The Stark Online

NEW:: Jagwar Ma // O B 1 [Official]

2016-07-14T23:04:00.002-04:00

We thought we would start posting everytime Jagwar Ma put out a new tune. We miss you. Do you hate us? Don't. We are watching Mr. Robot Season 2 contemplating our lives like the rest of you. We have to say, you are looking great today. Go make someone smile. Even if it is yourself.

NEW:: Chairlift - "Ch-Ching"

2015-10-14T16:46:00.003-04:00

I AIN'T FRAID OF NO GHOSTS

2015-10-14T16:06:00.001-04:00

New Wolf Alice Track - "You're A Gem"

2015-06-11T14:36:00.002-04:00

Goddamn right you are a GEM. Catch these dogs next week at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC next week. PS - Yes...we are still alive. Just nailing life.

NEW TRACK ROUNDDDDDUP

2015-02-10T16:55:00.000-05:00

Guys...a lot of new music has been dropping left and right. We thought we'd lead you to some hot new jamz.

Taste some of the good, some of the vibey and some of the NASTY.
WE WANT YOU!

MATT'S BEST OF 2014

2015-01-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to an amazing year to all the bands and artists I worked with (who I abstained from placing on the below list.) Even though it's almost February, 2015 and I'm about halfway through some of this year's most anticipated early records - I thought 2014 was pretty amazing musically - though I can say that 2015 is already off to a stellar start. My faves of last year listed alphabetically below.

TOP 26
Allah-Lahs: Worship the Sun
Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band: Landmarks
Caribou: Our Love
Jennifer Castle: Pink City
Eric Church: The Outsiders
Cloud Nothings: Here and Everywhere
Toumani Diabaté, Sidiki Diabaté: Toumani & Sikiki
Drive-by Truckers: English Oceans
Hiss Golden Messenger: Lateness of Dancers
Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes
Miranda Lambert: Platinum
Jenny Lewis: The Voyager
Lykke Li: I Never Learn
Jason Moran: All Rise
Angel Olsen: Burn Your Fire for No Witness
Doug Paisley: Strong Feelings
Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters: lullaby... and the Ceaseless Roar
Spoon: They Want My Soul
St. Vincent: S/T
Strand of Oaks: Heal
Sun Kil Moon: Benji
Jamie T: Carry on the Grudge
Temples: Sun Structures
Leif Vollebekk: North Americana
Leon Vynehall: Music for the Uninvited
Ryley Walker: All Kinds of You

Top 10:

Ryan Adams: S/T

Aphex Twin: Syro

Beck: Morning Phase

Lydia Loveless: Somewhere Else

Luluc: Passerby

Sturgill Simpson: Metamodern Sounds in Country Music

Todd Terje: It's Album Time

Sharon Van Etten: Are We There

War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream

Kelsey Waldon: The Goldmine

We're Still Here...NEWWWW::: TOVE STYRKE - "Ego"

2015-01-22T14:35:00.001-05:00

Seeing her tonight at Westway - Neon Gold show! Shit just got real.

NEW MIGUEL JAMZ

2014-12-22T12:11:00.002-05:00

ALBUM STREAM:: WALK THE MOON - TALKING IS HARD

2014-11-24T17:06:00.002-05:00

NEW SMASHING PUMPKINS??

2014-11-17T14:19:00.000-05:00

Get some.

NEW VIDEO:: THE VERY BEST - "HEAR ME"

2014-11-17T14:17:00.003-05:00

Jessica Pratt: "Back, Baby"

2014-11-10T23:30:00.000-05:00

Ironically, the first song I pick to post in a long time is "Back, Baby" from a long time favorite Jessica Pratt. The mysterious songwriter with the Stevie Nicks "Landslide" delivery and early Marianne Faithful rasp-on-command, delivers a beautiful new track in "Back, Baby" - the lead track from her upcoming new album and Drag City debut, On Your Own Love Again due Jan 27. Welcome back to Jessica Pratt, and to me, baby.

Hookworms: 'The Hum'

2014-11-10T23:28:00.000-05:00

Hookworms are a band I don't really want to know much about. Don't want to know what they look like, who their favorite bands are - just want to live inside their noisy sludge. Yet - this band write hooks (take note bands who just make noise for noise sake) - and while I would argue that the two songs below aren't the best this album (out now) has to offer - they are pretty great. Get The Hum and see for yourself.

