Throwback Thursday: Rage Against the Machine – “No Shelter”
What better place than here? What better time than now? Rage Against the Machine's "No Shelter" is as relevant today as it was 15 years ago. Read more »
Best of 2012: TJ’s Picks
TJ not only provides you with a list of his favorite albums of 2012, but also gives some advice on how to look at lists such as his. Read more »
Best of 2012: Steven’s Picks
After an incredible year for music, Steven reveals a slew of what he thought were some of the greatest full-lengths of 2012. Read more »
Best of 2012: Sam’s Picks
It’s hard to believe I’ve been at this for a full year now. Over the past twelve months I’ve been to four of the best shows I’ve ever seen, interviewed three fantastic musicians, and I’ve even had time to sit down and listen to a few records here and there. ... Read more »
Midwest Premiere: Mutts “God, Country, Grave” Video Premiere
The Chicago trio hit you with a solemn music video for "God, Country, Grave." Read more »
Minnesota: Are You There
Minnesota's no longer just a state, it's now a band that occupies bold new atmospheric space for the genre of Americana. Read more »
Frontman Feature: Mike Maimone of Mutts + mp3
Mike Maimone talks about the personal messages on Mutts' new album, their philosophy of giving away free music, and their love of Wisconsin and its music scene. Read more »
Yeasayer – Fragrant World
Yeasayer struggle to make a lasting impression on their latest album. Read more »
Interview: Dylan Baldi of Cloud Nothings
Here at Playground Misnomer, there’s a near-unanimous consensus that Attack On Memory is the best album of 2012 so far. So imagine my surprise and delight when Dylan Baldi, the 21 year-old mastermind behind Cloud Nothings, agreed to answer some of my questions over the phone last week. Baldi seemed... Read more »
David Byrne & St. Vincent – Love This Giant
Two generations of seminal art rockers team up for a horn-heavy collaborative album. Read more »
Animal Collective – Centipede Hz
Animal Collective takes their experimentation in a new direction with their newest effort. Read more »
PHOX – Unblushing
One of Madison's biggest buzz bands makes good on their hype with their debut EP. Read more »
Good Night, Gold Dust – Towards the Sun +mp3
Good Night, Gold Dust emerge from Mankato with a worthy collection of tracks anchored by the gorgeous voice of Laura Schultz. Read more »
Passion Pit – Gossamer
Guilty pleasures don't have to leave you feeling guilty anymore. Passion Pit breathes intelligence into pop on their latest album. Read more »
Throwback Thursday: Nirvana – “Sliver”
Throwback Thursday continues to ride the grunge train with an excellent offering from Nirvana. Read more »
Mutts – Separation Anxiety + mp3
The Chicago-based blues trio returns with a batch of deeply personal songs... but that doesn't mean they're not loud as hell. Read more »
Silver Jews – Early Times
Silver Jews offer up a look back at their humble beginnings with the posthumous release, 'Early Times.' Read more »
The Antlers – Undersea
The Antlers expand their grandiose ambient sound on their new, underwater-themed EP. Read more »
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
On Hot Chip's fifth studio album, In Our Heads, the band works hard and plays hard at work, producing a near-perfect effort. Read more »
The Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten
The Gaslight Anthem is all grown up. Brian Fallon’s scrappy gang of underdog punks have graduated from raucous folk music delivered with a lightning punch to polished, anthemic, arena-ready tunes on their fourth full-length album, Handwritten, their first for Mercury Records. After 2010’s American Slang slightly departed from the hard-hitting, hard-driving songs... Read more »
Win Tickets to Best Coast + Those Darlins, 7/25 Madison
See how you can win two tickets to Best Coast, Those Darlins, and The Midwest Beat here. Read more »
The Daredevil Christopher Wright – The Nature of Things + mp3
The eclectic Eau Claire trio offer up plenty of Baroque harmonies and a wide variety of compositions on 'The Nature of Things.' Read more »
Wisconsin Built – Maps II + mp3
Wisconsin Built sneaks in another set of songs, and the year's not even half over. Read more »
