Why do I love The Hold Steady? Because they've been making non-stupid ROCK music for ten years. It's miraculous that a band can deliver so many songs about heartbreak and… Read the rest of the article: The Hold Steady – "Wait a While" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 71 Buddy is an evolving collection of Los Angeles musicians, the singer & songwriter of which is a man named Buddy. Buddy's songs are full of… Read the rest of the article: Buddy – "Weak Currents" (free MP3)

A new Say Hi record is reason for celebration in my home, and a new (and free) song should make you happy as well. Eric Elbogen is the one-man-band called… Read the rest of the article: Say Hi – "Hurt in the Morning" (free MP3)

[Video Link] Here's a video (well, real audio with some graphics) of the Los Angeles Philharmonic performing Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloé during a 5.1 magnitude earthquake. It's pretty interesting to hear… Read the rest of the article: Video: The LA Phil plays through an earthquake

In case you missed it, we're at the end of our semi-bi-yearly Free Music Week. Nine exceptional artists offered up a free download and I think they make a great… Read the rest of the article: Free Music Week: Get all the songs now

Sound it Out # 69: The War on Drugs – "Red Eyes" (free MP3) It's a rare rainy day here in LA, and I can't imagine any song sounding better… Read the rest of the article: The War on Drugs – "Red Eyes" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 68: Drowners  – "Luv, Hold Me Down" (free MP3) New wave music ruled my teenage world. The swirly guitars and romantic vocals of bands like Echo… Read the rest of the article: Drowners – "Luv, Hold Me Down" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 67: Off!  – "Void You Out" (free MP3)  The men of OFF! have some harcore credentials…literally. Even though members Keith Morris (singer for Circle Jerks and Black… Read the rest of the article: OFF! – "Void You Out" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 66: Tokyo Police Club  – "Hot Tonight" (free MP3) I must apologize in advance. This song is going to stick in your head, and it's not… Read the rest of the article: Tokyo Police Club – "Hot Tonight" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 65: Total Slacker  – "Sometimes You Gotta Die" (free MP3) It's hard to take Total Slacker seriously. Get past their name and you still have four… Read the rest of the article: Total Slacker – "Sometimes You Gotta Die" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 64: Chaos of Birds  – "Rank and Ruin" (free MP3) Nicole Thomas and Meghan Adkins are two friends with a supernatural musical connection. They formed the… Read the rest of the article: Chaos of Birds – "Rank and Ruin" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 63: Barzin  – "All The While" (free MP3) It doesn't surprise me at all that Barzin has a book of poetry out in the world in… Read the rest of the article: Barzin – "All The While" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 62: Sabina  – "Toujours" (free MP3) You may know Sabina's voice from her former band Brazilian Girls, though this German-Italian artist is apparently not Brazilian at… Read the rest of the article: Sabina – "Toujours" (free MP3)

After not hearing much that inspired me in the last months of 2013, I've recently been inundated with great music. And so Free Music Week returns! From today through Friday, you'll… Read the rest of the article: Free Music Week Starts Today!

 Sound it Out # 61: Rhye  – "Open" (free MP3) Mike Milosh and Robin Hannibal never meant to form a band. Milosh traveled from his native Canada to Copenhagen to… Read the rest of the article: Rhye – "Open" (free MP3)

Here's some beautiful footage of a BASE jump gone terribly wrong in Moab, Utah. I'll be honest: I didn't make it all the way through this video because I was… Read the rest of the article: Video: BASE jumping disaster

Sound it Out # 60: Throwing Muses  – "slippershell" (free MP3) Throwing Muses haven't released new music in ten years, though singer/songwriter Kristin Hersh has not been idle. Hersh has… Read the rest of the article: Throwing Muses – "slippershell" (free MP3)

Sound it Out # 59: Poliça  – "Chain My Name" (free MP3) On their second album, Shulamith, Minnesota's Poliça bring a more aggressive sound to their languid, sexy music. Channy… Read the rest of the article: Poliça – "Chain My Name" (free MP3)

In my professional life, when I'm not posting about music on Boing Boing, I run the digital team for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. People often tell us that they're curious… Read the rest of the article: Concert Master: A new way to choose a classical concert

Sound it Out # 58: Man Man – "Head On" (free MP3) Philly band Man Man's fifth record On Oni Pond finds singer (and main songwriter) Honus Honus collaborating with… Read the rest of the article: Man Man – "Head On" (free MP3)