If Sound Tribe Sector 9 got a case of the spits, if “Coffee” and “Smithereens”-era El-P was swallowed by Deep Medi Musik, if RJD2 dosed yellow instead of smoking his jazzy tea—there you’ve got something close to Lotus’ new effort, Monks.It’s unsurprising that the veteran act’s production is top-notch as they bite their own studio pipeline for samples and breaks to create a thoro

The word “supergroup” has lost meaning in the music world. It’s been replaced by words such as “side project” or “collaboration” or “a bunch of friends.” Without trying to sound too curmudgeonly, they just don’t make supergroups like the Traveling Wilburys anymore. The closest thing we’ve gotten in the last few years was Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne. No doubt it was huge, but we all knew it was a one-time thing. While Kanye and Jay-Z are friends, both of them promote their own brand above all else.

There is nothing sneaky but plenty that is sly about the talents of the Henhouse Prowlers.  With the new album, Breaking Ground, the Henhouse Prowlers are musical examples of the expression, “old soul”.  They would fit right in barnstorming with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, playing the Grand Ole Opry with Flatt and Scruggs…suit and ties and all…or sharing a festival stage with Old and in the Way.  Combine that ability with their youthful, high energy live performances and you get a band that is bound to cover much mo

Grateful Dead music continues to inspire and muse generations of contemporary musicians. When the band played, their music fostered an experience each night that transformed the ordinary bounds of everyday life beyond possibility. A trip into the transcendental. Even if the words and melodies were familiar to followers, something about their approach of spontaneity and improvisation combined with an overarching reworking of Americana made the music familiar and new simultaneously.

Pelagic Zone is a Germany-based jam band reflecting an improvisational style built on the roots of original instrumental jams. Pelagic is a Grecian word describing the open sea, far from the coast and sea floor. This can be interrupted in their musical style, floating free and open with plenty of room for surprises and improvisations. This creative group made up of four talented artists spent over two and a half years creating the entire album.

Big things are on the way for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, who released their self-titled, third album last week. While Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros was originally set to debut last year, the reason for the delay is clear—and worth it. The band has hardly taken a breath since hitting the road to support their sophomore album Here.

Yes, it’s true: The Polyphonic Spree is releasing a new studio album only a mere six years after the release of The Fragile Army.  Tim DeLaughter and his ever-evolving, fifteen-piece ensemble have proven that they still have what it takes to make a refreshing harmonious explosion of pure delight all while staying true to the psychedelic-symphonic pop/rock sound that have been paramount to Polyphonic Spree albums of yore.

Fruition is a great word.  We all love realizing the fruits of our labors and when ideas emerge from dreams into real world successes.  The band Fruition, hailing from Portland, Oregon has these good things happening with their 11 track album, Just One Of Them Nights, scheduled for release July 30th.  Starting as a collection of street musicians, Fruition is a band of musicians that exemplifies, the sentiment, “For the sake of the song.” Fruition is:Mimi Naja: Mandolin, piano and vocals

Nice work fellows! For those unaware of Town Mountain, expect the excellent playing of the banjo, fiddle, upright bass, guitar and mandolin along with the rich vocals on Town Mountain’s album, Leave The Bottle, to grab your ears and spirit immediately.  From pulling off the New Grass practice of taking pop songs and putting a traditional bluegrass spin on the tunes such as Bruce Springsteen’s I Am On Fire (From 2008’s Heroes and Heretics) while keeping the traditional bluegrass sound on lock is another ace up Town Mountain’s sleeve.

I’ll be honest: Chicago is probably the last place I tend to think of when we’re talkin’ bluegrass.