music, community, and unforgettable moments from the program.
“Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time has grown tremendously over the course of 10 years,” said show host and creator Kris Truelsen. “We have had the privilege of hosting a plethora of the world’s leading artists over the past decade while also providing a platform to support artists from our region. This record highlights a few of our favorite performances through the years and serves as a big ‘thank you’ to our sustaining members who help keep Radio Bristol—a community-supported radio station—on the air.”
Track Listing:
“Take This Hammer” – Willie Watson
“Lines in the Levee” – Town Mountain
“Would You Like to Get Some Goats?” – Melissa Carper
“You Might Think” – Sons of the East
“Love and Chains” – Viv and Riley
“Back to Square One” – Sierra Ferrell
“Think I’ll Stay” – Jesse Daniel
“Kitchen Floor” – S.G. Goodman
“South Dakota Wild One” – The Deslondes
“Duane Allman” – Amy Ray Band
“Human” – Alexa Rose
“Happy Pills” – Palmyra
The album features a selection of performances from Farm and Fun Time, recorded before a live audience, and preserves the authentic energy and spirit of the show. Sierra Ferrell appears with a previously unreleased original song, joined by standout contributions from Amy Ray of The Indigo Girls, Willie Watson, S.G. Goodman, Sons of the East, and Town Mountain, to name a few. Many of the featured artists have ties to Bristol and Central Appalachia, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region.
“10 Years of Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time” is not for commercial sale; it is part of a limited-edition incentive package for Radio Bristol’s annual fund-drive campaign, slated for June 18–19. The package is exclusively for donors who join the station’s Radio Bristol Record Breakers membership program during the fund drive, while supplies last. To become a Radio Bristol Record Breaker, a one-time donation of $300 or a monthly donation of $25 for one year is required.
The album is pressed onto brilliant blue-colored vinyl by Citizen Vinyl, based in Asheville, N.C. Radio Bristol Record Breakers also receive a graphic tee and stickers designed by artist Kelley Wills of Brain Flower Designs, a membership to the Birthplace of Country Music’s 1927 Society, and more. To become a Radio Bristol Record Breaker, visit https://birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/radio-bristol-wbcm/support/.
Radio Bristol broadcasts from inside the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, in historic downtown Bristol, Va./Tenn. The station launched the monthly Farm and Fun Time as a radio show in April 2015 prior to its transition to television.
Radio Bristol’s weekly lineup features a wide range of unique and original programming, spanning various music genres, all rooted in country and American-roots traditions. To listen live to Radio Bristol’s programming, tune into 100.1 FM in the Bristol area or visit ListenRadioBristol.org, where you will also find archives of your favorite shows. Radio Bristol is also available via the station’s free mobile app.
100 Days to Go: Bristol Rhythm & Roots Readies a Reunion Like No Other
Only 100 days remain until music lovers once again spill onto historic State Street for the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, taking place September 19–21, 2025. Since its inception in 2001, the award-winning festival has paid homage to the seminal 1927 Bristol Sessions—widely hailed as the “Big Bang of Country Music”—while championing the ever-evolving sounds those recordings set in motion. This year’s gathering promises another unforgettable weekend honoring Bristol’s musical past, present, and future.
The 2025 lineup boasts a powerhouse slate led by The Teskey Brothers, Shane Smith & The Saints, Lukas Nelson, and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs with Kentucky Thunder. Pop-country chart-toppers The Band Perry, acclaimed singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun, jamgrass stalwarts Steep Canyon Rangers, high-energy funk outfit Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and the virtuosic Mountain Grass Unit round out the top tier. They’ll be joined by dozens more including Kaitlin Butts, Ashley Monroe, Fruition, Sister Sadie, Futurebirds, Michael Cleveland, The Wilder Blue, Nolan Taylor, Shadowgrass, and Ken Pomeroy. Cellist and composer Dave Eggar will serve as the festival’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, collaborating across multiple sets throughout the weekend.
True to tradition, the three-day street fest will transform downtown Bristol—straddling the Tennessee–Virginia state line—into a vibrant patchwork of outdoor stages, late-night sets, and intimate indoor performances. Fans can expect barn-dance jams, impromptu collaborations, and a family-friendly atmosphere laced with regional food, craft vendors, and the warm community spirit that has defined Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion for nearly a quarter-century.
Weekend passes, single-day tickets, VIP packages, and official merchandise are available now at www.BristolRhythm.com. Organizers encourage fans to secure passes early and join the countdown to “a reunion like no other” when the streets of Bristol once again resonate with the sounds that shaped American music.
Suzanne Vega Channels Bob Dylan’s Muse in “Chambermaid” Lyric Video
Suzanne Vega—widely regarded as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation or any other—is debuting the new animated lyric video for the single “Chambermaid,” from her critically acclaimed new record Flying With Angels, out now on Cooking Vinyl. Watch/share the video, directed by artist/animator Michael Arthur.