Walk the Moon – Walk the Moon
Walk the Moon's jams, while sparse in lyrical depth, effectively transfer good summer feelings. Read more »
Contest: Spotlight on Midwest Music at Lost City Music Festival
Win wristbands to the entire Madison festival, running July 5th to 8th. Read more »
The Cost of Living: The Poet Serves Her Sentence + mp3
The Cost of Living rose from the ashes of Good Grief but have already taken on a glowing life of their own and more than prove it on this EP. Read more »
Cribshitter – Mint Car
Everyone's favorite pranksters put out a tape comp and make everyone laugh and cry with envy and amusement. Throw it on and we'll party. Read more »
An Open Letter on PM’s First Birthday
We take a moment to thank all those that have supported us in our infancy. Read more »
Japandroids – Celebration Rock
The best Canadian duo since Death From Above 1979 returns with their much-anticipated sophomore album. Read more »
Songwriter Spotlight: Peter Silberman of The Antlers
The Antlers sweep their way through the Midwest this week. We chat with the man behind the band. Read more »
Chromatics – Kill for Love + mp3
The newest Chromatics album packs a fierce punch of high energy, chill vibes, and plenty of good songs. Read more »
Contest: Win to Tickets to This Saturday’s Plants and Animals Show in Madison
Win two tickets to the the Quebec indie rock trio's Saturday show at the Frequency in Madison. Learn how inside. Read more »
Interview: Caroline Smith
Caroline Smith talks about the Good Night Sleeps' new record, moving to the Cities, and why she loves Beyoncé. Read more »
Sat. Nite Duets – Summer of Punishment + mp3
Sat. Nite Duets offer up their latest Pavement-worshiping LP and capitalize on the things that make both bands so great. Read more »
St. Vincent – “Krokodil” b/w “Grot”
St. Vincent delivered on Record Store Day with an exquisite new 7". What were your favorite releases of the weekend? Read more »
The United Sons of Toil – When The Revolution Comes, Everything Will Be Beautiful + mp3
Protest music you can headbang to. Read more »
Songwriter Spotlight: Chris Porterfield (Field Report) +mp3
Chris Porterfield opens up about his past work with Justin Vernon and Megafaun members in DeYarmond Edison, the dissolution of Conrad Plymouth, and the future of Field Report. Read more »
Wisconsin Built – Rest Less
Ambient lo-fi that'll put you to sleep, but in a good way, courtesy of Wisconsin Built. Read more »
Alabama Shakes – Boys and Girls
The highly-anticipated debut from Alabama Shakes does not disappoint. Read more »
PM Premiere: Watch WC Tank’s New Video, “Candy Council”
The quirk-rapper releases a fittingly quirky video directed by the Fatty Acids' Kurt Raether, will play a video-themed show at Linneman's on Friday. Read more »
Songwriter Spotlight: Astronautalis
An in-depth in-person chat with one of the most inventive, original, and engaging forces in contemporary music. An exclusive with Astro. Read more »
Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal
Great new music from Iceland. Your leg is not being pulled this time, we promise. Read more »
Optimist Optometrist – We Can See Our Bright Futures Clearly
Optimist Optometrists successfully navigate the meaning of life on this short-playing twee-pop masterpiece. Read more »
“Neat,” he said. – sWeEt SwEaT
The pretentiousness of the band and album names definitely makes this an album you can judge by its cover. Read more »
No-Kill Shelter – Disposable Slacks EP
Grab a Czech-English dictionary and get started. It'll be at least a year until you can fully appreciate this band. But it's worth the wait. Read more »
Don Draper’s Indie Playlist
Pete Campbell will do something that compliments his tendency to be a little bitch within the first ten minutes of Mad Men’s much-anticipated season premiere this Sunday, mark my words – and it will be nothing short of glorious. While my euphoria over the return of my favorite show on... Read more »
Doomtree – No Kings + mp3
Minneapolis indie-rap kingpin collective make their intriguing mark with their 2nd family-affair-only LP and it's worth your time. Read more »
Songwriter Spotlight: Young Hines
Singer/songwriter Young Hines opens up about how he got where he is, past and present music, being on the move, and his writing process. Read more »
