John Cale, “Mercy.” John Cale‘s musical life has divided itself between rock and roll and the avant-garde. The Velvet Underground founder and droner-in-chief’s latest album, Mercy, feels more like the minimalist compositions of La Monte Young than VU’s rollicking and raucous “Sweet Jane.” But at 80, that’s probably to…

Animal Collective, “Time Skiffs.” There comes a time in many aging bands’ careers when they start talking guff about maturity, hard-earned wisdom and so on. The release copy for the latest LP from Animal Collective, Time Skiffs, gestures toward this convention by describing the album as “the collected transmissions of four…

Rachel Goodman’s top alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2021. L to R; Row 1: Paul McCartney and Phoebe Bridgers; Maxïmo Park; Kings of Leon; Black Country, New Road; Wet Leg, The War on Drugs. Row 2: BC Camplight, Cannons, Strand of Oaks, Hovvdy, Ladyhawke, Fences, Sea Wolf, Courtney Barnett.…

The Kills perform at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on Oct. 6, 2018. Photo: Chloe Catajan. It is rare that I am ever in a camp of “bigger is better” when it comes to concerts, but sometimes, I really am. And sometimes, everything really is bigger and better in…

With recent attempts to needlessly alter an image that has already been cemented as wholly unique, neo-psychedelic rockers Animal Collective found themselves in a slight downward spiral with 2015’s clumsy Painting With and two subpar EPs. Eucalyptus Avey Tare July 21 Leave it to Animal Collective key cog Avey…

Memphis singer-songwriter Julien Baker, who’s about to have a break-out year thanks to growing attention and an opening stint with The Decemberists, will kick off 2017 by headlining the Great American Music Hall during Noise Pop. The music festival has also added Kelis, Hudson Mohawke, Benji B, an Animal Collective…

Treasure Island Music Festival jellyfish. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. Every act had its own way of dealing with the biting wind and the dropping temperatures Sunday at the Treasure Island Music Festival’s indie rock day. Some bundled up, while Japandroids vocalist-guitarist Brian King stripped down to his shirt to connect with…