Speaking about “Chambermaid,” Vega explains, “In my adaptation of Bob Dylan’s ‘I Want You,’ I imagine what the character of the Chambermaid would say about her own aspirations and her relationship with the great man himself.”
Flying With Angels—Vega’s first full-length album of all-new music in over a decade—is produced by her longtime collaborator and guitarist Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright, Laurie Anderson, Duncan Sheik); see below for a complete track listing. Flying With Angels is available to stream/purchase HERE.
The record continues to receive praise in the media, with Forbes hailing it as a “wonderful new record,” and American Songwriter noting that “[On Flying With Angels] Vega showcases her versatility.” MOJO raves in a four-star review that “Vega’s first album in a decade takes an abrupt turn, infused with a vibrancy and political urgency that is very ‘now.’”
“Each song on the album takes place in an atmosphere of struggle,” adds Vega. “Struggle to survive, to speak, to dominate, to win, to escape, to help someone else, or just live.”
In celebration of the new album, Vega is currently on tour throughout North America and Europe, performing an evening of career-spanning songs as well as showcasing material from the new album. Newly announced shows include New York’s Town Hall with special guests Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche, as well as the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C., and World Café Live in Philadelphia. Vega and Leonard will be joined on stage by cellist Stephanie Winters. See below for a list of dates; tickets for all upcoming shows are available for purchase at suzannevega.com/tour.
Of Vega’s performances, The New York Times notes that she “is attentive to the realm of the unseen.” Finding Connecticut lauded a recent concert as “nothing short of mesmerizing, weaving tales through her soulful songs in a cozy setting that allowed for a deep connection with the audience.”
Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s. Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has written and recorded numerous songs that have become part of the contemporary music vernacular, including “Luka,” “Marlene on the Wall,” and “Tom’s Diner,” an a cappella piece that was remixed by U.K. electronic dance duo DNA and became a major club hit. It remains an oft-sampled and covered standard by artists across the musical spectrum. Her albums—including her self-titled debut, follow-up Solitude Standing, and 99.9F—have sold millions of copies worldwide.
SUZANNE VEGA
FLYING WITH ANGELS
1. Speakers’ Corner
2. Flying With Angels
3. Witch
4. Chambermaid
5. Love Thief
6. Lucinda
7. Last Train From Mariupol
8. Alley
9. Rats
10. Galway
SUZANNE VEGA TOUR DATES
June 10—Washington, DC—Lincoln Theatre
June 11—Philadelphia, PA—World Café Live
June 13—Amagansett, NY—The Stephen Talkhouse
June 14—New York, NY—Town Hall*
June 15—Ridgefield, CT—Ridgefield Playhouse
June 17—Hartford, CT—Infinity Hall
June 18—Arundel, ME—Vinegar Hill Music Theatre
June 20—Brattleboro, VT—Stone Church
June 21—Newport, RI—The JPT Film & Event Center
September 30—Amsterdam, NL—Royal Theater Carré
October 2—Rotterdam, NL—Nieuwe Luxor
October 4—Munich, DE—Isarphilharmonie
October 6—Hamburg, DE—CCH Saal Z
October 8—Berlin, DE—Kammermusiksaal Philharmonie
October 10—Brussels, BE—Bozar
October 12—Antwerp, BE—Queen Elisabeth Hall
October 13—Esch-sur-Alzette, LU—Rockhal Club
October 15—Offenbach, DE—Capitol
October 16—Koln, DE—Theater am Tansbrunnen
October 19—Gateshead, UK—Sage Gateshead
(The Glasshouse Int’l Centre for Music)
October 20—Manchester, UK—Bridgewater Hall
October 21—Glasgow, UK—Royal Concert Hall
October 23—Edinburgh, UK—Usher Hall
October 25—Liverpool, UK—Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
October 27—Cambridge, UK—Corn Exchange
October 28—Brighton, UK—Dome
October 30—Bristol, UK—Bristol Beacon
October 31—Birmingham, UK—Symphony Hall
November 1—Stoke, UK—Regent Theatre
November 3—London, UK—Royal Albert Hall
*with special guests Suzzy Roche & Lucy Wainwright Roche
The Barr Brothers Announce ‘Let It Hiss’—A Raw Return to Imperfection and Intimacy
The Barr Brothers have announced that their new album Let it Hiss will be released October 17, on Secret City Records. Their long-simmering and long-awaited fourth studio album isn’t just a collection of 10 vital new songs, it’s a document of transformation. The result of a pivotal shift: a pause for reflection, a reckoning with vulnerability, and a reconnection between two brothers – Brad and Andrew Barr – who’ve spent their entire lives making music side by side. Let it Hiss was produced by Brad and Andrew, working primarily as a duo out of their Montreal studio, and worked with mix engineer Jon Low (The National, Taylor Swift, Bon Iver). The Barr Brothers will also announce a headlining tour soon, stay tuned for more information.