Songwriter Spotlight: Matthew Cooper (Eluvium)
Matthew Cooper opens up about the connections between life and music, the differences between creating and scoring, and Eluvium's future. Read more »
Songwriter Spotlight: Christopher Barnes of Gem Club
Gem Club's chief songwriter talks about misconceptions, the band's process, and plans for sound expansion. Read more »
Songwriter Spotlight: Ramesh Srivastava (formerly of Voxtrot)
It was 2006 and I’d just fallen madly in love. The object of my affection? Voxtrot’s Raised By Wolves EP and, more specifically, “The Start of Something.” Up to that point I’d just been carelessly meandering around somewhat directionless in a search for the perfect romantic song and then I... Read more »
Ticket Giveaway: Cate Le Bon
Win tickets to Cate Le Bon's 18+ show at Madison's The Frequency this Thursday. Just re-post and/or retweet this story. Read more »
Justin Rice (Bishop Allen/The Last Names)
The Bishop Allen frontman opens up about his new band The Last Names and their ambitious 52 covers project. Read more »
Bird of Youth – Defender
Will Sheff co-produces a debut album brimming with confidence, originality, and some seriously strong songwriting. Read more »
Brandon Beebe- In This Place + mp3
I’ve probably said this before, but my favorite thing about writing for Playground Misnomer is the constant exposure I get to local music that I would otherwise probably miss out on. Wisconsin is jam-packed with incredibly talented artists who deserve ten times the recognition they’ve been receiving; I’m just trying... Read more »
Dad Rocks! – Mount Modern
The Mimas frontman's solo debut as Dad Rocks! is eccentric, eclectic, direct, and a stunning introduction. Read more »
Win Tickets to See Cass McCombs in Madison
Win two tickets to see Cass McCombs' Madison show on Monday, January 30th at High Noon Saloon. Contest ends Friday at 4 p.m. Read more »
Coo Woo- Love Exposure
The local music scene is already looking great, and it's not even February yet. Check these guys out and see for yourself. Read more »
IfIHadAHiFi Video Interview (+mp3)
The Milwaukee noise-rockers cover a wide array of subjects like The Rock, where their name came from, and how far they'd be willing to go to get on Aaron Rodgers' record label. Read more »
Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory (+mp3)
Cloud Nothings delivers one of the most genuine, anguished releases in recent memory. Read more »
Crappy Dracula – Fantastic Dracula! + mp3
The latest full-length album from the crazed Milwaukee punk jokesters shows their muscle and some promise but leaves more to be desired. Read more »
Sadistik & Kristoff Krane- Prey for Paralysis (+mp3)
Sadistik and Kristoff Krane team up to drop an album of introspective hip-hop. Read more »
Lost Lander – Drrt (+ mp3)
Ramona Falls' Matt Sheehy steps out into the lead role, and while the album's produced by RF leadman Brent Knopf, shows his own skill with music that's "natural" in every sense of the word. Read more »
Stream This Noise!: Cloud Nothings, Craig Finn, Nada Surf
Three releases due to drop next week from Cloud Nothings, Craig Finn, and Nada Surf are streaming now. Find out where. Read more »
POLIÇA — Give You the Ghost
Buzz bands, y’all. Everyone wants to be the next big thing, or else everyone wants to be a part of the next big thing. That’s especially true in the Twin Cities, where the love of local music and arts is more like an epidemic — a month ago First Avenue... Read more »
Dizzee Rascal – Dirteetv.com
Let there be no mistaking it, 'Dirteetv.'com could be the start of Dizzee's re-entrance into the limelight, showcasing a new sound, but one that definitely needs some work. Read more »
The Red Plastic Buddha – All Out Revolution (+mp3)
The Red Plastic Buddha oozes psychedelia on 'All Out Revolution.' Read more »
Los Campesinos! — Hello Sadness
The fourth studio album by Los Campesinos!, Hello Sadness isn't the overwrought, depressing work it purports to be — at least not on paper. Read more »
Album Review: Giant People – Giant EP (+mp3)
Madison-based Giant People put their heart into their scrap and if you give it a chance, it'll reveal more than just promise and charm. Read more »