Shamir: "On the Regular"

2014-11-10T23:17:00.003-05:00

This is just a pure love-this-song post. Shamir is an exciting and infectious new artist singed to XL. His recent EP is solid cover to digital cover - and this new single is just genuine exuberence. Not sure album details - but for now, just grab this track (out now) and enjoy.

Leon Bridges

2014-11-10T23:11:00.003-05:00

Easily one of the most exciting new artists making music - Texas-based Leon Bridges recalls the most genuine raw soul and classic melodies - taking you back to early Muscle Shoals (Percy Sledge or Arthur Alexander) and all the way through to the crystal voiced pop of Sam Cooke. Bridges has a bright future, and we can only hope we can be a part of it.

The Amazing: "Picture You"

2014-11-10T23:01:00.003-05:00

Continuing to bring you some essential new songs - we continue with the new track from long-time Swedish warriors The Amazing who's new tune "Picture You" while clocking in at a patience testing 9 minutes and 27 seconds - delivers in its languid melodies and intricate guitar work. Recalling vocal and instrumental influences direct from vintage Red House Painters, The Amazing's upcoming album Picture You is set for release Feb 17 from the lovely folks at Partisan.

YOUR WEEKEND PLAYLIST

2014-10-31T13:04:00.000-04:00

- Galantis - Runaway (U & I)
- Baauer - One Touch Feat. AlunaGeorge & Rae Sremmurd
- Sound Remedy - Victory (Feat. Evvy) - Zella Day - “Hypnotic”
- Made In Heights - “Ghosts”
- Lion Babe - "Jump Hi (Feat. Childish Gambino)"
- Leon Bridges - “Better Man”
- Flume - “That Look (feat. George Maple)”
- Madeon - “Imperium”
- Diplo - “Everyday”
- Tourist - “Wait”
- Tove Styrke - “Borderline”
- Years And Years - “Desire”
- Peking Duk - “Take Me Over Feat. SAFIA”
- AlunaGeorge - “Supernatural”
- Gorgon City - “FTPA (Feat. Erik Hassle)”

Happy Halloween or some bullshit like that.

NEW:: Tourist - "Wait"

2014-10-16T12:45:00.002-04:00

NPR First Listen:: Mapei - "Hey Hey"

2014-09-16T14:10:00.000-04:00

We like new exciting things. Mapei is just this and her debut album Hey Hey (streaming here on NPR) is delivering. After watching her bubble up on Hype Machine again and again with hits like "Don't Wait" and "Believe", we were waiting for the next move. A solid voice laid atop dope production techniques meld into what has become the common vernacular of "left-of-pop" displayed here. Magnus Lidehäll is a straight down the middle pop producer working with Britney Spears, Katy Perry and more, but cuts a different rug with Mapei.

Grouper: "Call Across Rooms"

2014-09-16T13:05:00.001-04:00

Perhaps it's just the rain here in NY today, but enjoying the sparse melancholy of the new Grouper. Nice to see her taking a bit of a new direction and stripping things down a bit. Her new album Ruins comes out on Halloween.

Dornik: "On My Mind"

2014-09-04T10:18:00.000-04:00

Not much out there right now but three great songs from Dornik. Caught this via Disclosure's socials, so sure to be many interested parties and hype around these guys if they play it right.

Broncho: "Class Historian"

2014-09-03T11:08:00.002-04:00

Excellent turn from new comers Broncho. They play Mercury Lounge (9/18) and Baby's All Right (9/19) - new album Just Enough Hip To Be Woman is out on Dine Alone Records September 16.

New Allah-Las "Buffalo Nickel"

2014-09-03T10:59:00.002-04:00

While perhaps not as instantly remarkable as "Tell Me What's On Your Mind" one of our favorite new acts in the past few years have returned with their new track "Buffalo Nickel" which still an excellent listen. Sophomore LP "Worship The Sun" is out September 16th on Innovative Leisure.

Cathedrals: "In the Dark" and New EP

2014-09-03T10:49:00.003-04:00

After a few ear catching singles, Cathedrals have returned with a new track "In the Dark" and the announcement of a new EP coming next week - you can stream it on Spotify here. A promising start, certainly.

Elsewhere in the blog world new HAERTS:

Happy Summer Friday

2014-08-22T18:11:00.000-04:00

Back in action after some vacation. Have to start off our return with another jam from your new party record of the late summer Sinkane's Mean Love Out September 2nd on DFA Records. The album is filled with gems - we've already posted a few. Here is "New Name." Preorder and get some tracks. He's coming on a huge US tour as well.