The National

If you're struggling to express your feelings, finding it difficult to choose a gesture, a gift or even a card for the object of your desire then music always has the answer. Whilst Steve Wright's 'Sunday Love Songs' may have you running to dial up on God's white telephone, and Radcliffe and Maconie's 'Sunday Glove Songs' might be just an amusing stretch too far for the apple of your eye or the target of your affections, there's many other routes to explore. Whilst the schmaltzy, saccharine sweet, Hallmark moments can be pink and fluffy and work if you're wooing your primary school sweetheart they don't necessarily have the same effect as you get older. Now, you can try flowers and you can try chocolates (or both) but I guarantee you that a special song will live longer in the memory than either Interflora's best bouquet or Fortnum & Mason's best selection box. You don't want to be too obvious and you want it to be memorable but most importantly you want it to convey your feelings, so here's just a few alternative tracks for your consideration. 

Nick Cave, Berlin. Photo credit - Britta Pedersen PA Images. 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Babe You Turn Me On.

Continue reading: Valentine's Day 2021: Music To Soundtrack Your Day, In An Altogether Less Obvious Way!

American indie musicians Justin Vernon and brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner have teamed up to launch a brand new streaming service named PEOPLE, an offshoot of the pair’s established PEOPLE festival.

The USP behind the idea is that PEOPLE will be an open streaming service for artists to post one-off ideas, ranging from demos and song sketches to collaborations.

The beta version of the streaming platform was launched on June 6th and is available now, containing music from The National, Bon Iver (Justin Vernon’s band), Phoebe Bridgers, Lisa Hannigan and a new four-track EP from Vernon and Aaron Dessner’s Big Red Machine project. The full version of the platform is being launched in August.

Continue reading: Bon Iver's Justin Vernon And The National's Dessner Brothers Launch Their Own Streaming Platform

Budweiser Made in America

We explore the diverse Denver music scene as Budweiser unveil the latest in their series of documentaries ahead of the fast-approaching Budweiser Made in America festival.

When Jay-Z embarked on his Budweiser Made in America project, the ethos he wanted to represent was simple; bringing together bands and artists of all genres to celebrate the rich variation that has become the US musical community. And where better to enjoy this multi-genre theme than Denver, Colorado, home to the likes of everyone from gentle folk rock crooners The Lumineers to industrial Goth collective Velvet Acid Christ?

Continue reading: Dancing In Denver! Budweiser Made In America Explore Colorado's Exciting Music Scene

Iggy Azalea will be joining the likes of Kanye West, Rita Ora, Kings Of Leon and John Mayer at the Made in America Festival at the end of August. The festival, produced by Jay-Z, will celebrate its third anniversary in Philadelphia and the first time it has also been held in Los Angeles over the last weekend in August. 

Iggy Azalea will appear at the Made in America Festival at the end of August.

Read More: Iggy Azalea Joined By Rita Ora For 'Black Widow' At Wireless 2014.

Continue reading: Iggy Azalea Set To Perform At Jay-Z's Made In America Festival, Joining The Likes Of Kanye West And John Mayer

Budweiser Made In America Press Conference at Los Angeles City Hall on April 16, 2014 in Los Angeles, California - Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Budweiser

Budweiser Made in America festival is on its way and, to celebrate, the beer brand unveil a series of music documentaries in different States: this week we explore Minnesota!

Being such a huge part of the world, America has always borne a massively diverse music ethos. In almost every part of the country you can come across a different musical culture and it's with this idea in mind that world famous rap star Jay-Z decided to create Budweiser Made in America festival. It's sole purpose is to bring together a choice selection of both up-and-coming and well-established artists spanning all genres including rock, hip hop, R&B, electronic, punk... the list goes on.

Continue reading: Made In Minnesota: Budweiser Made In America Documents The Best City Music Of The States

‘Mistaken For Strangers’ is a documentary focussing on the brotherly relationship between renowned rock star Matt Berninger and his metal head brother Tom, who – according to the doc – is a bit of a layabout. When Matt offers his brother a job as a roadie on the band’s European tour, he didn’t realise Tom had designs on filming the whole thing. 

So hilarity, tears, realisations and revelations soon followed as both Matt and Tom learn about each other on this – cliché warning – journey of discovery. Mistaken for Strangers has already been uttered in the same sentence as Spinal Tap a few times, so you really don’t need to take our work for it. 

Continue reading: 'Mistaken For Strangers': A Tale Of Two Brothers Living In Different Lemonworlds [Trailer]

Lena Dunham will host the second episode of the new season of Saturday Night Live, which will be broadcast on the 8th March, according to Deadline. The Girls creator will be making her hosting debut on the comedy entertainment show during the same episode that Brooklyn rockers The National are set to also grace SNL for the first time.

Lena Dunham Will Host 'SNL' On The 8th March.

SNL has parodied Lena Dunham's HBO comedy before, in the memorable skit where Tina Fey plays a new girl from Albania in a send-up of the core characters' entitled lives. Now Lena will in turn make her mark on the show after having called the hilarious SNL parody of Girls "a true honor."

Continue reading: Lena Dunham To Host 'SNL' As The National Make Their Musical Debut