Show Review: Haunted Heads + Charley & the Cynics + The Sleepwalkers at Reptile Palace
A New Years Eve show that captured the inherent energy of the night and started the year off right for all those involved. Read more »
Concert Review and Interview: Chris Koza of Rogue Valley
Frontman Chris Koza discusses all things Rogue Valley, concept albums included, in this exclusive interview. Read more »
The Roots — Undun
The Roots' latest album, Undun, is less an attack on an unfair society than a case study, an illustration of a person whom the system failed. Read more »
Best of 2011: T.J.’s Picks
We wrap up our Best of 2011 lists with the Editor-in-Chief's. There are some you probably hated, some you probably loved, and some you've probably never heard of. Check it out, and let us know what you thought the best albums of 2011 were. Read more »
Best of 2011: Scott’s Picks
I'm amazed that, despite this site now featuring five different writers, there's still plenty of items on year-end lists that we disagree about, or that are loved so dearly by some and only held lukewarmly by others. Read more »
Best of 2011: Steven’s Picks
Extensive is an understatement in describing Steven's list. Read more »
Best of 2011: Matt’s Picks
This year was an odd one easily but I find I'm more worried for rock's sake than for rap, which has been nothing but ground-breaking lately. Read more »
Best of 2011: Sam’s Picks
I always seem to be scrambling to listen to all the good music that’s coming out in a given year, along with everything I’ve missed from the years past, so I hope you’ll forgive me if my Best of 2011 list is lacking something that you think deserves to be... Read more »
Bon Iver Homecoming Performance- Dec. 12th
By the time the first dissonant guitar riff of “Perth” had been played, I knew that Justin Vernon and company had successfully exceeded my personal perception of what Bon Iver is capable of doing. Gone are the days of sparse, acoustic songs being written in isolation as a homemade remedy... Read more »
Latest items
Throwback Thursday: Rage Against the Machine – “No Shelter”
What better place than here? What better time than now? Rage Against the Machine's "No Shelter" is as relevant today as it was 15 years ago. Read more »
Best of 2012: TJ’s Picks
TJ not only provides you with a list of his favorite albums of 2012, but also gives some advice on how to look at lists such as his. Read more »
Best of 2012: Steven’s Picks
After an incredible year for music, Steven reveals a slew of what he thought were some of the greatest full-lengths of 2012. Read more »
Best of 2012: Sam’s Picks
It’s hard to believe I’ve been at this for a full year now. Over the past twelve months I’ve been to four of the best shows I’ve ever seen, interviewed three fantastic musicians, and I’ve even had time to sit down and listen to a few records here and there. The list of impressionable albums... Read more »
Midwest Premiere: Mutts “God, Country, Grave” Video Premiere
The Chicago trio hit you with a solemn music video for "God, Country, Grave." Read more »
Minnesota: Are You There
Minnesota's no longer just a state, it's now a band that occupies bold new atmospheric space for the genre of Americana. Read more »
Frontman Feature: Mike Maimone of Mutts + mp3
Mike Maimone talks about the personal messages on Mutts' new album, their philosophy of giving away free music, and their love of Wisconsin and its music scene. Read more »
Yeasayer – Fragrant World
Yeasayer struggle to make a lasting impression on their latest album. Read more »
Grizzly Bear – Shields
The baroque pop-quartet once again show they're experts at evolving while staying true to the sound that put them at the top of their class. Read more »
Interview: Dylan Baldi of Cloud Nothings
Here at Playground Misnomer, there’s a near-unanimous consensus that Attack On Memory is the best album of 2012 so far. So imagine my surprise and delight when Dylan Baldi, the 21 year-old mastermind behind Cloud Nothings, agreed to answer some of my questions over the phone last week. Baldi seemed mild-mannered and was concise with... Read more »
David Byrne & St. Vincent – Love This Giant
Two generations of seminal art rockers team up for a horn-heavy collaborative album. Read more »
Steven’s 25 Best EP’s of 2012
Jan 8, 2013