Soundcheck Podcast

Clear Heart Full Eyes is the first solo effort from the Hold Steady's singer and lyricist Craig Finn. Is it an exercise in egoism? Is it a true departure from the successful Hold Steady form? We discuss!

Voyageur, the latest from Kathleen Edwards, shows the influence of a new producer (think Bon Iver). But how does this record stack up against her earlier, more alt-country efforts? We discuss.

Drop everything. This is the most kickass album you've heard all year. "Is That You In The Blue?" is the second record for the brother-sister duo, and it's clear here why Dex was a -- or the -- major influence on Jack White. Just drop everything, listen to the podcast and get yourselves at least 10 percent cooler.

The eponymous second full-length release from Wisconsin-based Justin Vernon, performing as Bon Iver, is a departure for the critically acclaimed rocker. Do we dig it? Yes, Meh, and Meh-Plus.

New Brigade is the first album from Iceage, a bunch of Danish kids from, surprisingly, Denmark. Is it punk? Some of us think so. Some of us, not so much. But regardless of label, is it worth a listen? Tune in and find out.

Burst Apart is the second full-length record from Brooklyn-based The Antlers, and it's on our short list of albums of the year. 

Amanda Shires, a Texas singer-songwriter with a flair for fiddle and ukulele, has us generally all a-swoon over Carrying Lightning, her most recent release. 

Helplessness Blues, the second full-length record from Fleet Foxes, is a smart and challenging blend of folk and pop, old and new. Whether you love it or not, you won't regret giving it a go.

Nine Types Of Light, the latest from Brooklyn's TV On The Radio, is a mix of beats, hooks and surprising emotional depth and complexity -- or so we would have you believe.

Civilian, the third effort from Baltimore duo Wye Oak, has us divided, and animated. It's a unique sound, to be sure -- not quite folk or rock but ... well, listen in as we try to describe it and devolve into name-calling.