Alternative Music Blog

We're looking for a passionate and enthusiastic individual to be the Guide to the Alternative Music site on About.com!

What sort of information do we want the new Guide to provide?
Well, we're looking for someone to be the source of information for alternative music and indie rock fans, particularly beginners. This means writing things like:

• Artist profiles
• Album reviews
• Primers on the history of alternative music
• Genre profiles
• Interviews with artists

What sort of person are we looking for to be the new Guide to Alternative Music?
Our ideal candidate:

• A seasoned music journalist with experience writing about the alternative music and indie rock scenes.
• Someone with established industry contacts who has access to review copies of albums and can set up interviews with musicians at all levels of success.

If this sounds like you, and you've got excellent writing skills and the desire to reach and teach a broad audience through your writing, why not go over to our application site to learn more about our hiring program and submit an application?

Last October, British rockers Radiohead made internet and music biz history by releasing their seventh studio album digitally -- and letting their fans decide how much they thought the album was worth and pay accordingly. Read the following profile of the In Rainbows album and learn about the media reaction, reviewer's opinions, and general response to the whole ordeal.

• In Rainbows In Profile

_{(Image (c) Radiohead 2007)}

Over at Stereogum, they're linking to a video Rivers Cuomo (of Weezer fame) has released for a single off his recent solo/outtakes album Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, "Lover in the Snow."

In it, we see Cuomo train for a celebrity soccer tournament (that I've never heard of — have you?) that he played in recently and hear the heartwarming origins of his love for the sport. (His dad, surgery, music, etc.). If you like soccer or want a simplified version of the "how Weezer came to be" story — or are curious to hear Mr. Cuomo's solo stuff — check it out. It's not a major musical revelation, but it's a nice little ditty. (I could do without the amateur soccer footage, however).

• Rivers Cuomo in "Love in the Snow" (Video)

On its MySpace, Darla Farmer describes itself as spewing "musical venom." Sadly, the band doesn’t seem to realize that people don't always want to listen to something poisonous. As it stands, the record's still a good time, but it leaves you a little confused.

Kerry Skemp gives the low-down on this mixed-up but still rocking new release.

• Read the review of Darla Farmer Rewiring the Electric Forest.

_{(Image (c) Darla Farmer)}

In the evening, Sons and Daughters rocked the Bat Bar in the Austin Convention Center, while Okkervil River and Roky Erickson each brought a unique brand of sonic power to Stubb's. It was a strong ending to a long but exciting week of music.....

Though it be the final, most tiring day of SXSW 2008, Kerry Skemp has trudged around Austin, TX one last time on your behalf—to bring you reviews of the class acts and rock stars she saw live. Read her final review below and share your impressions of the SXSW 2008 line-up in a comment message.

• Check out our the last installment of semi-live coverage of SXSW 2008.

_{(Image (c) Kerry Skemp 2008)}

Sometimes it seems like SXSW focuses on too many bands that are too similar -- shaggy-haired indie rockers playing pop-rock beats. Then there are days like March 14, 2008, which remind you of the incredible musical variety at the festival....

Instead of tiring her out, Day 3 reinvigorates Kerry Skemp; she falls in love with the diversity of SXSW 2008 and writes the glowing review that is linked to below. Read her testimony and share your comments.

• Check out our continuing semi-live coverage of SXSW 2008.

_{(Image (c) Kerry Skemp 2008)}

British Sea Power, Social Studies, Birds and Batteries, Constantines, Ra Ra Riot, Los Campesinos!, Old 97s, Georgie James, Tapes and Tapes, Islands, The Whigs, Yo La Tengo, Yacht, Switches--that's over a dozen awesome bands in 12 hours. But that's just a typical day at the SXSW music festival, where everything's amped up and the music--and beer--never stop flowing...

In this episode, Kerry Skemp becomes entrenched in the overwhelming madness that is SXSW — but survives with enough breath to review, for you, the 12 live shows she caught in one very long day.

• Check out her semi-live coverage of SXSW 2008.

_{(Image (c) Kerry Skemp 2008)}

Though [REM's] combined age probably exceeds 400, they managed to electrify a semi-groggy audience that had endured three opening bands...

Kerry Skemp is rocking her way through alt rock history at the 2008 SXSW music festival. Check out her live review from day one: Johnathan Rice, Papercranes, Dead Confederate and REM.

_{(Image (c) Kerry Skemp)}

I attended the SXSW music festival last year and it was a marathon of greatness.

This year's is sure to be just as great, combining established acts like REM and Billy Bragg, indie mainstays like Yo La Tengo and My Morning Jacket, and hot new groups such as Vampire Weekend and She & Him.

SXSW 2008 runs from March 12-15, so check back often over the next few days to read our SXSW coverage, direct from sunny Austin, Texas, where Kerry Skemp is on the ground and reporting (semi-)live.

She's excited to see British Sea Power, Fleet Foxes, Kimya Dawson, Portugal. The Man, Jens Lekman, Georgie James, Akron/Family, plus a half-ton of other bands.

Follow our coverage all week long, and leave a comment if you'd like Kerry to cover a specific act.

The precocious Austin, Texas band What Made Milwaukee Famous is back with anther jostling, catchy pop album, What Doesn't Kill Us. I loved it, perhaps you will too. Check out this snippet from my review:

Like the most moving of The Replacements' sober tunes, What Doesn't is an album you don't want to sing along to—it's one you want to yell along to. It just feels that real, and that utterly contagious.

• Read the full review of the second album by What Made Milwaukee Famous, What Doesn't Kill Us.

_{(Image (c) What Made Milwaukee Famous & Barsuk Records)}