The album announcement is accompanied by the release of lead single and title track “Let it Hiss”, a propulsive number born out of an extended jam session and featuring jolts of Brad Barr’s virtuosic blown-out guitar and Andrew Barr’s steady groove. Upon hearing a light buzzing in the guitar monitor during playback, the brothers decided to “let it hiss”…a mantra of imperfection that they carried with them throughout the sessions.
Since releasing their 2011 self-titled debut, The Barr Brothers have been welcomed onto international festival bills and late-night talk show stages (including multiple Letterman appearances, and CBS Saturday). 2014’s Sleeping Operator (certified Gold in Canada) yielded the breakthrough single “Even the Darkness Has Arms,” which has racked up 110-plus million Spotify streams and counting. 2017’s Queens of the Breakers showcased their improvisatory chops with a greater emphasis on raw blues jams and experiments with brass and strings.
Across this span, they earned three Félix Awards in Quebec, three JUNO Award nominations for Adult Alternative Album of the Year, and a Polaris Music Prize longlist placement, are regular-rotation fixtures on NPR, SiriusXM, KCRW, KEXP, and AAA radio. Their music has also been heard on programs like True Detective, Your Honor, Catfish, Rookie Blue and more, and their work has earned praise from legends such as Robert Plant, Bon Iver, David Crosby and Bill Kreutzmann.
While Let it Hiss is eight years in the making, it does not suggest a period of stagnancy. Andrew has spent time playing drums for Feist, Mumford and Sons, Gracie Abrams and Broken Social Scene. Brad has explored a wide array of collaborations, and released a meditative solo album in 2022, The Winter Mission. The Barr Brothers touring has included dates with My Morning Jacket and War On Drugs, and their beloved former band The Slip also reunited. Brad and Andrew also co-wrote a song for the movie “The Iron Claw” featuring Jeremy Allen White titled “Live That Way Forever” with Richard Reed Perry and Little Scream.
Since 2017’s Queens of the Breakers, life has pulled Brad and Andrew in new directions both professionally and personally. It altered their creative process, a deep-rooted approach that required triage. “In 2022, we found ourselves at a breaking point,” says Brad Barr, the band’s guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter. “It was clear something had to change. The real story of this record is the story of that change and everything that came after.” “Let it Hiss is what happened when we stopped pretending everything was fine and finally listened to what was actually going on,” says Andrew, the band’s drummer, percussionist, and vocalist.
Recording became a mirror. The process didn’t begin with sound – it began with truth. They confronted not just creative blocks, but personal ones. Old patterns. Unspoken tensions. Grief. Growth. The album title itself is an ethos. “It just felt right,” Andrew says. “To leave the hiss in. The discomfort, the imperfection, the struggle. We stopped trying to clean it all up. That’s when the music started to breathe again.”
Let it Hiss showcases two esteemed musicians and composers at the height of their powers, both known for their commands over their instruments, and coaxing otherworldly sounds out of them. It also revels in a joyous abandon, as heard on “Run Right Into It” (featuring Land of Talk’s Elizabeth Powell) and “She Doesn’t Sleep With the Covers On.” It also revisits the kinds of intimate, hushed songs on which the Barrs’ brand was built: “English Harbour” is a folk hymn illuminated by harmonies by Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and “Moonbeam” is a string-swept soul serenade with a Francophone guest vocal from Quebecois art-pop shapeshifter Klô Pelgag. But all the freewheeling musical exploration and emotional upheaval that plays out over the course of Let it Hiss still won’t prepare for the album’s closer “Upsetter,” a blast of sweat-soaked, punk-powered rock capped by a lobotomizing guitar solo.
And while the album was self-produced, they also called on trusted friends from their wider musical community to lend voices, instruments, and textures when the songs called for it -collaborations that felt less like features and more like natural extensions of the music. Many of these relationships were built over years of shared stages, late-night sessions, and a mutual commitment to the craft. Including the album art, created by artist Brigitte Henry, Brad’s wife, who also designed the covers for their albums Queens of the Breakers and Sleeping Operator. In this way, Let it Hiss stands as both their most personal and most collaborative record to date.
Let it Hiss Tracklist:
Take it From Me
Let it Hiss
English Harbour
Run Right Into It
Moonbeam
She Doesn’t Sleep with the Covers On
Naturally
Owning Up to Everyone
Another Tangerine
Upsetter
Orlando Bloom Goes to the Edge—With Help From Liam Gallagher…Wait…What?
Orlando Bloom talks about being taught how to do cold plunges by surfer Laird Hamilton, skydiving out of a helicopter for his show Orlando Bloom: To the Edge and being inspired by Oasis’ Liam Gallagher for his film Deep Cover.